by Greg PratoWith his 1990 in-concert, two-CD set Room Temperature: Live, Peter Hammill took an approach similar to his earlier The Margin: Live -- it contained few overdubs and very little audience applause. Recorded during a month-long winter tour (which included the United States, Canada, and England), the band consisted of Stuart Gordon (violin), Nic Potter (bass), and Hammill on keyboards, guitar, and vocals. The performances are, for the most part, stark and haunting, no doubt due to the absence of a drummer. But this may be the closest the listener will ever get to the heart and soul of Peter Hammill, since there is nothing for him to hide behind on such bare tracks as The Wave and Something About Ysabel's Dance. Also, the stunning emotion contained in Hammill's vocal delivery has been captured on tape flawlessly throughout (perhaps this album provides the ultimate showcase for Hammill's vocals). Other standouts are Cat's Eye\u002FYellow Fever (Running), Hemlock, and one of Hammill's best-known songs, The Future Now. Each disc runs over the 70-minute mark, while the intensity and consistency of the performance never dips. Certainly one of the more unconventional live albums in recent times, Room Temperature: Live is sure to please just about any Hammill fan.