STILL LIFE

Still Life is second album after band's first reunion and it'a plain to me Van Der Graaf Generator were in the best condition at the time. Some people that praised Godbluff were a bit disappointed with this release but the most accepted it from the first time and agreed it's a continuation of the previous masterpiece. Album starts with mighty song called Pilgrims. Peter Hammill plays his role. That's a good term. He plays his role. He's more than just a singer. He creates a true theater and poetry. Some may say this song is filled with so much pathos and hysteria but don't forget other musicians. I think everyone is same important here, every single musician. Title song is one of my favorite Van Der Graaf Generator's tracks. It starts with gloomy vocals and pretty quiet melody but when Peter starts to sing:take away the threat of death... it changes into kind of wild rock and roll with hysterical vocals. It's amazing. There's more energy in that than in popular at the time punk rock music. Lyrics are awesome as well. It describes endless boring ecstasy of eternal life that Peter sees as a living hell. Excellent idea, excellent song. La Rossa is also a great track and it reminds me a bit Arrow from previous release. It's maybe a bit more complicated but Peter yells the same way as in that classic song from Godbluff. There's also kind of mix of English folk and hard rock which to me sounds like something between Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant. But hey, guys didn't have to copy. VDGG were same experienced as all those prog bands of that era. While Jethro Tull had an original flute player, Emerson Lake and Palmer a keyboard virtuoso Van Der Graaf Generator had Eddie Jackson and his amazing work adds very positive vibe to that sometimes gloomy keyboard sound and sadness filling every composition. Peter Hammill to me is the best vocalist in progressive rock and he proves that everytime he opens his mouth. My Room is very quiet simple piece, kind of ballad I'd say but it's more than just a few lines of love song. Especially that it's not about love. This piece it's not maybe as good as the rest of material but it doesn't matter. I never skip that song. It's a good quiet passage between wilderness of La Rossa and true epic finish called Childlike Faith In Childhood's End. It's the longest track on this album and it's also one of my favorite VDGG songs. It's built of few segments and it's a bit similar to Sleepwalkers on this level but the music itself differs. I don't know if any artist ever put so much emotions in one song. Peter Hammill did. He just put the history of all mankind in this epos. Human we can all be, but humanity we must rise above Isn't it amazing? I won't describe that song cos it's impossible to describe all the beauty it creates but I must add that a bit of rock and roll is present also in that song. You've got to hear this one...and the whole album cos it's one of the best record ever made.