New Van Der Graaf Generator album coming in June

Anyone here who has heard it? So far it’s got a very low rating here at PA. But there are also people who enjoy it:

http://avantmusicnews.com/2012/06/20/amn-reviews-van-der-graaf-generator-alt/

Whoa, June 25th, thats... thats today!!

I don't really mind the sonic experiments by solo PH or in his various collaborations (Roger Eno, Guy Evans), but I do draw the line at such a thing being released as an official VdGG album.

I can mildly tolerate it as CD 2 of Present, but only if I see it as a bonus disk with funny studio outtakes and sqeeky noises. To my mind it flies straight in the face of everything they represent for me, which is extremely intelligent, structured music.

No thanks! The fist VdGG album I won't buy, I think I'll spare myself the disappointment.

File under: "What were they thinking?"


Edited by npjnpj - June 20 2012 at 06:58

I very much liked the 2nd disk of "Present"

hmmmm interesting. Didn't check out AGIN in numbers... but this sounds interesting.

I just read that the new VdGG album "Alt" will be out in a month. here iswhat peter Hammill says about it:

"Instrumental Improvs & Experiments - Most of the music on "ALT" was made while we weren't really looking, or perhaps only while the left side of our collective brain was engaged. The album is a mixture of improvisations recorded at sound checks and in the studio and more considered sonic creations which often verge on Musique Concrete. The fourteen pieces here offer a fascinating glimpse into an alternative Van der Graaf Generator sound world. Perhaps the closest comparison would be with the second CD of "Present", but even the link with those recordings is tenuous. Even by Van der Graaf Generator standards, this stuff's at the wacky end of the scale!".

sounds as if it will be an extremely strange album

CPicard wrote: Jim, there are better targets than VdGG.

I'm sure there are, but it's just so disappointing when it looks like one of your favorite bands is about to scrape the barrel.

I'm kind of interested to hear this, especially to see how it differs from (and, more to the point, if it's an improvement on) disc 2 of Present. Having said that, it's very unlikely to be a priority purchase for me this year, especially as there's still half a dozen albums from last year I still desperately want to get my hands on, let alone this year's batch of definite must-haves.

Still, I think it's very honest and generous of Hammill and co. to bundle these pieces as a deliberately non-essential release, for the curious only, rather than smuggling it in next to composed material as they did on Present.

I definitely enjoyed the instrumental disc of Present so this is some welcome news. Looking forward to hearing the album.

"What do you mean, we're releasing an album of out-takes to disguise the fact we've run out of new ideas? We're VDGG... someone will buy it!"