GODBLUFF

This record was a change in style for VDGG. Instead of the gloomy atmospheres of some of their previous records such as Pawn Hearts, the band goes for an all-out attack, sounding more like an avant-garde jazz band as well.

"The Undercover Man" opens the album quietly and with restraint, until it grows more dramatic in the mid-section. "Scorched Earth" is one of the darkest tunes made by the group. The instruments continue to build on one another, until the song ends with feedback. "Arrow" starts with an improvisation and gradually builds. Peter Hammill gets some good screams on this track. "The Sleepwalkers" is the choice cut from the album. There's a good organ and saxophone combination throughout, and the tune slowly drifts away at the end, creating a wall of sound with keyboards.

It might seem like a mess to listen to at first, but if you return to Godbluff, you might find new things to be uncovered. For all of its noise and power, Godbluff is essential listening.