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Topic ClosedNew Van Der Graaf Generator album coming in June

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Man With Hat View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: New Van Der Graaf Generator album coming in June
    Posted: April 17 2012 at 02:09
From esoteric:
 
"Following on from A Grounding in Numbers released in March 2011 Esoteric Antenna are delighted to announce a new title with Van Der Graaf Generator--ALT release date 25th June 2012



'ALT' is a new studio album by the legendary VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and follows on from the release of "A GROUNDING IN NUMBERS" in 2011.

"ALT" is no ordinary Van Der Graaf Generator album (if the term "ordinary" could ever be applied to this visionary group). PETER HAMMILL explains; "Instrumental Improvs & Experiments - Most of the music on "ALT" was made while we weren't really looking, or perhaps only while the left side of our collective brain was engaged. The album is a mixture of improvisations recorded at sound checks and in the studio and more considered sonic creations which often verge on Musique Concrete. The thirteen pieces here offer a fascinating glimpse into an alternative Van der Graaf Generator sound world. Perhaps the closest comparison would be with the second CD of "Present", but even the link with those recordings is tenuous. Even by Van der Graaf Generator standards, this stuff's at the whacky end of the scale!"

This instrumental album is another side of Van Der Graaf Generator, a truly unique listening experience.

The title will come both in CD and limited edition vinyl. "


Edited by Man With Hat - April 17 2012 at 02:09
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 08:07
The free form nature of disc 2 of Present was a path that I was hoping for they would explore more. It was not quite satisfactory on Present which was more of a conceptual nature. I hope the new release sees them reaching at least the development stage of this new and innovative style. This is the kind of progressive move you don't see often from bands that have been around for 45 or so years.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 09:16
Interesting....all instrumental? I am not one who has complained about Peter Hamill vocals, I wonder if he feels the pressure from others.
Anyhow....Looking forward to hearing this one.......on VINYL of course.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 09:17
Extremely excited for this, I can't wait.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 10:16
can't wait!!!!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 13:40
Hmmm. I was deeply disappointed with the second side of Present, and also felt that the last one was okay, but certainly no classic.

This might be the first VDGG album I will pass on.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 14:01
If free form improvisation isn't something new in itself, it's interesting to see an old and rather classic band trying this kind of experimentations.
There are some bands which should try it, just to see if it could bring them new ideas...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 17 2012 at 14:26
IMO anything different than AGIN is a good avenue for them to explore. Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2012 at 08:58
Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Hmmm. I was deeply disappointed with the second side of Present, and also felt that the last one was okay, but certainly no classic.

This might be the first VDGG album I will pass on.

THIS!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2012 at 12:52
I wanted Hammill to sing. :(
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 04:06
I was excited for a second because I really liked A Grounding in numbers, but then I realized this is gonna be an instrumental album. And since I've never managed to listen to the second disc of Present, I'm not getting my hopes up. I'll give the album a listen as soon as it appears, though.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 07:23
Quote "Instrumental Improvs & Experiments - Most of the music on "ALT" was made while we weren't really looking, or perhaps only while the left side of our collective brain was engaged. The album is a mixture of improvisations recorded at sound checks and in the studio and more considered sonic creations which often verge on Musique Concrete




That'll be out-takes, then

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 09:24
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 09:43
An instrumental VdGG album is like a a Jimi Hendrix album with no guitar.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 09:49
I'll probably pick up a copy.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 09:50


"What do you mean, we're releasing an album of out-takes to disguise the fact we've run out of new ideas? We're VDGG... someone will buy it!"

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 10:27
Jim, there are better targets than VdGG.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 19 2012 at 14:49
I definitely enjoyed the instrumental disc of Present so this is some welcome news. Looking forward to hearing the album.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 20 2012 at 08:26
Originally posted by lazland lazland wrote:

Hmmm. I was deeply disappointed with the second side of Present, and also felt that the last one was okay, but certainly no classic.

This might be the first VDGG album I will pass on.
 
I did not enjoy "Tri-sector" as much as others did.
 
I miss the energy and the strength and the Peter Hammill thing, much more than I do the VDGG thing. When listening to these things, I always endup with Silent Corner, or Over, or Skin, or Out of Water ... and for VDGG stuff I almost always endup with H to He and Godbluff and then Still Life.
 
I don't know ... somehow this later stuff is kind of half empty for me, and not as important as the other stuff was. Too much of it just seems trivial, to the point where an instrumental thing might actually be a good point to try and find some new inspirations. Gotta do something different, and that certainly is! The upside might just be that he can let the guitar, or any other instrument, rip it ... which is harder when he is singing or leading the group!


Edited by moshkito - April 20 2012 at 08:27
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 21 2012 at 08:27
I'm kind of interested to hear this, especially to see how it differs from (and, more to the point, if it's an improvement on) disc 2 of Present. Having said that, it's very unlikely to be a priority purchase for me this year, especially as there's still half a dozen albums from last year I still desperately want to get my hands on, let alone this year's batch of definite must-haves.

Still, I think it's very honest and generous of Hammill and co. to bundle these pieces as a deliberately non-essential release, for the curious only, rather than smuggling it in next to composed material as they did on Present.
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