H TO HE, WHO AM THE ONLY ONE

Here I am gain, Mr. party pooper staining VDGG rep. Song by Song. Killer, the main melody is really not that memorable. As with a lot of VDGG songs, for me, they seem primarily to carry Hammill's vocals & lyrics. The middle 2-3 minutes do get going, but they bring me back down upon returning to the melody. Stading out on this track is one of the few times I've heard an acoustic guitar on a VDGG song. House with no Door - Nice piano melody slowly building up to the usual VDGG organ sound with backing ensemble. Apart from the organ, this actually wouldn't be out of place on a Bowie album. The Emperor In his War-Room - if you've read about the early King Crimson references to be found in VDGG's music, this is where it's the most obvious. But the overall sound is still the organ driven VDGG ensemble playing with the last 3 minutes given over to FRipp playing his typical solo. Again, VDGG classic sound, but I'm left waiting to be hooked. Lost- intro brings to mind many early proggers, organ arpeggios, hi-hat propulses the beat along, with sax matching the organ, then to the classic VDGG sound. Again, I'm waiting, but it never tips me over to wanting to hear it again ... Pioneers - An almost soulful organ intro, but then back to the usual after the first verse. It just seems to be one of the several melodies that VDGG repeat throughout their catalogue.

So again, the caveat emptor, if VDGG clicks with you, you'll love this. If they haven't before, they won't do it here either.