H TO HE, WHO AM THE ONLY ONE

"H to He, Who Am the Only One" was the first album I heard from Van der Graaf Generator and I must say this selection did not leave me disillusioned. One of the more celebrated works from VDGG, "H to He..." is exactly like a roller coaster ride, with various emotions running rampantly throughout. Anxiety, exhilaration, and madness are just some of the qualities characteristic of VDGG's third album. But not all of "H to He..." is an exciting ride at the carnival. Some parts are like the petting zoo to a disgruntled, teenage boy being forced by his parents to attend said carnival, inadequate and ailing.

Actually, the less attractive parts of the album are not that excruciating. The only real weak song on "H to He..." is "Pioneers over c.", a sort of failed attempt at free-style jamming, which leaves the listener feeling somewhat apathetic. Granted, there are interesting qualities in the song but just not enough to excite or induce much positive emotion. It puts somewhat of a damper to the ending of the album, which is otherwise a very strong effort from VDGG.

Luckily, the positive qualities outweigh the negative by a lot. The album opens up with "Killer" and throughout the song, there is David Jackson's saxophone, which many of us have come to love, including myself. "House With No Door" is much more somber, but so beautiful. Featuring the ever masterful vocals from Hammill, this song is certainly one of the highlights of the album.

Continuing with the positives, "The Emperor in His War-Room" features chilling guitar work from Mr. Robert Fripp of King Crimson, adding to the suspense that comprises the great third song from the album. And alas, we reach "Lost", the pinnacle, and consequently, my favorite song from the album. Filled with majestic, rich vocals and music, this songs serves as a tremendous example showcasing the giants that are Hammill, Jackson, Potter, Evans, and Banton.

The bonus track to this release, "Squid 1/Squid 2/Octopus", deserves an honorable mention, making up for the sub-par "Pioneers over c.".

While not the masterpiece, "H to He, Who Am the Only One" is definitely worth obtaining whenever the chance presents itself. Without a doubt, it deserves four stars, and rightly so.

1. "Killer" - 8/10

2. "House With No Door" - 8.5/10

3. "The Emperor in His War-Room" - 8.5/10

4. "Lost" - 9.5/10

5. "Pioneers Over c." - 7.5/10

42/5 = 84% = 4 stars