Peter Hammill Fool's Mate Vinyl LP Due Out 23/10/26
Peter Hammill - Fool's Mate
Please note this is a pre-order item due for release 23rd October 2026
Tracklist:
1. Imperial Zeppelin
2. Candle
3. Happy
4. Solitude
5. Vision
6. Re-Awakening
7. Sunshine
8. Child
9. Summer Song (In The Autumn)
10. Viking
11. The Birds
12. I Once Wrote Some Poems
Rather than extending the band's increasingly complex progressive rock style, the album gathers songs Hammill had written between 1967 and 1971 that were shorter, more melodic, and rooted in late-1960s psychedelic and folk-influenced pop. Hammill described the project as a chance to record material that did not fit his band's direction, calling it a return to his musical roots.
Produced by John Anthony at Trident Studios in London, Fool's Mate features contributions from the Van der Graaf Generator lineup alongside guest musicians including Robert Fripp of King Crimson and members of Lindisfarne. The album combines acoustic guitar, piano, organ, saxophone, and electric guitar to create an accessible yet distinctive sound. Standout tracks include "Vision", "The Birds", "Candle" and "Imperial Zeppelin", which showcase Hammill's emerging lyrical style and melodic songwriting.
Although lighter in tone than his later solo work, Fool's Mate established Hammill as a compelling solo artist and remains an important starting point in his extensive catalogue.
