The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage

The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage is the third album by British singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. It was released on Charisma Records in 1974, during a hiatus in the activities of Hammill's progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. However, like many of Hammill's albums of this period, all the members of Van der Graaf Generator perform on the recording, blurring the distinction between solo and group work.

The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage
Studio album by
Peter Hammill
Released8 February 1974 (1974-02-08)
RecordedApril, September and October 1973
GenreProgressive rock
Length49:15
LabelCharisma Records
ProducerPeter Hammill
Peter Hammill chronology
Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night
(1973)		 The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage
(1974)		 In Camera
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Julian Cope's Unsung(timeless)[2]

The cover was designed by Bettina Hohls, ex-member of the psychedelic German rock band Ash Ra Tempel. Hohls also contributed to the cover of Hammill's earlier album Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night.

The lengthy "A Louse is not a Home" is a song about the nature of identity. It was originally written for Van der Graaf Generator's album following Pawn Hearts, an album that because of the band's split never came to be.[3] It features all of Van der Graaf Generator's ex-members and was (just like "In the Black Room" from the previous album) played live by the group already in mid 1972 (just before the split) and again with the reformed band in 1975. "Forsaken Gardens" (also played live in 1975) and "Red Shift" are two more songs which feature all 4 ex-and future VdGG members. "The Lie (Bernini's Saint Theresa)" partly alludes to the Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini. "Red Shift" features Spirit guitarist Randy California on lead guitar. Hammill has often performed the song "Modern" in concert.

Track listing
  1. "Modern" – 7:28
  2. "Wilhelmina" – 5:17
  3. "The Lie (Bernini's Saint Theresa)" – 5:40
  4. "Forsaken Gardens" – 6:15
  5. "Red Shift" – 8.11
  6. "Rubicon" – 4:11
  7. "A Louse is Not a Home" – 12:13

The following bonus tracks were included on the 2006 CD reissue:

  1. "The Lie" (Live at the All Souls Unitarian Church, Kansas City, on 16 February 1978) – 6:31
  2. "Rubicon" (BBC session, February 1974) – 5:02
  3. "Red Shift" (BBC session, February 1974) – 5:51

Personnel

Technical

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Julian Copes Unsung review
  3. Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator – The Book", page 174. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005.
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