GODBLUFF

I think the second period of Van Der Graaf Generator is even better than the brilliant first period. The albums Godbluff and Still Life ranks among the very best records ever made, no matter what period of time or what genre we're including in the comparison. The intro to The Undercover Man is the absolutely best intro to any song I know (beating even Genesis' Dancing With The Moonlit Knight in that respect). Beautiful, theatrical and desperate. But talking about desperate, I do not know of the existence of anything more desperate than the song Arrow. I can understand that some people have troubles liking the voice of P. Hammill. It is as far away from a classical crooner voice as you can get. However, therein lies also the key to his voice's appeal. He does not sing for his voice to be a beautiful instrument - he lets his voice mirror the very depths of his soul - and some of his listener's souls. It took me a long time to really recognize and understand this album, but now that I do, it really should get 6 out of 5 stars.

PS! Yes, I've noticed the curious cha cha cha-section, but luckily after a while it transcends into a desperate, dark, typical VDGG-melody.