THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS WAVE TO EACH OTHER

Aerosol Grey Machine was halfway between folk/psychedelia and prog as we know, and in their second album we find a very mature Van Der Graaf Generator. The line up is settled (and would not be broken, apart from a few years of complete absence), and the music has acquired the general characteristics of VdGG trademark sound: David Jackson's flute/sax and Hugh Banton's keyboard work. Actually I like the flute dominated sound in this album better, the only missing thing is complexity, which will find its way (posibly with the contribution of master Fripp) in the next two albums...

Not a single filler in this one, even the shorter pieces Out of My Book and Whatever Would Robert Have Said (is shortness the reason why they ddidn't make it into The Box!?!?) are excellent. I first heard the other tracks in The Box, about a year before, and thought I had the essence of the album. Nay! After listening to them I both grieved for my loss lasting for a year, and rejoiced for my fortunate find!

Darkness was one of the pieces that introduced VdGG to me, and it remained the most memorable piece for me (for about several months - Bless the baby born today!), until I suddenly discovered the excellence of the remaining tracks/albums. Still, the highlight of the album is the closing piece After the Flood, with Hammill's extraordinary distorted yellling "Annihilation!"

A must for a serious prog listener.