Disc of the day
The Meters - The Meters
Kings of Nawlins "fonk" go it alone. Cue incurable itch in sacroiliac.
Features Disc of the day
Van der Graaf Generator
Pawn Hearts
(Charisma, 1971)
“Acquired taste” prog diabolists take up stakes, gather kindling, terrify all-comers.
“You’ll begin to wonder if the points of all the ancients myths/ Are solemnly directed straight at you,” declaims Peter Hammill on the 23-minute A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers. Don’t laugh - listen to Van der Graaf Generator’s bad trip album enough, and you might end up agreeing that doom has sought you out, personally. Made up of just three very long songs, this is a by-turns resigned and possessed 40 minutes, employing the soft-then-alarming punk-prog model with demonic organ sounds, hard drum breaks and someone playing a sax they’ve plugged into the mains, all jackbooting up and down while Hammill writhes in primal torment (for a measure of the band’s chemistry, see the somewhat sinister inner sleeve image). Throughout, it refuses to let up – see how Man-Erg’s majestic rock switches on the electrodes with Hammill sneering “How can I be free?” (Johnny Rotten and Howard Devoto were definitely listening), or the building malaria music of A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers gives way to Hammill wondering if God exists to melancholy piano. Incredibly, the LP was Number 1 in Italy for 12 weeks. But they received no royalties and split up the following year, only to rise again with 1975’s Godbluff.
Ian Harrison
Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 17/06/2008
Further Listening
Van der Graaf Generator – Godbluff (Charisma, 1975)
The Fall – Hex Enduction Hour (Kamera, 1982)
Joy Division – Closer (Factory, 1980)
SUGGEST YOUR OWN DISC OF THE DAY ON OUR MESSAGE BOARD HERE, OR, MORE PRIVATELY, HERE!
Previous Disc of the day
-
The Meters - The Meters
Kings of Nawlins "fonk" go it alone. Cue incurable itch in sacroiliac.
6:00 AM GMT 06/11/2009
-
Blur - Blur
Sun sets on Damon Albarn's Little England. "Look inside America," he urges. "She's alright."
6:00 AM GMT 05/11/2009
-
The Congos - Heart Of The Congos
Roots reggae's Lee Perry-produced Pet Sounds!
6:00 AM GMT 04/11/2009
-
-
-
end of body content back to top
Footer
Join us on:
© Copyright Bauer - all
rights reserved.
Reproduction of this
website, in whole or in
part, in any form or
medium without express
written permission from
Bauer is prohibited. All
use is subject to our
Terms of Use
|
|
Comments
Comment on this post
Comment on this post