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How To Buy...Peter Hammill And Van Der Graaf Generator

4:56 PM GMT 25/09/2009

How To Buy...Peter Hammill And Van Der Graaf Generator

In 1977, John Lydon declared "Peter Hammill's great. A true original... he credit he deserves, just has not been given to him. I love all his stuff". We agree, John. Since debut'ing on wax with Van Der Graaf Generator's 1969 LP The Aerosol Grey Machine, the relentlessly productive former chorister has accumulated an extraordinary body of work as a singer, musician and composer, recording complex rock, ballads, opera, electronica and more music to obsess over and make you emotional. He is a maverick alright - but which records do you need? Hands up for Pawn Hearts? Who wants Nadir's Big Chance? H To He, Who Am The Only One? Fool's Mate? Singularity? Tell us, please.

As ever, the best comments and recommendations will appear in the magazine. Cheers!

POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE!

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 4:56 PM GMT 25/09/2009


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  • Please start with "Plague of Lighthouse Keepers "for the full sonic assault, then "Childhoods end" , La Rossa"..
    Really I could suggest 2hours of this genius band..superb live

    Posted by mancmusic at 12:02 AM GMT 02/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • RWhile agreeing with your choice of sonic assault concerning Peter Hammill/VDGG,i'd also enjoy some mellower ballads such as "A house with no door""Man-erg","My room" as well as the earlier ones such as "People you were going to","Afterwards"and "Been alone so long"."Over"was also a worthwhile album just when punk was being reckoned with and which John Lydon rated highly,more recently "Clutches"proved he had lost none of his inspiration...From a long time fan who still has vivid memories of the reformation concers of the mid-seventies.JPE: mancmusic

    Posted by Gilson JP at 4:50 AM GMT 05/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • The mid-seventies reconstituted VdGG produced an astonishing run of three albums - Godbluff, Still Life and World Record. Of those three, World Record is still the one that sends tingles down my spine. The gloriously gothic ballad "Wondering", preceded by "Meurglys III" has got to be the best side two of any (vinyl) LP ever. The long instrumental sections of Meurglys showcase the bands intricate but melodic interplay and includes some astonishing guitar playing by Hammill.

    Posted by Ian Rowley at 1:21 PM GMT 13/10/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Aloha! jst

    Posted by Gundosbvg at 4:11 AM GMT 27/11/2009 Report Abuse

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