Present (Van der Graaf Generator album)

Present
Studio album by Van der Graaf Generator
Released	25 April 2005
Recorded	2004-2005
Genre	Progressive rock, art rock
Length	102:05
Label	Charisma Records
Van der Graaf Generator chronology
Maida Vale (1994) Present (2005) Real Time (2007)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
BBC Music	(favorable)[2]
Uncut	(4/5)[3]

Present is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released in 2005. It was the band's first studio album since The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome in 1977, and the first with the 'classic' line-up since World Record in 1976. The Charisma Records label was reactivated for its release, as well as a reissue series of Van der Graaf Generator's back catalog and Peter Hammill's solo releases from 1972-80.

For many years the band's lead singer and principal songwriter Peter Hammill had rejected the idea of a VdGG reunion, but in 2004 (following two one-off, unannounced reunions at Hammill concerts), work began on an official reunion album. Present was the result. It consists of one disc of songs (plus an instrumental, "Boleas Panic"), and one disc of studio improvisations. The band had always improvised in the studio throughout their history, but never before (excepting the bootleg-quality Time Vaults), had these improvisations been officially released.

In 2005, the band embarked on a successful reunion tour. Only two songs from Present, however, were played on the tour: "Every Bloody Emperor" and "Nutter Alert".

Track listing

Disc 1

1. "Every Bloody Emperor" (Hammill) - 7:03
2. "Boleas Panic" (Jackson) - 6:50
3. "Nutter Alert" (Hammill) - 6:11
4. "Abandon Ship!" (Evans, Hammill) - 5:07
5. "In Babelsberg" (Hammill) - 5:30
6. "On The Beach" (Jackson, Hammill) - 6:48

Disc 2

All written by Banton, Evans, Jackson, Hammill

1. "Vulcan Meld" - 7:19
2. "Double Bass" - 6:34
3. "Slo Moves" - 6:24
4. "Architectural Hair" - 8:55
5. "Spanner" - 5:03
6. "Crux" - 5:50
7. "Manuelle" - 7:51
8. "'Eavy Mate" 3:51
9. "Homage To Teo" - 4:45
10. "The Price Of Admission" - 8:49

Personnel

• Peter Hammill – vocals, guitar, keyboards
• David Jackson – saxophone, flute
• Hugh Banton – organ, bass
• Guy Evans – drums, percussion

Reception

The album was named as one of Classic Rock‘s 10 essential progressive rock albums of the decade.^[4]

References

1. Thompson, Dave (2011). "Present - Van der Graaf Generator | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
2. Marsh, Peter. "BBC - Music - Review of Van Der Graaf Generator - Present". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
3. Hasted, Nick. "Van Der Graaf Generator - Present - Uncut.co.uk". uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2014. tawdry rulers
4. Classic Rock, February 2010, Issue 141.