Van Der Graaf Generator- Present (Virgin)
review by Jim Clark

Track Listing

Disc One
1. Every Bloody Emperor
2. Boleas Panic
3. Nutter Alert
4. Abandon Ship!
5. In Babelsberg
6. On The Beach

Disc Two
1. Vulcan Meld
2. Double Bass
3. Slo Moves
4. Architectural Hair
5. Spanner
6. Crux
7. Manuelle
8. ‘Eavy Mate
9. Homage To Teo
10. The Price Of Admission

 

After nearly a 30 year absence from the music scene, the classic Van Der Graaf Generator lineup of Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, David Jackson and Guy Evans is back, and with the stellar Present, it’s as if they’ve never left.

Present is divided into two discs – the first is a disc of song-based material while the other disc features a group of improvisational pieces. What’s interesting about this release is that so often when groups reform after an extended absence (the Eagles, Pink Floyd), hordes of session musicians are enlisted to help out, but on Present, only the four key members are, well, present.

Disc one starts with Hammill’s ode to politicians everywhere – “Every Bloody Emperor.” What makes Hammill’s lyric on this song great is that he keeps it vague, rather than naming a specific horrible politician, thus giving the track a timeless quality. For example, even though Pink Floyd’s Final Cut release is brilliant, how many of today’s history-deprived youth are going to know who Haig or Galtieri are? That’s not a shot at Roger Waters lyrics, but it’s just stating that when a lyricist gets too specific, they run the risk of, for good or bad, dating their material. Politicians sucked 30 years ago and they’ll suck 30 years from now, so Hammill’s lyric will be just as relevant when I’m an old man. Musically, “Every Bloody Emperor” is classic Van Der Graaf Generator – Jackson’s medieval flute and manic saxophone, Banton’s swirling organ, Evans’ tasteful drumming and Hammill’s unique vocals – all back in their glory!

Jackson’s instrumental “Boleas Panic” shows off more of his distinctive sax style. He gets some incredible bizarre noises from his saxophone setup, and Banton helps the track with some churning organ.

Present’s absolute best song, “Nutter Alert,” is next, and should immediately become a VDGG classic. The song features an incredible riff, which is driven along by Jackson’s sax and Banton’s bass playing. Evans adds some heavy drumming and Hammill sings as if his very life depends on it. A masterpiece!

The carnival-esque “Abandon Ship!” is another bizarre tune. Hammill’s vocals and all of the instruments are all over the place, going their separate ways, yet the track works. Simply said – a weird song.

“In Babelsberg” sees Jackson’s thunderous saxophone taking center stage once again. Odd time signatures and Hammill’s dark vocals add to the menace of the song.

The first disc closes out with the lamenting “On The Beach.” Hammill sings in a heartfelt vocal accompanied by his electric piano playing and Jackson’s breathy sax. “If we had all the time in the world, we might talk about how it used to be,” Hammill sings, adding later in the song, “All joking apart let’s play from the heart.” Is he singing about the four playing together again? A beautiful song with some nice touches from Banton on bass and Evans on percussion.

The sound of waves that ends disc one resume to start the instrumental second disc. For ten tracks spread out over the course of an hour, you can listen to four talented musicians enjoying playing together again. With its enjoyable improvisations, the disc is reminiscent of 70’s King Crimson with Mel Collins.

Usually, when bands reunite after a long absence, the outcome is less than inspiring. But judging from this release, I sincerely hope that this won’t be a one-off from Messrs. Hammill, Banton, Evans and Jackson, because they still have too much to offer musically. Present is a brilliant disc that easily stands alongside its 70’s predecessors. And it’s easily one of the best CD’s released this year.


marillion- happiness is the road
tilt- million dollar wound
mickey simmonds- the seven colours of emptiness
ukz- radiation
pain of salvation - scarsick
icon- icon II, icon live
the pineapple thief- tightly unwound
planet p project- levittown (go out dancing part II)
nosound- lightdark
dengue fever- venus on earth
art of all- morgan
marillion- somewhere else
abigails ghost- selling insincerity
blackfield- blackfield II
damien rice- 9
the who- endless wire
the beach boys- good vibrations
the pineapple thief- little man
the killers- sam's town
tom petty- highway companion
hem- funnel cloud
emm gryner- the summer of high hopes
jeremy enigk- world waits
razorlight- razorlight
gps- window to the soul
iron maiden- a matter of life and death
thom yorke- the eraser
richard butler- richard butler
the flaming lips- at war with the mystics
ray davies- other people's live
david gilmour- on an island
nosound- sol29
jackson browne- running on empty 5.1
neal morse- ?
king crimson- 21st century guide to king crimson
shriekback- cormorant
depeche mode- playing the angel
pallas- the dreams of men
my morning jacket- z
riverside- second life syndrome
roger waters- ca ira
various artists- backs against the wall
riverside- out of myself
sigur ros- takk
killers- hot fuss
queen + paul rodgers- return of the champions
journey- generations
yes- the word is live
emmylou harris- heartaches & highways
van der graaf generator- remaster series
rob dickinson- fresh wine for the horses
annie- anniemal
dredg- catch without arms
foo fighters- in your honor
dream theater- octavarium
belle and sebastian- push barman to open old wounds
the go-betweens- oceans apart
porcupine tree- up the downstair (remaster 2005)
coldplay- x & y
nine inch nails- with teeth
aimee mann- the forgotten arm
van der graaf generator- present
christopher o'riley- hold me to this
glen phillips- winter pays for summer
new order- waiting for the siren's call
ben folds- songs for silverman
john doe- forever hasn't happened yet
trashcan sinatras- fez
adrian belew- side one
kaki king - legs to make us longer
longview- mercury
stereophonics- language. sex. violence. other?
for against- echelons
over the rhine- drunkard's prayer
kathleen edwards- back to me
kasabian- kasabian
porcupine tree- deadwing
the wedding present- take fountain
super furry animals - songbook
arena- pepper's ghost
snow patrol- final straw
rpwl- world through my eyes
tori amos- the beekeeper
kino- picture
monarch- the grandeur that was rome
spocks beard- octane
the wonder stuff- escape from rubbish island
richard barbieri- things buried
the pineapple thief- 12 stories down
the pineapple thief- 8 days later
the innoncence mission- now the day is over
zero 7- when it falls
pain of salvation- be
california guitar trio- white water
jelly jam- 2
tim bowness- my hotel year
van halen- the best of both worlds
glen burtnik- welcome to hollywood
charlie mars- charlie mars
porcupine tree- voyage 34 (2004 remaster)
saint etienne- travel edition
lanterna- highways review
hellboys- cha cha with the hellboys review
persona non grata- the fine art of living review
tegan and sara- so jealous review
guadalcanal diary- 2x4 reissue review
voices in the wire- signals in transmission review
roger waters- to kill a child/ leaving beirut review
luna- rendezvous review
jim white- drill a hole in that substrate and tell me what you see review
the drive-by truckers- the dirty south review
the blue nile - high review
lovedrug- pretend you're alive review
twilight singers- she loves you review
keane- hope and fears review
winds- the imaginary direction of time review
kristeen young- x review
asia- silent nation review
macha- forget tomorrow review
crystal method- legion of boom dvd-audio review
kevin moore- ghost book review
marillion- don't hurt yourself singles review
attrition- dante's kitchen review
rush- feedback review
tortoise- it's all around you review
division of laura lee- does not compute review
peccatum- lost in reverie review
iq- dark matter review
bass communion- ghosts on magnetic tape review
the push stars- paint the town review
virgin black- elegant... and dying review
marillion- marbles review
the streets- a grand don't come for free review
the veils- the runaway found review
all about eve- let me go home review
john young band- live review
mary lou lord- baby blue review
the divine comedy- absent friends review
pink floyd- the final cut (2004 remaster) review
prot-kaw- before became after review
jeffrey gaines live review
mocean worker- enter the mowo review
starsailor- silence is easy review
pineapple thief- variations review
lloyd cole- music in a foreign language review
david sylvian- blemish review
spock's beard- feel euphoria eview
guy manning- press pack sampler review
magellan- impossible figures review
the tangent- the music that died alone review
john gorka- live from grace church photos and review
hothouse flowers- into your heart review
charlotte martin- on your shore review
rasputina- frustration plantation review
stellastarr*- stellastarr* review
vast- nude review
sparks- lil' beethoven review
the damnwells- bastards of the beat review
dave gahan- paper monsters review
king crimson- power to believe review
fish- field of crows review
porcupine tree- in absentia dvd-audio review
new model army- great expectations review
antimatter- unreleased 1998 - 2003 review
catie curtis: dreaming in romance languages review
the gathering- sleepy buildings review
twilight singers play blackberry belle review
vienna teng- warm strangers review
opeth- lamentations dvd review
courtney love- america's sweetheart review
blackfield review
anathema- a natural disaster review
nearfest 2003 coverage
neal morse solo photos- metuchen, nj
porcupine tree broadcast
alpha- stargazing review
david sylvian at the tla
emm gryner at the point
barry andrews at the tin angel
tweaker:2 am wakeup call review
cure- join the dots review
fish live from the tla with john wesley
spearhead- everyone deserves music review
miles hunt (wonderstuff) live

full archives coming soon!

 



Studio M Live
818 North Market St, Suite 2R
Wilmington, DE 19801
302.475.9880

 

 

 
Copyright © 1997-2004 Studio M Live, Inc. All rights reserved. All content on studiomlive.com is owned by Studio M Live and may not be reproduced without written permission. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this policy. If you are looking for Custom Injection Molding you are at the wrong site, and should really be at Applied Tech Products.