What does it sound like?:
Robert Fripp used to say that, with some of his bands, he could feel an indefinable presence hovering over them – and he knew that this band could be called King Crimson. Arguably something similar happens with Van der Graaf Generator (VdGG) – something which makes the band more than the sum of its parts; and also provides a clear delineation between solo Hammill material (much of which had Banton, Evans and Jackson playing on it, particularly in the 1970s) and the full-blown VdGG experience. Primus inter pares in a band…..or the total control of a solo artist? Something makes Peter Hammill return again to the VdGG fire, and forge something different from his solo material. The contributions of Hugh Banton & Guy Evans are clearly huge factors….but so is the mysterious ‘I’ which is Van der Graaf.
And so, to the album in hand – Do Not Disturb – VdGG’s thirteenth album, we are told….
I note that some of the published reviews so far have concentrated on the “looking back” aspect – I believe Banton commented that some of the songs reminded him of “Least we can do….” – and the press have picked up on that and run with it. Structurally, perhaps: more than one song starts in a particular meter and style, then has an unrelated and often counter- intuitive central section, before returning to the “A” section to close. However, parts of the sound-world are more like late 1970s solo Hammill – anyone who is familiar with The Future Now and pH7 will recognise the massed chorale of vox and the jabbering synths which are prominent in Alfa Berliner, for example. Hammill seems to be favouring treated or echoed vocals, harking back to Godbluff days.
Forever Falling is a more developed version of The Hurly Burly from Trisector, with lyrics this time; and much of the album sounds purpose-built for the trio to play live. Shigata Na Gai, a peaceful interlude – a palate cleanser before Oh No (I must have said yes) – muscular rock, with an odd “swing” middle section, into which Hammill injects disruptive guitar like a polite English Robert Quine.
With one exception, I confess to being slightly underwhelmed on first hearing this album: however, after the now obligatory six listens….I’m starting to love it. The mood is reflective, melancholy, far from immediate – and no amount of sonic disruption can shift that (Brought to Book being a prime example).
The final track, Go, seems to underline the album as a whole. Understated, droning keyboard; an untreated naked voice; does the song say goodbye after the death of a loved one, or after the subject’s own death? Or a more existential “goodbye” to something emotionally less well defined? Or do the lyrics say VdGG’s final goodbye to their audience? This is the track which caught me emotionally on the very first listen, and hasn’t let go. Dear reader, I had a tear in my eye.
As all the band members approach 70, it’s inevitable that journalistic thoughts will turn to this being their final statement. Hammill counters that every album should be treated in this way when one is writing and recording, and who’s to say at the time that Pawn Hearts or Quiet Zone might not have been the last? I hope that this is not the case: but if Do not Disturb turns out to be the final VdGG album, one could ask for nothing better – and if Go is their last ever statement, it looks out into the unknown future with calm and dignity……
What does it all *mean*?
Passage of time, meaning of existence, aging and looking back over life, howling into the void…..business as usual….
Goes well with…
Hard to say….a uniquely “Marmite” band, who seem to inspire lifelong devotion or an intense aversion….
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
…..progressive music, as opposed to the lumpen Prog…..
Thanks for the review.
I have 2 albums – pawn Hearts and H to He. I can’t remember why I bought them. Stoned and looked interesting I guess.
Are they all like that ?
I’d be interested to know what you thought / think of them…. @Junior-Wells
I found them rather taxing.
I’ve recounted a story where we were stoned and listening to one of these records and the line “fishes can’t fly and neither can I” (a profound observation – but I digress), after endless repeats of this line my brother said that has gone on fort far too long. It was about then we realised the record was stuck.
I am going to give them another spin.
VDGG, one of my least favourite prog bands (along with Genesis). Although not entirely without merit (he said pompously) I find both of them quite dreary
Because I was in a band with Guy Evans during my brief, inglorious university career, I doggedly bought their rekkids for a year or two. Then I realised that not only did I never play them, I actually hated them. Still got the first single somewhere I think.
People You Were Going To / Firebrand? Now hugely collectable as it wasn’t on the original album.
Another casual, yet hugely impressive, name-drop there, Mike. I think we need to hear more.
Holy cow, a copy sold for £1700 last month. I hope I do still have it. Had no idea it was only available for a week!
I’ve told the story of the uni band before, possibly twice…At Warwick, supporting Cream, Move, Bonzo Dog, the Action, the, er Swinging Blue Jeans, etc, getting paid in beer? We weren’t very good, but we had a good drummer.
I think I remember that, but not the part about Guy Evans.
So you met Clapton with Mayall, then again with Cream? We are, indeed, not worthy.
Did get to speak with anyone else? Viv perhaps?
Sort of…(this is a repeat too) our bumptious little singer (we had two, but only one was bumptious) was showboating in the ‘dressing room’, and Viv, who was about a foot taller, patted him on the head and said, ‘You’re a fine little fellow, aren’t you?’
Much sniggering from the rest of us.
Lovely story. I clearly missed it first time round.
Hey, Johnny – glad you could make it! VdGG – some like ’em, some don’t….
However, good to know that they are “not entirely without merit” – maybe I haven’t been wasting my time all these years, after all….
Sorry fitter, I knew that sounded bad even as I wrote it. VdGG are one of those bands I know I should like, but they just don’t connect with me. I must try harder.
Why try harder, Johnny? If you know that you don’t like them, why should you try to? Life’s too short….
Because I don’t want to sound like one of those naysayers who dismiss great music out of hand. I know VdGG are a good band and I love all those early pink label Charisma LPs generally, but I’ve never really found a way into their music.
From my listening tonight, I’d say the guitar lacks the prominence you seem to prefer JC
You may be right JW. I find the same problem with Genesis.
Excellent review, thank you. Your last line says it all. And I love Marmite.
Beautiful review that, once again, demonstrates the benefits of the six listen rule.
Very interesting album that really pays dividends with repeated listening.
I got the debut album from ’69.
On last listen it sounded 10 years ahead of its time – NOT a recommendation – I rather wish it had sounded like it was from ’69.
I’ll dig it out again tomorrow.
The second one – I believe John Lydon likes it – has gone to the place where all John Lydon-endorsed records go…..the local Oxy.
Marvellous!
I ❤️ your posts, deram, and this one is a perfect little vignette. Thank you.
Got it on the platter and those repeated lines were from side 1 track 1 ,their “hit” Killer.
Holding up better than I expected. Certainly hearing a lot of Tull in that song at least.
Is there any evidence of Bowie being a fan. The vocals on some of H to He some quite like early Bowie.
During the famous Lydon interview, where he ‘fessed up about being a fan, he mentioned that Bowie had clearly been listening hard to early VdGG and solo Hammill – probably idle speculation rather than evidence-based, but he came to the same conclusion as you….