PAWN HEARTS

After finally "getting" VDGG & Pete Hammill via the H to He, Who Am The Only One album, I can finally revisit and review the band's other albums. 1. "Lemmings" (11:39) rife with plenty of memorable motifs and themes and plenty of complexity in its layers, I find the music too abrasive and irritating making for a rather unpleasant listening experience. I understand the genius of this song, it just fails to connect with me. (17.75/20)

2. "Man-Erg" (10:21) kind of a Hammill reprise-conglomeration of songs 1 & 2 from H to He, the subject is more esoteric, the band a bit more mature. I find Hugh's static organ chords and David's sax play rather cluttering and distracting in the second section. The instrumental section that follows is better, powerful, while Peter's almost operatic vocal in the laid-back jazzy section that follows is nice. Another song that I appreciate but which fails to win me over. (17.75/20)

3. "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" (23:04) despite this song's 10 movements, I can only review it for its aggregate whole because that's how it's always flowed for me: as one. While I used to find this song rather long and tedious, I have learned to appreciate the wonderful melodies and procession of nuances. A great epic and definitely a high achievement in the history of progressive rock music. (42/45) a) Eyewitness b) Pictures / Lighthouse c) Eyewitness d) S.H.M. e) Presence of the Night f) Kosmos Tours g) (Custard's) Last Stand h) The Clot Thickens i) Land's End j) We Go Now

Total Time: 45:04

A-/five stars; though a defining contribution to the progressive rock movement, I consider this a minor masterpiece in the genre.