Future Now, The (Remastered & Expanded) - Peter Hammill

Advantages: Glimpse Into early Brilliance
Disadvantages: Not as Great as What Was To Come

...Yet another Van Der Graaf Generator re-issue from the newly resurrected Charisma Label. This Album is considered by the band and fans to be the 1st Van Der Graaf Generator album, the pervious album "The Areosol Grey Machine" was a Peter Hammill solo album and was only released under the VDGG name in order to free them from Mercury records, before they even started they had already been F***ed over by record companies, the question on my mind being how many artists and bands have never had their music see the light of day as a result of such record company shenagins. Anyhow this progressive rock gem sitting my grubby mits is the wonderfully remastered (by Peter Hammill) version, which features the original artwork lovingly restored and a 16 page booklet. The booklet has the original sleeve notes by Peter which must make the poor man... Read review

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Advantages: Great Twisted Exestentalist Songs
Disadvantages: Piano Balladry

...By the release of this album in September 1977 Van Der Graaf Generator had undergone a fairly radical change in line up. Organist Hugh Banton was the first to jump ship due to financial pressures, he was replaced by former bass player Nick Potter rejoining the fold and Violinist Graham Smith (String Driven Thing) had been drafted to replace him. Then Saxophonist David Jackson left as he could not see a place for him within the new material without Hugh. They also dropped the Generator from the name so they just known as Van Der Graaf which is kind of fitting as this is a totally different band. I always though of this album as being either a solo Peter Hammill album or a completely different band to VDGG, both assumptions have an element of truth in them. The other difference in sound here is the predominance of Hammill's electric guitar... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Dark Scary and Brooding
Disadvantages: Not for Mass Consumption

..." is an another epic that utilises effortlesly changing time signatures and sinister organ / sax interaction backed by jazzy drumming, with Peter Hammils vocals souning ever so slightly not right in the head. The album finished off with the stunning "Pioneers Over C", a tale about what will happen to those who are the first to break the speed of light, finding that they only exist in the future. (note:- that time slows down the faster you go and theoretically that if you are travelling at the spped of light time effectivley stops. note:- Ask yourself if you are traveling at the speed of light and look into a mirror what will you see?) Anyway this is a 12 minute long scary prog rock epic starting with a droning organ and some strange atmospheric drumming, with Peters vocal adding tension, which they gradually build until they start to get really... Read review

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