THE AEROSOL GREY MACHINE

You can compare the debut of Van Der Graaf Generator with "From Genesis To Revelation", it contains shorter, simplier songs but isn't as overdone as the debut from Genesis. You can hear at times the promising future that the band acclaimed with their followed prog classics, but isn't representative for the typical VDGG sound, like it's with Genesis' debut. The follow-up "The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" is historicaly seen like "Trespass": The band found their own niche and wrote complexer, difficulty songs, short said: progressive. On this record the band wasn't involved in the songwriting, Peter Hammill wrote all of them, so the follow-up is oftenly described as the real VDGG debut, it was also the first album released on the legendary Charisma label. This album isn't bad, it contains some goodies like "Afterwards", "Aquarian" or Octopus (in a wilder version available on the new remastered cd version of "H To He, Who Am The Only One"). I recommend this cd rather for it's historical value, less for it's quality. Fans and Collectors, who want a complete collection should pick up this album, if you look for a prog masterpiece, pick up one (better all) of the followed records by this unique prog band. Fans of Peter Hammill's solo work could enjoy this though.

5.5/10 points = 56 % on MPV scale = 2/5 stars

point-system: 0 - 3 points = 1 star / 3.5 - 5.5 points = 2 stars / 6 - 7 points = 3 stars / 7.5 - 8.5 points = 4 stars / 9 - 10 points = 5 stars

Collectors/fans only