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Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts CD (album) cover

PAWN HEARTS

Van Der Graaf Generator

 

Eclectic Prog

4.43 | 2445 ratings

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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
5 stars "Pawn Hearts" is the 4th full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Van der Graaf Generator. The album was released through Charisma Records in October 1971. Itīs the successor to "H To He, Who Am The Only One" from December 1970. Although there is less than a year between the two album relases, lead vocalist Peter Hammill (with the help of his Van der Graaf Generator bandmates, among ohers) had time to release his debut full-length solo studio album "Foolīs Mate" in July 1971, so paired with the bandīs heavy touring schedule, itīs safe to say that Van der Graaf Generator were incredibly busy in those years.

The original vinyl version of "Pawn Hearts" only features 3 tracks. Side A consists of two 10-11 minutes long tracks in "Lemmings" and "Man-Erg", while Side B features the 23:04 minutes long "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers". Further material was recorded during the sessions for the album, and it was initially the bandīs plan to relase a double album, with one album featuring collective band compositions and another with individual compositions. Not completely unlike Pink Floydīs "Ummagumma" (1969) album or Yes "Fragile" (1971) album. Charisma Records said no to that idea though, and the individual compositions were shelved for years until they resurfaced as bonus material on the 2005 reissue of "Pawn Hearts".

Two group compositions from the sessions which didnīt make the album, were released as a single in February 1972. The A-side is a cover version of "Theme One", which is an instrumental George Martin composition, while the B-side to the single is titled "W". Both are also included as bonus material on the 2005 resissue of "Pawn Hearts". While the original UK version of "Pawn Hearts" only featured the three long compositions, some US and Canada editions of the album included "Theme One" as the second track on the album.

Van der Graaf Generator had already established themselves as one of the most unique progressive rock acts of the early 70s with the two albums preceding this one, and their dark, dramatic, and sometimes harsh and experimental sound, made them stand out on the scene. With "Pawn Hearts" they took their sound to the extreme. Both in the terms of the skills required to play the material, but also in terms of the material itself. While especially some sections of "Man-Erg" and "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" are melodic and epic in nature, much of the album is gritty, even aggressive and jagged at times (some of the saxophone and organ parts resemble distorted guitars), and definitely gloomy and eerie (lead vocalist Peter Hammill somtimes sound like his singing from his cell at the asylum). Iīd even dare say the band touches avant-garde territory once or twice during the playing time, and "Pawn Hearts" is generally not an easily accessible album. Itīs an album requiring attention, patience, and an open mind.

"Pawn Hearts" is well produced, featuring a powerful, raw, and organic sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly. Upon conclusion it is a one-of-a-kind type of album, both in progressive rock and in the bandīs own discography. Nothing really sounds like "Pawn Hearts", and itīs probably the bandīs most extreme musical statement and also as far as they were willing to go in terms of experimentation (theyīve released other experimental releases since, but nothing like this). Considering the adventurous and challenging nature of the material on the album, itīs a testimony to the open mindedness of contemporary music listeners, that "Pawn Hearts" charted high in especially Italy, and that the band were received as rock stars when they arrived to tour there in early 1972. The pressure of touring became to much for the band though, and by mid-1972 Hammill left to pursue a solo career, which effectively ended the first run for Van der Graaf Generator. A 5 star (100%) rating is fully deserved for this unique and bold statement of an album.

UMUR | 5/5 |

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