PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES no more travelling chess
		Format CD Country UK Recorded 1992-99 Issued 2000 Label Cyclops Records Cat no. CYCL 086 Playing time 69:51 Reviewer Sven Eriksen

The two musicians Andy Tillison Diskdrive and Guy Manning comprise Parallel Or 90 Degrees, or Gold Frankincense & Disk Drive as they more correctly were called when they recorded most of this music in 1992, originally issued on cassette. As the title indicates, we are talking about a collection of Peter Hammill-tracks (five Hammill compositions and two original songs, to be precise). Production-wise it is not too sophisticated with a rather "home made" sound. On the other hand, the performances are particularily fresh, with an appropriate combination of respect and recklessness. They never wander far from the originals, but they manage to create an even gloomier atmosphere than Hammill himself does. Not all the details and variations in the world, but they attack Modern as it it were a fire-breathing dragon, and In The Black Room is presented with plummets. And not least, here is a version of Flight definitely without a safety net. And the two original songs fit nicely in with the rest of the material.

This unceremonious (but dead serious) tribute to a tragically underrated artist is done with affection and insight, and there are lot worse ways to spend a good hour than crawling into your best chair with this CD on full volume. Recommended to all fans of Hammill, and all others for that sake.

© 2001 Tarkus Magazine

Back to index