"Present" 3 years later

Friede and I just listened to VdGG's reunion album "Present" again and are of the opinion that it is an amazing album, fully worthy of 5 stars. while on first listening the tracks "Every Bloody Emperor" and "Nutter Alert" stood out on the first disk, it has to be said that the rest of the songs are on the same level. "Abandon Ship!" with its deliberately tottering rhythm is a wonderfully self-ironic song. "In Babelsberg" shows Hammill strumming the guitar like Ricky Nadir, and we just love the pumping bass guitar of Banton here; it is definitely refreshing to here him play that again for a change. "On the Beach" is a nice chill-out for the first disc.
the second disc is disliked by many, but very unjustly so; it is just fantastic to hear the band flex the musical muscles a bit. and they are obviously having a lot of fun, which definitely carries over to the listener. actually we like this second disc even more than the first. but I admit it is certainly not for everyone.
next week we will go and buy "Trisector" (what, you don't have it yet?); expect a review by one of us then

Present is indeed an excellent album, it took me a while to get into it but it's now a definite favourite. I don't listen to the improv CD very often though as I really miss Hammill's vocals. 

I'm going to agree with what James said about Present and Trisector, Every Bloody Emperor and Nutter Alert are the clear stand outs on the first disc and though the other songs are good, they just dont stand up to their best output from the 70's like the previously mentioned two do. Thouroghly agree with you about the second disc, though, Jean.

'Trisector' is on my shopping list so cant comment yet, but 'Present' is indeed an excellent comeback album. 4 stars.

I just got Present, so I haven't had three years to absorb it, but I do feel that it's a very strong album from the few listens I've been able to give it. My copy of Trisector just shipped so I'm hoping to get it soon, but I can't give the comparison many can at the moment. 

it hasent changed that much for me, its still a very good 4 star album, maybe even 4.5 but not 5. And yes i love the second disc to, havent heard thier new one, but i can almost imagine what it will be like by reading others description and i look forward to hear it.

There's no doubt that Present was a superb comeback album; way better than many expected after so many years & far better than many other bands could have managed (especially when you take into account the acclaim they garnered for the tour & the live album which followed).

Trisector's a good album, without doubt, but to my mind the writing misses Jackson's input.