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 "solo" albums of this period, all the members of Van der Graaf Generator perform on the recording, blurring the distinction between solo and group work.

Hammill has often performed the song "Modern" in concert.

"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.

The lengthy "A Louse is not a Home" is a full blown prog rock epic, featuring melodramatic lyrics reminiscent of gothic horror writer Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Fall of the House of Usher, upon which Hammill would later base an opera.

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

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

Personnel

• Peter Hammill – Guitars, piano, bass guitar (on 1, 2, and 6), harmonium, keyboards, vocals, mellotron, and oscillator
• Randy California – Lead guitar on "Red Shift"
• Hugh Banton – Organ, bass (on 3, 4, and 7), keyboards, background vocals
• Guy Evans – percussion, drums
• David Jackson – Flute, alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones

External links

• Album information on the unofficial VdGG site