Skin (2007 Digital Remaster) - Peter Hammill

Advantages: VDGG in their full Glory
Disadvantages: It Is Prog Rock but that is not always bad

.... Very few songwriters could write about isolation as well as Peter Hammill. The song kicks off with some jazzy drumming and odd sax and organ melodies, sounding like a depressed carrousel, as it drops into a slow waltz. Peter's vocal soars above this sounding detached from the proceedings, and the main motif dominated by his guitar heightens this sense of dislocation. The song switches between rabid cacophony and standard structure before rather bizarrely changing into an extended reggae jam. Absolutely wonderful stuff, "Wondering" Completes the original album in rather softly with fine flute and organ work, taking you out of the tumultuous journey you have been on for the rest of the record. Ofcourse with this being a fine digitally remastered edition you have all sorts of bonus treats the first two being different versions of "When She... Read review

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

...If my prog rock history is correct then this was the 3rd VDGG album and the 2nd "proper" VDGG album, the firts was effictivley a solo album by singer Peter Hammill released to free them from a objectionable recording contract. This was also the firts album to be recorded by the classic 4 peice line up of Peter Hammil (Vocals, Accoustic Guitar), Hugh Banton (Organ, Bass Pedals), David Jaxon (Saxes, Flutes, Electronics), and Guy Evans (Drums). They were augmented on this album by recentley departed bass player Nick Potter and Robert Fripp on Electric Guitar. This album starts to focus all the classic VDGG elements existential lyrics, Jazzy drumming, rudimentary guitar riffs and really bloody scary organ solos. When other prog rock bands were doing long namby pamby solos VDGG were making scary noises with their organs during their solos... 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

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