GODBLUFF

It wasn't until my discovery of the VDGG album H to He, Who am The Only One that I was finally able to "get" Peter Hammill (to be honest: to get over my distaste of his voice/singing style). I'd been trying to get into/appreciate Hammill & VDGG for years--since 1977-8 when I picked up In Camera, The Silent Corner . . . , and Over. I always thought the song structures intriguing, I just couldn't get past my aversion PH's voice/singing. Plus, I am not a lyric-conscious music listener and VDGG/PH are definitely better appreciated if you get into the lyrics. So now I am finally able to go back and re-listen to the VDGG/PH discography in order to write some reviews.

Godbluff contains two very amazing songs in the intense and emotional howitzer (though oddly engineered), 3. "Arrow" (8:15) (18/20) and the surprising, diversified, and instrumentally fun 'jam,' 4. "The Sleepwalkers" (10:26) (18/20)--a great song which does not give as much forefront to PH's vocal (it's actually mixed quite far back into the mix for a good portion of the second half of the song--and there is a lengthy instruments-only section in the middle containing many fun and even beautiful mood, style, sound, and instrumental shifts). The album's opener, "Undercover Man" (7:00) is just plain boring music (I get very tired of the church organ playing). (12.75/15). 2. "Scorched Earth" (10:10) (17.75/20) is somewhere in between--a step above because the clavinet and sax sound pretty good together. Also, I like some of the unusual vocal effects, layering and background vocals. I usually don't like sax--period--but it's actually okay in this mix--even the soli. I guess my main complaint here is the length and repetitious A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B . . .

In summary: "Arrow" and "The Sleepwalkers" are definite masterpieces of progressive music; "Scorched Earth" is memorable; "Undercover Man" is a song for the 'torture your mother-in-law' bin. I guess it's and excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection. Maybe not every prog lover's music collection. 3.5 stars rated up cuz I respect the talent here and the choices of others.

Total Time: 35:51

The band feels more mature, more patient and thoughtful with its songwriting, but the overall effect fails to hold my attention much less keep me engrossed.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music. As for its claim to being one of the Top 10-20 prog album ever made? I'm afraid it wouldn't even make my Top 500.