H TO HE, WHO AM THE ONLY ONE

It is a tremendous tribute to Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, David Jackson and Guy Evans that Van der Graaf Generator's second album, the wonderfully inventive "H to He Who Am The Only One", sounds as fresh and new today as it did nearly 40 years ago.

Opening with the brilliant "Killer", the album is a wonderful mix of rock, jazz and modern classical influences. Peter Hammill's lyrics, as usual, are superb but it is the band's music making that makes this the wonderful album that it is. The instrumentation arrangements are outstanding: in particular the way that David Jackson weaves his saxophones and flutes into the songs is absolutely magic. Hugh's playing of various keyboard instruments and an "oscillator" is equally inventive.

The bonus tracks include an early version of "the Emperor in his War Room" and, more interestingly, an excellent new work "Squid 1/Squid 2/Octopus" which was recorded after the release of this album and is previously unreleased.

Indispensable for Van der Graaf fans who don't yet have the CD in their collection.