Good interview
― imago, Saturday, 3 November 2018 12:35 (five years ago) link
Amazing footage of them performing "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" (all 24 minutes!) on Belgian TV in 1972:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asPDvjUYFy4
― grawlix (unperson), Monday, 5 November 2018 14:51 (five years ago) link
Wow
― The nexus of the crisis (Sund4r), Monday, 5 November 2018 16:25 (five years ago) link
I love that clip. Hammill's toast the camera at the end. :)
― jmm, Monday, 5 November 2018 16:31 (five years ago) link
Happy 70th big guy :)
― frogbs, Monday, 5 November 2018 21:28 (five years ago) link
Fun fact: Peter Hammill guested onstage with The Stranglers in 1980... there's a version of 'Tank' that has Hammill on vocals and Robert Fripp on guitar.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Monday, 5 November 2018 22:02 (five years ago) link
As for VDGG, of course I rate everything from the first LP up to World Record highly.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Monday, 5 November 2018 22:03 (five years ago) link
whoa, HB dude haha
― imago, Monday, 5 November 2018 22:17 (five years ago) link
Yes, Hugh Banton dude.
― Alma Kirby (Tom D.), Monday, 5 November 2018 22:41 (five years ago) link
this could turn into an "is your child texting about Van Der Graaf Generator" meme quickly
― Scam jam, thank you ma’am (Sparkle Motion), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 03:41 (five years ago) link
My wife who, in general, is very tolerant of whatever noise I'm blaring around the house (the Fall, P Ubu, "Lulu", skronk-jazz, etc) but VDGG is on the strict "no play list", haha
― chr1sb3singer, Tuesday, 6 November 2018 18:19 (five years ago) link
only halfway through it but this collaboration album with Isildur's Bane is pretty awesome and not at all what I expected
― frogbs, Thursday, 16 May 2019 15:28 (four years ago) link
how so?
― imago, Thursday, 16 May 2019 15:36 (four years ago) link
I haven't heard a note from Isildur's Bane but I kinda assumed they were just another neo-prog band (I just looked 'em up...they're not), so I was pretty surprised by how modern and chaotic it sounds. Plus it's odd to hear Hammill's voice processed like this. My only gripe is that it's not produced very well.
― frogbs, Thursday, 16 May 2019 16:03 (four years ago) link
am going to have to break down and buy this since it doesn't seem to be on streaming services.
― akm, Thursday, 16 May 2019 18:48 (four years ago) link
A few UK gigs for VdGG just announced, with European dates to come. This may well be the last VdGG tour, so interested parties should make efforts to attend.
― van dyke parks generator (anagram), Wednesday, 25 September 2019 05:21 (four years ago) link
The vers of "Still Life" on Vital is so good
― chr1sb3singer, Tuesday, 14 April 2020 18:36 (four years ago) link
Man, Flight (from 'A Black Box') is sooo damn great.
― Maresn3st, Friday, 15 May 2020 21:33 (three years ago) link
Flight was my first experience with Peter Hammill. Hadn't yet witnessed VdGG although I knew the name from the Chrysalis inner sleeves on my Genesis lps. A Black Box had just been released and a campus radio programmer decided to play its entire second side. I remember being blown away by just that single listen for a few days afterward. Wished I'd taped it b/c the album was import only in Canada and not easily found. It took me another year before I could locate a copy and hear it again. In the interim, I'd picked up a couple of other Hammill solos from the same era (The Future Now, pH7) but none brought the same effect.
A Black Box is still my favourite of his, alongside Sitting Targets and This.
― doug watson, Saturday, 16 May 2020 11:34 (three years ago) link
FSOL and paul weller, too???
https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/the-amorphous-androgynous-and-peter-hammill/we-persuade-ourselves-we-are-immortal
― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 31 October 2020 21:56 (three years ago) link
Interested to know how this turns out.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 1 November 2020 00:16 (three years ago) link
A really interesting Swedish TV performance with PH in '74 has just surfaced, some fans opted to buy the license to the footage after being given the nod by the man himself - who says he cannot remember doing it - to share on FB.
https://fb.watch/4bzKWtk4Hu/
― Maresn3st, Friday, 12 March 2021 20:58 (three years ago) link
Swiss actually
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Friday, 12 March 2021 21:19 (three years ago) link
Ooops sry
― Maresn3st, Friday, 12 March 2021 21:34 (three years ago) link
That's a fascinating discovery. His piano playing alone is a little too crude to capture the subtleties of the songs, a guitar number in the middle might have broken it up a little.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 13 March 2021 03:38 (three years ago) link
Dunno, have you heard his guitar playing?
― fuck this for a game of soldiers (Matt #2), Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:44 (three years ago) link
Yes, he's not a great guitarist. His piano playing is his piano playing, that's what he does! Anyway, these performances are not that different from the recorded versions, which are very much based around his piano, crude or not.
― Woke For Luck (Tom D.), Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:58 (three years ago) link
Right, but without backing vocals, Mellotron, etc. his piano style can get monotonous. The Silent Corner stuff is also at an unrelenting pitch of intensity; I saw him twice in 2008 and the mix of songs from throughout his career helped create variety in mood and playing style.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 13 March 2021 15:27 (three years ago) link
Enormous 20-disc VdGG box set just announced for autumn release:
https://store.udiscovermusic.com/*/*/The-Charisma-Years/70JW0000000
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Thursday, 10 June 2021 19:04 (two years ago) link
CDs of his late 70s solo albums are dwindling away, I hope they're reissued soon, I haven't heard anything past Over, it's been a long time
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 10 June 2021 19:46 (two years ago) link
Wish they'd abandoned the CDs-in-cardboard-slits approach and give the discs solid mini-LP sleeves. Packaging- if not content-wise the Bowie boxes do this best (hardback in line with spines).
The remastering of these albums c.2004 was on the loud and harsh side, so hopefully the new versions will be less so.
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Thursday, 10 June 2021 20:12 (two years ago) link
Oh, looks like there are 3-disc sets for each album getting the 5.1 treatment (H to He, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff, Still Life) with both mixes on CD and blu-ray, plus bonus tracks on the CDs.
And yeah, a Hammill box would be useful.
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Thursday, 10 June 2021 20:34 (two years ago) link
Ha, holy cow yeah they were and yes a Hammill 70s solo box would be great cuz I always feel like I have everything and then it turns out he's got ANOTHER solo jawn
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 10 June 2021 20:47 (two years ago) link
Oh good I’m glad the album are getting individual releases!
― brimstead, Thursday, 10 June 2021 22:30 (two years ago) link
albums
This is a weird one, why shoot a video for this song? Did they think they could get a hit single with it? And who are the motley crew of people watching?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxWoYmb3MKw
― "Bobby Gillespie" (ft. Heroin) (Tom D.), Tuesday, 24 August 2021 21:31 (two years ago) link
It might have been shot as part of a TV appearance, I guess it's the most likely song on World Record to appeal to a casual viewer.The ending revealing the people watching foreshadows the "Shout" video by Tears for Fears a bit.
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 24 August 2021 21:50 (two years ago) link
those crowd shots are a real trip, everyone seems a little uh...unsure about these guys
― frogbs, Tuesday, 24 August 2021 22:49 (two years ago) link
Masks surely the obvious single off World Record
― he ain't perfect but fuck me he's a rheillee (imago), Tuesday, 24 August 2021 22:56 (two years ago) link
Giant box set alert!
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/814RENuri8S.jpg
CD 1: The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each OtherDarkness (11/11)RefugeesWhite HammerWhatever Would Robert Have Said?Out of My BookAfter the FloodBONUS TRACKSRefugees (single version) – A-side April 1970Boat of Millions of Years – B-side April 1970Darkness (BBC Radio ‘Top Gear’ session 20 Jan 1970)After the Flood (BBC Radio ‘Top Gear’ session 20 Jan 1970)
CD 2: H to He Who Am the Only OneKillerHouse with No DoorThe Emperor in His War RoomLostPioneers Over CBONUS TRACKSKiller (first version) – Previously unreleased – Recorded at Trident Studios in July 1970The Emperor in His War Room (first version) – Recorded at Trident Studios in July 1970Lost (BBC Radio ‘Top Gear’ session 12 Oct 1970) – previously unreleasedKiller (BBC Radio ‘Top Gear’ session 12 Oct 1970) – previously unreleased
CD 3: Pawn HeartsLemmings (including Cog)Man ErgA Plague of Lighthouse Keepers:a) Eyewitness b) Pictures / Lighthouse c) Eyewitness d) SHM e) Presence of the Night f) Kosmos Tours g) (Custard’s) Last Stand h) The Clot Thickens i) Land’s End (Sineline) j) We Go nowBONUS TRACKSMan Erg (BBC Radio One Sounds of the Seventies session – 10 June 1971)Theme One (BBC Radio One Sounds of the Seventies session – 10 June 1971)Vision (BBC Radio One Sounds of the Seventies session – 10 June 1971)Darkness (BBC Radio One Sounds of the Seventies session – 10 June 1971)
CD 4Theme One (A-side of single Feb 1972)W (B-side of single Feb 1972)Squid / Octopus (from Pawn Heart sessions)Angle of Incidents (from Pawn Heart sessions)Ponker’s Theme (from Pawn Heart sessions)Dimunitions (from Pawn Heart sessions)W (first version) (from Pawn Heart sessions)Theme One (original mix) (from Pawn Heart sessions)Man Erg (BBC Radio One John Peel Concert 23 Sep 1971)W (BBC Radio One John Peel Concert 23 Sep 1971)Killer (BBC Radio One John Peel Concert 23 Sep 1971)Refugees (BBC Radio One John Peel Concert 14 Dec 1971)
CD 5: GodbluffThe Undercover ManScorched EarthArrowThe SleepwalkersBONUS TRACKSScorched Earth (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 3 July 1975)The Sleepwalkers (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 3 July 1975)
CD 6: Live in Rimini 9th August 1975A Louse is Not a Home(In the) Black Room / The TowerForsaken GardensLemmingsScorched EarthMan-Erg
CD 7: Still LifePilgrimsStill LifeLa RossaMy Room (Waiting for Wonderland)Childlike Faith in Childhood’s EndBONUS TRACKSGog (live) – Recorded at the Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor, Wales 10 May 1975Still Life (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 1 April 1976)La Rossa (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 1 April 1976)
CD 8: World RecordWhen She ComesA Place to SurviveMasksMeurglys III (The Songwriters Guild)WonderingBONUS TRACKS:When She Comes (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 11 November 1976)Masks (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 11 November 1976)Part One (Approx. 35% of) Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild) – B-side of single Oct 1976 – Previously unreleased on CD
CD 9: Live at Maison de la Mutualite, Paris (6 Dec 1976 – previously unreleased)ArrowWhen She ComesMasksStill LifeLemmingsChildlike Faith in Childhood’s End
CD 10: Live at Maison de la Mutualite, Paris (6 Dec 1976 – previously unreleased)Meurglys III (The Songwriter’s Guild)GogSleepwalkersKillerMan-Erg
CD 11: The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure DomeLizard PlayThe Habit of the Broken HeartThe Siren SongLast FrameThe WaveCat’s Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)The Sphinx in the FaceChemical WorldThe Sphinx ReturnsBONUS TRACKSDoorShip of Fools (B-side of French single from Sep 1977)The Wave (demo version)Cat’s Eye / Yellow Fever (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 24 October 1977)The Sphinx in the Face (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 24 October 1977)(Fragments of) A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers / Sleepwalker’s End (BBC Radio One John Peel session – 24 October 1977)
CD 12: Vital (live album)Ship of FoolsStill LifeLast FrameMirror ImagesMedley: A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers / Sleepwalkers
CD 13: Vital (live album)Pioneers Over CSci-FinanceDoorUrban / Killer / UrbanNadir’s Big Chance
CD 14: H to He Who Am the Only One (New stereo mix)KillerHouse with No DoorThe Emperor in His War RoomLostPioneers Over C
CD 15: Pawn Hearts (New stereo mix)Lemmings (including Cog)Man ErgA Plague of Lighthouse Keepers:a) Eyewitness b) Pictures / Lighthouse c) Eyewitness d) SHM e) Presence of the Night f) Kosmos Tours g) (Custard’s) Last Stand h) The Clot Thickens i) Land’s End (Sineline) j) We Go nowBONUS TRACKSTheme One (new stereo mix)W (new stereo mix)
CD 16: Godbluff (New stereo mix)The Undercover ManScorched EarthArrowThe Sleepwalkers
CD 17: Still Life (New stereo mix)PilgrimsStill LifeLa RossaMy Room (Waiting for Wonderland)Childlike Faith in Childhood’s End
Blu-ray #1: ‘H to He Who Am the Only One’ and ‘Pawn Hearts’BOTH ALBUMS IN HIGH RESOLUTION 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX / NEW STEREO MIX / ORIGINAL STEREO MIXH to He Who Am the Only OneKillerHouse with No DoorThe Emperor in His War RoomLostPioneers Over CPawn HeartsLemmings (including Cog)Man ErgA Plague of Lighthouse Keepers:a) Eyewitness b) Pictures / Lighthouse c) Eyewitness d) SHM e) Presence of the Night f) Kosmos Tours g) (Custard’s) Last Stand h) The Clot Thickens i) Land’s End (Sineline) j) We Go now
Blu-ray #2: ‘Godbluff’ and ‘Still Life’BOTH ALBUMS IN HIGH RESOLUTION 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX / NEW STEREO MIX / ORIGINAL STEREO MIXGodbluffThe Undercover ManScorched EarthArrowThe SleepwalkersStill LifePilgrimsLa RossaMy Room (Waiting for Wonderland)Childlike Faith in Childhood’s End
Blu-ray #3: The Video VaultsDarkness (‘Beat Club’ – German TV 23 June 1970) – previously unreleasedWhatever Would Robert Have Said (‘Beat Club’ – German TV 23 June 1970) – previously unreleasedLost (‘Pop Deux’ Filmed at The Bataclan Theatre, Paris 18 March 1972 – Previously unreleased)Killer (‘Pop Deux’ Filmed at The Bataclan Theatre, Paris 18 March 1972 – Previously unreleased)Octopus (‘Pop Deux’ Filmed at The Bataclan Theatre, Paris 18 March 1972 – Previously unreleased)Theme One (‘Pop Shop’ Recorded 23 March 1972 for RTBF, Belgium) First official release.A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers (‘Pop Shop’ Recorded 23 March 1972 for RTBF, Belgium) First official release.The Undercover Man (Live in Charleroi Palais des Expos – 27 September 1975) First official release.Arrow (Live in Charleroi Palais des Expos – 27 September 1975) First official release.Scorched Earth (Live in Charleroi Palais des Expos – 27 September 1975) First official release.Sleepwalkers (Live in Charleroi Palais des Expos – 27 September 1975) First official release.Wondering (Charisma promotional film 1976) Previously unreleasedCat’s Eye (Charisma promotional film) Previously unreleasedVan der Graaf in Concert (The Kohfidisch Open Air Festival, Austria 17 June 1978 recorded by ORF TV). Previously unreleased
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 4 September 2021 00:30 (two years ago) link
how are the new remasters?
― frogbs, Saturday, 4 September 2021 01:46 (two years ago) link
shit, apparently they're pretty good
― frogbs, Saturday, 4 September 2021 02:51 (two years ago) link
It's already out? I should get this
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 4 September 2021 08:54 (two years ago) link
is any of this being released separately. Can't afford the full box.Did prefer the previous remasters to the original cds but I think a lot of people didn't .
― Stevolende, Saturday, 4 September 2021 11:43 (two years ago) link
Yeah there are separate reissues of H to He, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff & Still Life.
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Saturday, 4 September 2021 12:12 (two years ago) link
if they pressed those on vinyl they'd make a killing - VdGG albums are pretty hard to come by
― frogbs, Sunday, 5 September 2021 02:49 (two years ago) link
Yeah, vinyl reissues of those four are planned.
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Sunday, 5 September 2021 05:12 (two years ago) link
Listening to Still Life now, I'm taken aback by how good it is to hear Peter's voice again (it's been several years since my last Hammill) but getting the CDs out the packaging of the new reissues is a bitch, I ripped the cardboard by accident.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 19:27 (two years ago) link
still life is the best one! that 20cd box set it up on streaming things!
― kurt schwitterz, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 19:50 (two years ago) link
"House With No Door" is so fantastic. Reminds me of his solo stuff quite a bit (which I tend to prefer).
Don't know anything about Isildurs Bane, 2 albums with them, didn't expect so many collaborations.
Regret not getting those remasters of The Future Now, pH7 and A Black Box when they were cheap. I still haven't registered at Discogs yet.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 15 January 2023 19:00 (one year ago) link