TIME VAULTS

Another of these side releases that are really for confirmed and even absolutist VdGG fans, but hardly nobody else. Actually this release could've been of a major interest had the recording quality been at least correct, but here it is more often cringey than anything else. All of these tracks date from the period between the two VdGG classic eras and most of them are unheard elsewhere (a few on Hammill's solo records of those years) and most of the songs are work in progress, completely unfinished and some even sound like other official tracks (whether this particular track led to a future official track or whether it was meant to be inspired or digress from an established track is a bit unclear for me), others being simply atrocious sound quality (Roncevaux). Tracks like the closing Blackroom are indeed interesting as work in progress, and are still plenty of drama, but be prepared to have you ear butchered by the sound.

While some of these tracks are of interest to unconditional fans, others are just a bunch of seemingly useless collage (thinking of the title track, Time Vaults), but overall the average/casual fan will only find frustration at such a release as it doesn't do justice to the group's oeuvre. Don't get me wrong, this "album" is worth throwing an ear on it, but this should be done before considering whether to splurge into it. Just make you pick your aural organ up, because you'll need it for more worthy causes.