Musictime

High voltage noise

Ciro HIRUMA

Van der Graaf was the scientist who invented a generator, in 1931, capable of producing powerful electrical currents in the order of 20 million volts, a feat for the season.

In 1969, a progressive rock band thought this was the perfect name to represent the full potential of the band: energy, force and a song can really electrify the audience. It was the beginning of Van der Graaf Generator who has taken his training best known Peter Hammill (voice, guitar, piano), Hugh Banton (keyboards, pedals of low and guitar), Guy Evans (drums) and David Jackson (saxophone and flute) . Although it has won fame and respect among the fans of the movement sound, especially in Italy, the group ended a career in 1978 with the album live Vital. It was a difficult, with the rise of disk music and other musical movements. Sign of significant changes in preference of the public.

Of the 70 jumped straight to 2005, when bands such as Dream Theater, enchanter, Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard, among others, have created an ideal environment for the return of the progressive movement. The Van der Graaf back with their training as "classical". The double CD Present did not represent a radical change in the sound of a band that has always focused on creativity. The exit of David Jackson and the launch of the album live Real Time complete this cycle of the band.

And finally we come to Trisector, which adds much value the news that original vision and the experimental group, while maintaining your personal style.

The instrumental "The Hurlyburly" is practically a rock hard, direct and basic, which brings some news on a battery of Evans and a climate 60-70 years for the use of Hammond organ. Peter Hammill was never a great guitar player, but its support is an ideal complement to the music.

"Interference Patterns" is a controlled chaos in the form of music. A line of minimalist organ, percussion rhythms and dissonant voice of gloomy Hammill lead to action.

Two compositions cite ideas about life and death. On Lifetime, is the analogy between time and flow of a river: "It takes up an entire life to understand the flow of current, get delivered, to be taken away." The serenity of the body of Banton recalls the slow pace of water, with light touches of guitar that arise here and there. It is a philosophy that preaches a concept: find the meaning of life can take an entire lifetime.

"The Final Reel" is the last performance of a couple of dancers in their decline in the dance halls: "Sayonara, tschuss, Adieu, farewell / We find it again? Nobody can say / no way, no time / No one can hide, nobody can leave the last spin backwards. " To represent the scene, nothing better than a mild climate and jazzista voice full of tension of Hammill.

"Before All that is pure rock and allows the battery to display creativity Guy Evans, increasingly elements introduce unprecedented in its activities. An urgency and momentum that is also present in (We are) not here, which closes the CD.

I could not miss a highlight: "Over the Hill". Introduction of body style of horror film that gradually develops into a mutant the sequence in which the alternating rhythms and the musicians put into practice all his technique to create a sound intricate, full of sound variations.

For the fan of Van der Graaf, it is easy to explain this intricate sound, just mention the most exciting moments of "The Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers," the album Pawn Hearts. And for the newcomers who do not know the band? How about the recall instrumental excerpts from "Metropolis" or "Dance of Eternity" from Dream Theater? Each band with their style and their season, but the intention has similarities.

Trisector is pure Van der Graaf Generator, even with the absence of David Jackson. The daring and pioneering remain intact.

Nothing better than watching the video below to understand what is the Van der Graaf Generator:

Live Paradiso 2007: Video stream from fabchannel.com

Links

Official website of Peter Hammill

More a page from Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator

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