/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
|
|
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
XTChuck 
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: September 21 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 407 |
 Topic: VDGG "Present"Posted: April 20 2006 at 14:26 |
|
I realize that Van der Graaf Generator released "Present" last year but I've never heard this album. I've read a few reviews, one saying it was great, one panning it and another giving it a so-so rating. OK all you VDGG fans & anyone else who has heard this recording, give me the facts before I invest my hard earned cash on it. Thanks in advance!
|
|
 |
|
|
Syzygy
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 16 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 7084 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 14:34 |
|
The CD of songs is mostly excellent stuff, including at least one absolute VDGG classic in Every Bloody Emperor. The bonus disc of improvs is very hit and miss, but has its moments. I gave it a 4* rating when I reviewed it, and several months later I still think it's a strong album and well worth shelling out for.
|
|
|
'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
|
|
|
|
retuow
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 24 2005 Status: Offline Points: 163 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 14:37 |
|
I think it's great. It contains of two discs:
1 CD with 6 new recordings and another one with 10 improviations. The first disc is the best. Standout tracks are Every Bloody Emperor, Nutter Alert and Abandon Ship! It's all a bit less extreme than their previous albums, but still worth the buy. The improvisations are nice as well. For me, the best comeback album ever in prog history 
|
|
|
Human beings were created by water to carry it uphill.
|
|
|
|
|
ryba
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 20 2006 Location: Slovakia Status: Offline Points: 117 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 14:38 |
|
it is not easy to listen to, but it is definitely great music, deep and intensive, something that one can hardly find nowadays, when very attractive but superficial and empty productions rule. the second disc is a unique stuff i would say in the rock music generally. worth investing money. |
|
|
|
|
SidSmith
Forum Newbie 
Joined: January 19 2006 Status: Offline Points: 39 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 14:40 |
|
|
|
BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10266 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 15:33 |
|
Definitely worth buying. A track that has recently grown on me is
"Abandon Ship!". "Every Bloody Emperor" and "Nutter Alert", the 2
tracks they played on the reunion concert, are new classics of the
band. The improvisations are strange stuff; just relax and let yourself
fall into them. I like them a lot, but they are definitely not easy
listening. But they are a great insight into the mechanics of the band.
You can easily see where they get their ideas from. The album does
perhaps not reach the peaks of "Pawn Hearts" or "Godbluff", but you
can't always reach these peaks. It is a solid 4 star album.
|
|
 BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
|
|
|
|
salmacis
Forum Senior Member
Content Addition Joined: April 10 2005 Status: Offline Points: 3928 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 15:50 |
|
I don't think it even approaches their 70s work, but perhaps I was wrong to expect it to. I do get the impression that this album was done to order and quite rushed, as some songs here like 'Abandon Ship!', 'Bolea's Panic' and 'On The Beach' are below par and ramshackle for VDGG standards, in my opinion anyway. Some people love those tracks, so what do I know? There are two stone cold VDGG classics here though- 'Every Bloody Emperor' and 'Nutter Alert' would have fitted like a glove onto the classic 'Godbluff'. The band recognised the immense quality of those songs as judging by the set lists I saw, they were regular features of the reunion gigs. |
|
|
|
|
bucka001
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 16 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 864 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 15:51 |
|
Well worth every penny. It's hard to believe that these four people, who hadn't released an album since 1976, could get together after such a long layoff and produce something of such high quality. A lot of heart, soul, and energy in this recording - they definitely didn't get back together only for the money! (Although, I think they did quite well in '05! Heck... they deserve it)
|
|
|
jc
|
|
|
|
|
leirbagaze
Forum Newbie
Joined: February 17 2006 Location: Venezuela Status: Offline Points: 34 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 16:04 |
|
Forget about the words "come back" or "2005". The album sound as if it were composed/performed in 1973, using recording technologies of today. The perfect mix. I love it. I think it is the only "come back" that I keep listenimg, in the same level, as the old good records.
|
|
|
|
|
earlyprog
Special Collaborator
Neo / PSIKE / Heavy Teams Joined: March 05 2006 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 2166 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 16:29 |
|
Jaxon rules on "Present" form the opening note to the closing note! It's more jazzy in many ways and I like the free-form on disc 2 that points into the future ("free-form prog"?!) and shows they don't rest on the merits of the past. Bold.
|
|
|
|
|
AngelRat
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 14 2004 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1014 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 16:41 |
|
Just get it and listen. What more needs to be said...
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Duncan
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 23 2004 Status: Offline Points: 180 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 17:00 |
... In one week.  It's a great album, sounding partly like a logical progression from World Record but also refreshingly spontaneous and rough around the edges. My favourites are Boleas Panic and In Babelsberg, both featuring a lot of interplay between raspy guitars from PH and Jackson's saxes. And both, incidentally, like nothing the band's recorded before - but managing sound distinctly graafian all the same. The improvs are hit and miss, but amongst the dizzying atonal jams are some inspired moments like Spanner and Crux. Definitely worth your while. |
|
|
|
|
freehand
Forum Newbie
Joined: March 28 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 15 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 17:07 |
|
Hey XTCHUCK Go to www.vandergraffgenerator.net and click on "quick menu" (top left) select audio and you can hear 2 minutes of each song including the Improv disc. |
|
|
you say i must be crazy, cuz i don't care who i hit
|
|
|
|
|
BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10266 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 17:19 |
|
The link is www.vandergraafgenerator.net
Edited by BaldFriede |
|
|
BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
|
|
|
|
bucka001
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 16 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 864 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 17:20 |
It's actually www.vandergraafgenerator.net |
|
|
jc
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669 |
Posted: April 20 2006 at 17:30 |
|
This VDGG fan quite likes it! 'Tis a most worthy comeback, methinks. I was very pleasantly surprised by its high quality! Edited by Peter Rideout - April 20 2006 at 23:11 |
|
|
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
|
|
|
|
Man With Hat
Collaborator
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166183 |
Posted: April 21 2006 at 00:38 |
|
Definately check it out. Two CDs full of great VDGG moments. As the others said the first disc is better, but if improvs your thing, the second disc will probably be better.
|
|
|
Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
|
|
|
|
Ricochet
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 27 2005 Location: Nauru Status: Offline Points: 46301 |
Posted: April 21 2006 at 04:33 |
|
I like the album very much.Recommend it.For the rafined VdGG listeners,I would add.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
VDGG "Present"
Topic Options
bucka001 wrote:
