The album came on Monday and I've listened twice so far. Initial impressions are that it's half an VdGG album, half a PH "solo" album with very good musicians on it... not necessarily a bad thing in itself but not quite what I was hoping for. The last three tracks work best for me. But I will take longer to absorb it before I make up my mind and I haven't even started on the lyrics yet apart from noting that the mid-70's angst/metaphysical stuff is absent...
I have played the new VdGG album, 'Trisector', a few times now and it is really growing on me. True, it does sound a bit PH in places but his sound is going to show through more now they are just a three piece. I think it is a better release than, 'Present', which, although having Jaxon on it, isn't that strong an album. They are playing in Manchester tonight - I can't wait.
VdGG 2008 Live Hi Everyone, Just a quick note to say, last night's VdGG trio performance in Manchester was fantastic. The RNCM was a great venue. The band really enjoyed the gig. Some funny banter in between songs. A few mistakes (mainly from Guy, not Peter, this time!) Five tracks were played from the new album, Trisector' which went down very well. Standing ovations at the end. Here's the set list if anyone's interested; - Interference Patterns Scorched Earth (In the) Black Room Lemmings Lifetime All That Before Still Life Over the Hill (We are) Not Here Man-erg ~ encore ~ Nutter Alert Love & Peas, Peej
I'm seeing them next Thursday in London and I'm really looking forward to it. Sounds like the Trisector stuff may become more "vdgg-like" live, rather than "ph-like with bloody good band".
i finally got a hold of the new album - the hurlyburly and drop dead are two of the worst things ive heard in my life! ugh! some great stuff on there too though, my favorites are interference patterns, all that before and over the hill.
still going... :m3: I'm off to see them in Glasgow next friday. The new album has just come out too - cd and vinyl. Its very eclectic, full of short quirky songs. The lyrics are pretty bad but the quality of the songs more than makes up for that. It reminds me a bit of Pawn Hearts in that there are plenty of galloping chaotic bits and proggy riffs scattered about however its very much a forward looking album, kind of a fresh start. A cracker!
Saw them in Manchester last night, absolutely awesome show. Hammill in great voice, Hugh and Guy right on it too. Amongst the new stuff, which sounded pretty good by the way, they played Scorched Earth, Killer, Still Life and a loud and fierce La Rossa for an encore. Still buzzing from it!! I will try & write a full review if i get time. Pete
Sounds good! I saw them play La Rossa in Liverpool a few years ago but they made a bit of a dogs dinner of it that night unfortunately. The oldies in Glasgow this time were Lemmings, Meurglys III and A Childlike Faith In Childhood's End. I could have lived without Meurglys but thats a small complaint. Nutter Alert for the encore. I was pleasantly surprised by Hammill's voice, there were a few moments where he almost sounded like he did in his 20s!
a correction wasn't "Killer", was "Man-erg". I always gets em confuzzled. Agree about PH's voice though. I took a mate along who hasn't seen VDGG or Hammill before, he was absolutely blown away (almost literally, he was stood very close to the speakers stage right).
I saw them at both the Barbican on Sunday night (front row!) and in Cambridge on Monday night (standing gig). Both were glorious, but Monday was better. I thoroughly enjoyed being so close to the action on Sunday and it was great observing the communication between the band, and the little smiles when something went particularly right, but it was a bit quiet (I was mainly just hearing the monitor sound) and rather controlled, as seating gigs often are. On Monday it was a different matter - the music was LOUD and energetic to a degree one would not expect from the old codgers. I've also warmed to the new material significantly, so much so that I can't get some of it out of my head. Paul.
