GODBLUFF

After giving Pawn Hearts, World Record & the Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other 4-5 listens, I still can't find a reason to love this group. On Godbluff, they do become more interesting musically, mainly because the organist/keyboardist is playing something more than static chords (i.e. holding down X, then to Y, as a basic melody). Hammill's lyrics & singing are as good as ever. I still don't "get" the reviews where Ol' Peter's voice is called an acquired taste. And finally when I get to "the Sleepwalkers" these cats start playing. I don't want to use the term "rocking", because this is not your 3 chord boogie/blooze. But at least there's some action on the instrumental front that propulses the music. There is still a compositional sameness that I found prevalent on the above albums, but again the ensemble seems to be playing enough to stand out as players. Undercover Man is as pastoral as any VDGG I've heard. Scorched Earth recalls the earlier album, but again, with more movement to it, thoug I don't find the need for it to stretch out to 9+ minutes (check the last minute, the end comes across as Genesis-like). Arrow, except for the vocal parts, seems more a jazzy jam. Which is fine, but it doesn't stand out. And to end, well, as I said, this is where the real playing starts. This is VDGG music that I can get into. But one song out of four, it hardly makes for a classic to me. But be forewarned, for those whom VDGG clicks with, they really are different, (but not dissonant) from what is considered on PA as the pantheon of prog giants, and while I can't really get into them, I can see why they are highly regarded. Just don't ask me to play them once more.