We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Steven Hargraves - Patient

from All Of Us Pilgrims by Various Artists

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Purchasable with gift card

     

about

I first came across this tune on the Passionskirche VHS and was stunned by the scope and intensity of that solo performance; the minor key, the atmospherics, the bursts of distorted power chords. I thought it was the perfect combination of Hammill’s calm and storm.

Believe it or not – I’ve refrained from just ramping the whole thing up to thrash metal levels – although I do have a tiresome penchant for double kick drums. But I always say – if you have to record music in your kitchen; then you have to make it louder than the washing machine.

I hope it sounds raw as I’ve gone with a first take (like I’ve got time to get in the kitchen and play the same riff twice with two kids to cater for!) as despite recording digitally; I wanted it to be in keeping with the great man’s ethos and to sound ‘played’ and organic, so like my Crying Wolf cover, all the riffs were recorded in a single pass of the hands across a fretboard playing every part and harmonies in one continuous stint and then assembled afterwards with the solo being the only overdub.

Listen out for a harmonic dive with a whammy bar; a first I think in relation to Hammill’s music and probably for good reason.

It was an interesting key to improvise a solo over too, once the riffs were herded into place. That was a bit of challenge as I’d been stuck jamming in E minor since I was practically “Just a Child.”

I even got to dust off my five string bass on this one and had a bit of fun between the chord arpeggiations – being more faithful on bass to the Latin feel of John “Fury” Ellis’ acoustic guitar solo on the original – than the actual lead breaks I improvised.

I even had to tune the bottom string of the bass up a tone to match the full drop C that my guitar was in. So tuning higher is a first for me!

Vocally, no one can match Peter’s soaring range and intensity, but my regular brand of clueless shouting didn’t work on this one first time around, so I had a crude stab at making notes with my mouth.

Funnily enough, it turns out that singing in my accent turns Hammill’s eloquent received pronunciation on words like “Chance” into something like “Tchantz!” – but being scouse never did the Beatles any harm…

(Not that I can sound anything like them either!)

Guitarist in UK hardcore band BALLPEIN www.ballpein.co.uk
Second Guitar in Melodic Death Metal band Monstrance

lyrics

Find lyrics to this track on http://sofasound.com/lyrix.htm

credits

from All Of Us Pilgrims, released December 31, 2019
Written by Peter Hammill

Instruments, Vocals – Steven Hargraves

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mikayel Abazyan image

Mikayel Abazyan Yerevan, Armenia

Born on July 9, 1971.
Self-trained playing piano, guitar and later - bass, which allowed me playing and making a few recordings with various bands in Yerevan.
In 2014, joined a special project dedicated to the music of Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator, which brought me back to studio work. Having released yet another successful solo tribute, started producing my own music.
And I like it! ... more

contact / help

Contact Mikayel Abazyan

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Patient, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now