Yesterday,I bought the new album ‘Present’ by ‘VDGG’- a band originally formed in 1968,and usually assigned to the ‘Prog Rock’ camp by most commentators,though they are a ‘Rock’ band like no other.
The current band is the classic line up of Peter Hamill (voice,guitar,keyboards),Hugh Banton (Organ),Guy Evans (Drums) and David Jackson (Saxes and Flute).
I not totally in touch with the band’s history,but it must be twenty five years since this line up made an album together.
Hamill is an extraordinary songwriter-and the album opens with the splendid ‘Every Bloody Emperor’,which is a damning commentary on political spin- very timely, considering last weeks general election in the U.K.!
This is a double album,and I have only listened to the first C.D. so far,but for anyone who is already a fan of the band it is a ‘Must have’,and it may be of interest to anyone who wants to hear ‘Rock’ music that isn’t Guitar led -Saxes and Organ are the main instruments here,Plus Hamill’s Voice- an ‘English’ voice,rather than the pseudo-American voice usually put on by most ‘Rock’ vocalists regardless of their origins (a review of the band’s sell out Royal Festival Hall gig the other day mentioned his “Crisp enunciation that would terrify the BBC!”).
I first heard the band in 1975,when they reformed for the ‘Godbluff’ album,that garnered rave reviews from the critics in the know.
I think that the band and this album are as relevant now as they ever were in the 70’s.
Welcome back ‘VDGG’!
Thanks for this information, Kevin. The “old” Van der Graaf Generator were very special indeed and I adored their music. So such an album in the original lineup is a must have to me indeed.
Claus