PAWN HEARTS

Van Der Graaf Generator's 'Pawn Hearts' is an album to stir up debates. Had its predecessor 'H to He' remained just safe enough for some symphonic prog enthusiasts; this album is surely an avant-prog album in the vein of King Crimson's 'Lizard' and Henry Cow's 'In Praise of Learning'. Like these two records, it combines that majestic/holy prog vibe with heavy jazz influences and fierce playing by all musicians. These urgent and imposing compositions outgrow their individual parts (hammond, sax, acoustic guitar, drums, vocals), becoming more like a stage play in the listeners mind. This album is quite operatic actually.

With 'Lemmings' the album starts with VdGG casting that instant existential doom. The song has many parts, all very intense, creative and apologetically raw. The ending section is a gradual deconstruction of its main themes - an interesting way of implementing influences of classical music. Singer/performer Peter Hammill sounds like a madmen lost in his own stories, but all his vocals are spot on here. The second track 'Man-Erg' has a more reflective majestic mood and starts of with piano chords and subtle vocals by Hammill. The songs evolves towards a quite heavy psychedelic prog piece after two verses. The ending section has that beautiful avant-prog majestic feel that only progressive rock can offer. The second side is than filled with the avant-prog epic 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers ', which is an extensive journey through a troubled mind. Fear, excitement, confusion, eureka moments, avant-garde explorations, poetic existentialism and the soundtrack to your personal ascension; this track offers it al. I would like to give a special mention to part V 'The Presence of the Night/Kosmos Tours' which offers one of most exciting musical moments I know of.

The album was originally though to become a 2LP and this condensed version with only three tracks is the best the band has to offer. The third side of my vinyl features 'Theme One' and 'W'. The first is a very catchy instrumental tune, the other a great melancholy prog song with some nice jazzy wah wah sax by David Jackson. The fourth side has some atmospheric avant-prog tunes that most listeners won't care much about.