The quiet life of Van der Graaf

"The other night in London, by the happiest of coincidences, I ran into my friend Peter Hammill. Over a (good?) English meal, Peter talked to me about the plans for Van der Graaf. For now, the group's main focus of attention is the new album, Still Life, due out in France on the 16th of April. A fantastic album which I got the chance to hear that same night at Peter's house. In comparison to its predecessor, what is instantly noticeable is that Hammill's voice is more prominent. Moreover, Banton's organ playing is given greater space and it lends this record some almost Procol Harum-like atmospheres (remember Matthew Fisher). Peter Hammill finds this second album by the reuinted VDGG "strange": "We'd never done anything like it, we're almost stunned by the result, as if it wasn't us that had made it." Strange. But Van der Graaf's albums have always had something of the strange about them. Still Life does not break with that tradition, even if in fact a new inspiration seems to be present, like on the title track. Unlike any other reformed group, VDGG almost appear to be a new group finding itself something new to say. Elsewhere you will be familiar with "La Rossa" and "Pilgrim", the artwork is very nice, and I still haven't recovered from the last song. VDGG may be coming to France in April, possibly to Orange this summer (but Hammill doesn't much care for the festival's staggered schedule), and for certain in autumn. The day after my meeting with Peter, the group was to meet in order to work out a new and more theatrical show. I would be very keen to know what came of this. In any case, they have a fighting spirit, Peter is in full creative flow, things are going well. And when you've listened to Still Life, you might say to yourself that VDGG could well be your favourite band."