Product Review

Most fans thought it would never happen. But Guy Evans, David Jackson, Hugh Banton and Peter Hammill have reunited as Van der Graaf Generator. This is not a nostalgic reunion to relive past glories, but a coming together of new experiences and fresh perspectives for the creation of new music as well as new live performances, the rebirth of a phoenix! During the studio sessions the muse was so generous that the result was 16 new Van der Graaf works spread out over a double CD. Present is being released by Virgin/EMI who have resurrected the Charisma label for the occasion. ''One CD consists of the songs/structured pieces which we consciously rehearsed - 'Every Bloody Emperor,' 'Boleas Panic,' 'Nutter Alert,' 'Abandon Ship!,' 'In Babelsberg' and 'On the Beach.' The second CD features an hour's worth of improvisations. These have always been a feature of Van der Graaf playing and are quite whacky.... I recommend taking these at about a half an hour at a time-it's really like being locked in the room with us.' - PH. EMI. 2005.