tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16865645.post113250381170758818..comments2023-10-16T01:51:55.914-07:00Comments on Words About Music: More on Van der Graaf Generatordavid d. mcintirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025827936203930012noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16865645.post-79089508963833366102019-01-30T16:43:11.285-08:002019-01-30T16:43:11.285-08:00I have no idea whether you will ever read this, si...I have no idea whether you will ever read this, since your original post mentioning VdGG and CBJE is now more than 12 years old. But, for the record, I am a huge fan of VdGG and adore CBJE. I have pretty much all the output of both bands, including that of PH, but I often listen to the first 3 albums of CBJE and they are wonderful. I must listen to the later albums soon, and I missed out on seeing CBJE when they toured the UK, but I wanted you to know how thrilled I am to learn that a member of one of my favourite bands it a fan of my most favourite band ever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16865645.post-3953658446610373702009-04-21T08:13:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:13:00.000-07:00Good comments about how deep and amazing VDGG Live...Good comments about how deep and amazing VDGG Live was and is. I'm still discovering things, after hundreds of listening sessions...<br />By the way: my two daughters (22 and 18) are great VDGG followers. And they are totally normal.<br />Banton interpretation of the Goldberg Variations is also superb and should be more known, as are Jackson's ventures with Italian based choirs.<br />I just would like for the group to re-interpret all its work...without vocals (although I love PH menacing voice), precisely to stress the music subtleties you so well identified.<br />Regards<br /><br />Nuno Rogeiro, PortugalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16865645.post-1153893262405964962006-07-25T22:54:00.000-07:002006-07-25T22:54:00.000-07:00I'm a female and *surprise*.....a longtime VdGG an...I'm a female and *surprise*.....a longtime VdGG and Peter Hammill fan. In fact, I was quite active in The Pawn Hearts Society in it's early stages, though you won't find my name listed anywhere.<BR/><BR/>I guess the 'heaviness' and free-jazz aspect of the band might have been a turn-off to women who seem to need 'cute' guys singing pop tunes to be interested.....though Hammill was quite dishy back-in-the-day. Not to mention, his aloof quirkiness added to the allure, IMHO at least! <BR/><BR/>The bands unfortunate labelling as prog rockers didn't help the situation any, not to mention any proper sort of marketing. On the other hand, how would one market band as unique as VdGG? <BR/><BR/>A band, who with each subsequent album, sounded different, as well as their live sound not entirely replicating their albums. Of course, this has very little to do with 'why' women don't appreciate their music or perhaps it does? <BR/><BR/>The music of VdGG and PH demands a large degree of actual listening, something most people who grew up hearing music as 'wallpaper'...aren't willing to do. Their music is definitely not a passive experience, it's not to be put on while doing the laundry, you'll end up putting bleach into the dark clothes!<BR/><BR/>VdGG are still out there for us to enjoy. I await their next new release and possible tour. They are definitely in the "Present".<BR/><BR/>I think your wife should give VdGG, if not Peter's solo albums, another listen, she might enjoy his 'Calm' series in particular the tracks where he uses his daughters soprano voices as a choir. <BR/><BR/>The compilation CDs, "Thin Man Sings Ballads" and "The Love Songs" might be a good place for apprehensive women to start. Those CDs are quite lovely and there isn't a trace of heavy VdGG in sight. Serious Fun, indeed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com