WORLD RECORD

World Record indeed. This is very unique album because Peter Hammill decided to write a piece of music that included quotes from wrold's folk music. So don't be surprised when you'll hear a bit of salsa here and there. There's also a bit of Balkan/Turkish stuff, Slavonic mountainmen sound, Jamaican reggae and of course British folk. Album starts with some jazzy saxophone sounds and fast becomes typical VDGG gloomy stuff. When She Comes. Lady with the skin so white. Some Spanish sonds in the middle of that song. Yeah this one is a great vivid piece with mysterious lyrics. A classic. A Place To Survive was my favorite song on the album when I first heard that. It's probably because there's lots of rock and roll in rhythm section. You listen and you can even dance to that. But dance some Balkan dance cos the trumpet parts are very similar to music from that region. Hammill as usual, great. Very impressive voice, are you surprised? Masks is a bit shorter piece. And it's definitely more quiet but very beautiful also. It's something like ballad but more inteligent than Kansas Dust In The Wind for example. The Meurglys III is the longest track here. I think it's a great song but it shouldn't last for 20 minutes. 15 would be enough. It doesn't matter cos it's still great. Very gloomy but in the end we listen to chillout reggae. Some Jamaican sounds were good enough for the band to try. And we finally reach the last song on this release. It's Wondering the most popular song of this album. I don't know why cos it appears as weaker track. It starts with Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever-like melotrone sounds. It's quiet sleepy. This album would be good enough (and long enough) even without that piece. It doesn't matter really because World Record is one of the greatest albums of 70s. It's also the last alum band did with Eddie Jackson and the last (for many year) band did under the name Van Der Graaf Generator. 1976 was definitely year of VDGG. Along with Godbluff and Still Life this album's a must.