H TO HE, WHO AM THE ONLY ONE

This album is an emotional wonder. One characteristic about VDGG's sound that has always stuck out to me is the passionate emotional intensity that prevails in their sound. Something about the mix of fat sax sounds, lush keyboards, and Peter Hammill's singing really has an emotional depth that is rarely found elsewhere. This, coupled with dynamic writing and brilliant lyrics really has an effect that drives home (among other things).

Do you like driving 70's elements? In here. Do you like ballads? In here. Do you like several- part pieces? In here. Do you like insane sax solos? In here. Do you like inventive melodies and gripping harmonies? In here. This album really has quite a bit of varied material packed into 47 minutes, but never loses it's characteristic tone or feeling.

"Live by sword and you shall die so, All your power shall come to nought, Every life you take is part of your own, Death, not power, is what you've bought."

The song meanings are quite deep, talking about topics such as moral philosophy, personal emotional struggle, and physics. (Well, the physics is really just referenced in the titles.. Pioneers over C? C = speed of life. H to He = Hydrogen to Helium. Think about it.) But, as I demonstrated, they are also written quite poetically. Whoever wrote them spent a long time placing the meanings together in polished and artistic ways that really show. I normally don't judge music by the content of it's lyrics, but in a case like this it really adds an extra bit of magic to the sound.

I very much recommend this album to anyone with any sense of patience that enjoys the sounds of emotional music.

4 stars