GODBLUFF

After the three-year hiatus and uncertainty imposed by Peter Hammill's solo career, VDGG returns to the arena in 1975 with "Godbluff", an album that continues with the lucubrations of the mind regarding human existence and its multiple edges, a recurring theme of the British.

And this is how Hammill's voice, the main actor of the introspective "The Undercover Man", whispers and then almost shouting suggests that madness is a probable form of self-knowledge, supported by the correct accompaniment of the band, which prioritizes the group melody over individual brilliance. A similar thematic path runs through the intense and proactive "Scorched Earth", a song that proposes not to be tied to the past and move forward, with Hugh Banton very active on keyboards and above all Guy Evans, great protagonist with the drums, as in the jazzy beginning of "Arrow", followed by a cadenced rhythm that is repeated until its end with the rough and exorbitant sax of David Jackson marking the pace. Finally, the intricate and resigned "The Sleepwalkers" amalgamates medieval reminiscences, jazz elements and an unexpected and fleeting nod to Latin sounds, in the most versatile and progressive of the four songs on "Godbluff", closing it in grand form.

Despite the rudimentary sound, the additions from the remastered 2005 album, "Forsaken Gardens" and "A Louse Is Not A Home", both live versions of Hammill's excellent solo album "The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage", are very interesting and could perfectly be part of any VDGG production.

Excellent (one more...).

4 stars