Unlike anything else
Peter Hammill has done before,
Incoherence seems to counterbalance the relative simplicity of his previous studio outing,
Clutch. A multi-tracked keyboard extravaganza,
Incoherence consists of a single 42-minute suite in 14 movements. There are separate songs, but they are segued in ways that make the transitions unnoticeable, especially on first listen. That alone is enough to set the album apart from its neighbors in
Hammill's discography, but there is more: a renewed urge to experiment with forms and textures within the song format; a rare level of richness and complexity in the arrangements; and the overarching concept of incoherence, language, and miscommunication that ties all 14 songs into a single, highly convincing whole. Several listeners will have a harder time getting into this album, as it demands some focused listening and requires assessment as a complete work, instead of being absorbed song by song. Some of the keyboard sounds are rather trite, but
Hammill's multi-keyboard arrangements are a step or two ahead of his usual self, with some sections sounding surprisingly close to some of
Peter Gabriel's work.
Hammill also plays acoustic and electric guitars, although keyboards remain the main focus.
Stuart Gordon adds violin in several sections, and
Van der Graaf Generator alumnus
David Jackson contributes saxes and flutes. Highlights include
"Babel," the
electronic-sounding
"Cretans Always Lie," and the poignant
ballad "Gone Ahead," which has become a live favorite (see
Veracious). Even though
Incoherence is a suite, not an epic track, it still feels like
Hammill's most ambitious undertaking since
"Flight." It also represents a high mark in the man's artistic creativity. ~ Francois Couture
![Eno [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602455849564_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Eno [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]")
