Vinyl remaster of classic Seventies comeback album from iconic proggers, Van der Graaf Generator.

Release Date: 29th March 2024

Label: Cherry Red Records

Format: vinyl LP

In Prog Rock circles, it’s a familiar story. The one where, in June 1975 the Van der Graaf Generator line up of Peter Hammill (vocals, piano, guitar), Hugh Banton (keyboards, bass), David Jackson (saxophone, flute) and Guy Evans (drums) reunited at the famous Rockfield Studios to record material which would initially appear on the Godbluff album. The sessions for, where Wiki pre-empts the story, calling it “the first reunion” proved so productive that two further tracks were recorded, Pilgrims and La Rossa which did not appear on the album.

The material that emerged from this particularly prolific period (three albums appearing in twelve months) was so strong that both of the additional tracks would feature on the very imminent next effort, Still Life. A favourite album of Banton, Still Life would prove to be one of VdGG’s finest and most revered albums.

The new vinyl edition of this classic album comes remastered from the original tapes. Cut at Abbey Road Studios, and fully restoring the original LP artwork, it offers a warm glow of nostalgia housed in its orange tinted action shot of an electrical discharge from a real life Van der Graaf generator machine. It works very much as a ‘how it was’ accompaniment to the 2021 release by UMC that combined new stereo mixes with a 5.1 mix and live tracks from Bangor and Paris in 1975/6 plus a ’76 Peel session.

While Pilgrims may recall some of the genteel organ work of some of the very early Genesis albums, the title track evolves into a sub Deep Purple fizzing organ groove straight from Burn, just awaiting a Blackmore lick. Instead getting a snarling Hammill vocal and Jackson sax break. That strong organ presence soon to be abandoned in the next incarnation of the band as they moved towards more line up changes and a post Punk break up. My Room might meander serenely but La Rossa and Childlike Faith In Childhood’s End were part of the most recent VdGG tour, immortalised on the excellent Bath Forum concert release. The latter fully deserving of its status as a major VdGG work with it’s mid song crescendo and impassioned Hammill vocal. Imagine the high priest Prog preaching from the pulpit, casting out fire and brimstone – he’s just missing the dog collar.

Partnered with Godbluff – two sides of the same coin sort of thing – the stately and measured Still Life makes for what many is a VdGG peak and certainly an album from their upper echelons. Little did Hammill and co know how their rich vein of form would have it in them to turn out classic albums with ease.

Here’s the title track:

Van Der Graaf Generator online: Website / Facebook

Peter Hamill at Sofa Sound

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