FIRST GENERATION (SCENES FROM 1969-1971)

This was my first VDGG album and one I used to get into them. It's superb! I wanted to give it 5 stars, but as I haven't heard anything else by them, I'll give it 4, since I cannot say if it is better than the average VDGG album.

My favourites on this album are Darkness (11/11), Killer, Man-Erg and a Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, however, the album captivated me from start to finish. I think it's quite King Crimson-y, though at the other end of the spectrum - there is no lead guitar to take the place of Bob Fripp, but instead is replaced by a heavily modified organ. The saxophones are there though, and that's what gives it it's King Crimson like sound. Pete Hammil's vocals however, are a gem. While KC had their share of good singers (Greg Lake, John Wetton, etc.) I love Hammil's vocals.

I read somewhere that VDGG were NOT to be listened with all the lights off, so this was exactly what I did. And it scared the hell out of me! Please don't try that one ;)

This album will definitely be prompting me to go out and buy The Least We Can Do, He to He, and Pawn Hearts, and I would recommend this album as a great starting place for anyone interested in getting into VDGG.