Rock On! Wednesday, 11 December 2024 – Van Der Graaf Generator, Soft Machine, Focus, Gentle Giant & Greenslade

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Wednesday April 17th. Dan’s pick of the week: Van Der Graaf Generator (Godbluff), Soft Machine (Bundles), Focus (Moving Waves), Gentle Giant (Acquiring the Taste) & Greenslade (Live 1973-1975).

Van der Graaf Generator is een Britse band, opgericht in 1967 door Chris Judge Smith en Peter Hammill. In de klassieke bezetting bestond de groep, naast Hammill, uit toetsenist Hugh Banton, saxofonist David Jackson en drummer Guy Evans. De band wordt vaak tot de progressieve rock gerekend maar heeft een duidelijk herkenbaar geluid dat sterk afwijkt van dat van de tijdgenoten.

Prog Archives review: “Talking on a music spectrum, this album is heavily loaded with Hugh Banton’s wailing organ work combined with multi-registered voice of Peter Hammill and David Jackson saxophone work. Admittedly, I’m not a great fan of saxophone; but with this record? Oh man, this one must be treated differently! It’s also the case with Dick Parry’s work on Pink Floyd stuffs which I also like it. (…)

The album comprises four approximately equal-length songs that all of them project a uniformity in mood and style even though the melody is totally different from one song to another. that provides the semblance of a central concept, even if there isn’t one that I can see. Jackson provides flute playing to “The Undercover Man” and “The Sleepwalkers” especially on softer parts which usually are very beautiful segments to my personal taste. Evans punctuates each Jackson sax burst with a sort of rapid-fire staccato that characterizes the music of Van der Graaf Generator. (…)

“Godbluff” (and “Still Life” – the follow-up that was released a year later) represents the band at their peak, with a tight composition, mature lyrial contribution from Hammill combined with the powerful songwriting the band members contributed.”

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 12:00 noon CET Brussels – 11 a.m. GMT London. Repeated: 16:00 & 20:00 hrs CET Brussels, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. GMT London
Ends: 12 midnight CET Brussels, 11 p.m. GMT London.