Van der Graaf Generator - Present

... and Correct

For those who don't know, VdGG are my all time favourite group, I have owned their albums for over a quarter of a century (scary or what!) and they still get regular airings and still raise the hairs on the back of my neck.

They disbanded twice in the 70s and have only played publicly together on two occasions since then (to my knowledge). The first was an epic version of 'Lemmings' recorded and was released as part of the Union Chapel Concert CD and I was lucky enough to be present at the second one, a Peter Hammill concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2003 where they played 'Still Life' (sadly just the song, not the whole album). That gig, requests for a re-union from venues and fans alike and the occasional get together at former roadies' funerals sparked thoughts of a re-union before they started dying themselves (PH had a heart attack later that year but thankfully recovered). They insist this is just a re-union not a reformation. They were never hugely popular but had a small and very loyal following. This is definitely not a rip-off nostalgia trip but a group of old friends re-uniting to do what they did best together, making raucous cacophonies which metamorphosise into haunting melodies - there is something about the combination of organ, sax and PH's voice that reaches places no other band could even dream of.

So they met up, locked themselves away and just played music together to see if it would work. They recorded the sessions and a re-union concert was arranged and a new album put together.

The CD fell on to the doormat on Monday. It was with great anticipation and not a little apprehension I played it through. Hoping for the best but obviously fearing the worst (which would probably mean middle of the road
mediocrity!)

It comprises 2 CDs, one with 5 songs and an instrumental, the other 10 improvised jams of varying quality with often very brief hints of former glories almost threatening to break out into renditions of old classics. If
VdGG had been a jazz quartet rather than a 'rock' band this is what they would have been like!

To me it was the first CD that mattered. Instantly recognisable as a VdGG album rather than a PH solo effort. Hammill has continued to make his own albums over the years with the other members of VdGG in various permutations and combinations and in a number of very different styles but this is definitely a VdGG album. This sounded like they'd never been away yet it is not like any other VdGG album either. No epic length songs like 'Lighthouse Keepers', PH's vocals (relatively) restrained and a couple of the songs even have something approximating to a chorus! Four mature, talented musicians playing music for themselves and obviously having a great time. The songs have a very live feel to them, very tight playing and the solos feel improvised and are all the better for it. The highlights are the opener 'Every Bloody Emperor' - very topically about politics and 'Nutter Alert' - not sure what this one is about at all! These are two songs that would grace any VdGG album.

Will this one stand out like 'Pawn Hearts' or 'Godbluff' or 'Still Life'? It's too early to say, but if you liked VdGG in your youth, do yourself a favour and buy 'Present'! If you missed them, buy 'The Box' a 4 CD retrospective, including a mixture of re-mastered album tracks, Peel sessions and bootleg quality live performances - then buy Present.

I've got tickets for the re-union concert at the Royal Festival Hall next week. Can't wait!