AMG Review of Fool's Mate [Bonus Tracks]

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

Although not on par with some of his best albums (1977's Over, 1978's The Future Now, etc.), the solo debut from Van Der Graaf Generator's Peter Hammill shows him taking his first steps toward prog rock perfection. What makes Fool's Mate different than VDGG's material is that it's more mainstream, and for the most part, piano- and acoustic guitar-based. But Hammill is still able to convey the grandness of classic VDGG, as heard in the sweeping sounds of "Re-Awakening." And he never grows predictable. The tracks "Sunshine" and "Imperial Zeppelin" show that he doesn't take himself as seriously as many of his then-contemporaries (an important reason why Hammill's music has held up far better over the years than some other prog rock efforts). But Hammill's lyrics aren't as sophisticated and developed as they would later become, which is understandable as this is his first solo outing, after all. And the album's closing song, "I Once Wrote Some Poems" hints at the style Hammill would pursue more thoroughly on future releases (venomous vocals set against contrasting music). Fool's Mate is not as bad as some Peter Hammill purists make it out to be, but casual fans should check out Over or The Future Now first. [This version of the album contains bonus material.]