"Patience" is the 11th studio album by English singer-songwriter Peter Hammill. Released in August 1983 on Foundry Records, Patience is primarily a collection of song-oriented material, featuring Hammill on guitar with a small group of musicians. The album displays a softer musical aspect of Hammill's work, and it marks Hammill's first attempt at producing his own recordings.
The album consists of eight tracks with the opening track "Labour of Love" having two parts. All songs are written by Peter Hammill himself. The themes of the songs range from the human emotions of love and longing to psychological introspection.
"Patience" saw the participation of notable musicians such as Guy Evans, former bandmate from Van der Graaf Generator, on the drums, and Nic Potter on the bass. Hammill himself performed not only the vocals but also guitar, keyboards and drum programming.
This album stands out in Hammill's discography for its more direct and accessible songwriting style, which puts the emphasis on his lyrical prowess. It gained widespread appreciation from both the critics and fans for its deeply reflective content.
Despite its modest commercial success, "Patience" remains a fine example of Peter Hammill's enduring musical talent and creativity, displaying his command over songwriting and his ability to balance pop-oriented song structures with his distinctive progressive rock influences.
