Back into Van der Graaf Generator...
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47641
Printed Date: March 04 2025 at 11:30
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Back into Van der Graaf Generator...
Posted By: Avantgardehead
Subject: Back into Van der Graaf Generator...
Date Posted: April 05 2008 at 05:27
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Third time's the charm, I guess! This is probably the most challenging prog-rock band I've come across (even though Yes took four tries to like, they weren't nearly as challenging in the end). A difficult listen at first until everything falls into place. But they're one of those bands where you have to listen to the whole song very carefully because there are these little things happening all the time that make the songs perfect. I also love their mixture of beauty and darkness as I enjoy both sides of that spectrum very much. And I've always enjoyed Peter Hammill's voice, so it's just a matter of having that right mindset and attitude towards their music to fully get it. On a final note, it was a listen to both Present and Trisector that inspired me to take yet another look into their material. I have to say that H to He who am the Only One is my favorite one so far. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Avantgardian |
Replies:
Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: April 06 2008 at 06:46
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Good to hear you got into them! Personally, I prefer the second era to the first, Still Life being my favourite album. They haven't released one bad album, though. But I haven't heard Trisector yet... |
Posted By: omri
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 05:51
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I have nothing to add about VDGG. As Phileas I feel they have never done a bad album (and I have allmost everything including Trisector). However, If you search for "realy hard to get into music" try Can's Tago mago. ------------- omri |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 07:02
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not a bad album indeed. and their live albums "Vital" and "Real Time" are among the best live albums ever, and I am a big fan of live albums
-------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 07:19
I took to VDGG very quickly. It's a bit of a mystery, because it took me years to get to grips with the quirky chaos of King Crimson, among others. I actually found there to be something very accessable about VDGG..  Dont ask..
After careful consideration, and years of listening, I think 'Still Life' is my overall fave VDGG album, with 'Pawn Hearts' close behind. |
Posted By: Cifrocco
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 19:00
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Since late last year I started to buy Peter Hammill and VdGG albums from Amazon. I am doing this chronologically. The first shipment included only "Fool's Mate" and "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night" since I had absolutely no idea what he would sound like so I didn't want to spend too much money for something I would later just give away. In fact the only reason I took this chance was because of a Wikipedia article on Fish/Marillion that mentioned they were influenced by Peter Hammill among others. I always knew of the Genesis and Pink Floyd influences, and knew their music well, but this Peter fellow was a mystery. Well I can tell you that I'm now up to his 6th solo album "Over" and VdGG's 5th album "Godbluff", which is an amazing 11 albums in less than 7 years. I agree with the original poster that it takes a little time for the music to grip you, but man once it does it doesn't let you go, long after you've turned the system off. I find myself humming the songs constantly to the point that I'm beginning to question my sanity! Every time I go back I discover something new in the kaleidoscope of sound and vocals that make up every track.
It's funny because I was born into Marillion, and in 1983 whenever they played "He Knows You Know" and "Garden Party" on the radio, I kept hearing the DJ's and critics say that they were a ripoff of original prog-rock bands, I was so insulted, to the point of even hating Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd! I loved my Marillion then, like I do to this day. But now I realize that if I was born 12 years earlier, I may have fallen in love with Peter Hammill in the same way (or Genesis, etc.) and then when Marillion came along I would feel jealous and cheated hearing them borrow from my beloved Peter Hammill!
In any event, my huge appreciation of Hammill/VdGG of recent months has made me lurk here and rediscover other bands like Genesis, but also new ones that I never even knew existed. There is such an immense library of amazing prog rock that one need never worry about running out of music to enjoy, and that's good because new bands don't attract me much.
Don't you just envy me that I still have to discover the other 44, yes that's FORTY-FOUR, albums that Peter Hammill/VdGG have created? Yikes I just realized by the time I'm through I'll have spent about $1,200 for it all!!!
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