Re-issues, do we need all that as well everything else? Are there enough hours in the day? And anyway, this time-eating Organ thing has always been about the new, the right here right now, the exciting things going on today and tomorrow, the new art, the new bands, the demo tapes arriving with soaped stamps on the envelope, the things happening in back street art galleries, the small gigs, that support band we’d not heard of until they walked on stage and messed with us, that painting hanging over there in the corner by that artist none of us had heard of yesterday. We’re not really here for the re-issues, old albums, we’re not here for the print releases of paintings done years ago, for the big name exhibitions. We are however getting an increasing amount of reissues, hell, we’ve been around long enough to be getting re-issues of re-issues of things we reviewed when they first came out and well there’s a few real old friends landing that you might like (or indeed need) to know about, there’s things you should know about that you maybe won’t if they only get covered in the places only people who already know go. I mean, all those glossy magazine that cover things like this are only ever reads by people who already know. Here’s a bag load of recent re-issues, some vital, others mentioned out of politeness while we happened to be here…
Van Der Graaf Generator – World Record (Esoteric) – Originally released in October 1976, the album was the last to be recorded by the line-up of Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, David Jackson and Guy Evans until their much celebrated reunion in 2005. You might say this was the last of what you might call the absolute classic albums rather than the just vital ones. Hey, look, if you’ve spent any time around these parts you know we think Van Der Graaf Generator and pretty much anything Peter Hammill related to be just about the best things ever and there indeed are no happier ways to pass time, no better mountains to climb. World Record is probably the least popular of the albums of that classic period but then, when you put it on, there they are, some of Van Der Graaf Generator’s finest of many many fine moments; Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild), When She Comes and especially the majesty of Wondering and these days I mainly just talk to plants and dogs about these things, I’ve probably banged on about Van Der Graaf and their glories way (way) too much over the years, If only I could phrase satisfactory words in conversation, to make my passion heard, if only. I suspect you already know all this though, I suspect if you’re reading this you already know and all you want are details of this re-issue…
Recorded at Rockfield Studios in May 1976, this new 2 CD / Blu-Ray edition features a remastered version of the original album mix and the single B-side ‘Part One (Approx. 35% of) Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild)’ along with a “stunning” new stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes by Stephen W Tayler. The Blu-Ray disc also includes the 1976 promotional film of Wondering. The package also includes an illustrated booklet with essay. And once again all we have here in terms of writing a review are MP3 downloads (not even WAVs) so it really is kind of impossible to judge the new mixes and no one knows where she is and even in the slow motion in the quiet of this room, well not so quiet. You can’t listen to Van Der Graaf Generator quietly, this is not background music, this needs to be to the front, listened to with no distraction, full attention. Actually this was the first ever Van Der Graaf album I bought, I knew next to nothing of them, it was 99p in a bargain bin, it took the teenage me quite some time to appreciate it, some of it is very dark, all those eyes howling and such, it wasn’t immediate, I didn’t want to stand straight at first… And now? Well now I love it of course and I’ve never lived as I’m living today, now is the time, these days I can’t go too long without playing some Van Der Graaf or some Peter and taking in the potent smell of it all and I’d argue that, if you haven’t already, then you really (really) need to spend quality time unlocking everything Van Der Graaf, especially the albums from the classic early70s period. Yes maybe that period of time was coming to an end and Rikki Nadir was thinking of other things and maybe the slight hints of it not being quite as cutting as previous times, as previous albums, only very slight hints though, this is still a very very (very) fine album from, alongside Cardiacs, the finest rock band ever. And here I am again at the start of the twenty minutes of Meurglys III at that start before it really kicks in and I already know I can’t go anywhere or do anything but listen to the whole of it, it is my friend, the only one that I can trust, I need to to let it be without pretence, it is epic prog rock, even the dub reggae bits are epic prog rock, there’s nothing else quite like Van Der Graaf Generator. Writing another review is pretty much impossible, Van Der Graaf are the finest band ever and this is (almost) one of their very very best releases…
Details via Cherry Red / Previous Van Der Graaf coverage
Future Loop Foundation – The Planet Dog Years 1996-98 (Planet Dog) – An expanded 3CD edition of Future Loop Foundation’s album and single releases on Planet Dog that includes stand-alone tracks and remixes, previously unreleased demos and a live track. All tracks have been remastered from their original sources. Now Club Dog was thrilliant back there, especially in the Wood Green Trade Union Centre/George Robey Days, Friday nights always kicked up something exciting (and made for lots of Organ sales as well), by the mid 90’s it was more of a dance orientated slick operation of big gig MegaDogs alongside their Planet Dog label and it all maybe felt a little too slick and safe by the mid 90s. The Future Loop Foundation sound was a chilled out Drum n’Bass thing with all the semi-ambient trimmings laced with backbone of “rolling jungle drums” and here we are some thirty years later (bloody hell!), I guess it was of that time and place, it still sounds fresh though, it sounds very refreshing and yes, still experimental enough to more than hold attention and be a lot lot more than that pleasant background music (semi) ambient music can be. Actually, the more you let this big set of recordings flow, the warmer it all sounds. I wasn’t expecting it to sound so good for some reason? Thirty years on and that Future Loop Foundation sound sounds refreshingly sound. Sound indeed, a fine reminder of just how good they were or maybe a chance to discover them for a first time. Rather recommended.
Anthony Phillips – Sail The World – remastered and expanded (Esoteric) – A newly remastered and expanded 2CD edition of Sail The World, described here on the press list as “the evocative 1994 album by celebrated composer and guitarist Anthony Phillips. Originally composed and recorded for the UK television coverage of the Whitbread Around the World Yacht Race, Sail The World became a fan favourite, capturing the vast, cinematic beauty of the open seas. Now in this definitive edition, Sail The World has been newly remastered and expanded into a 2CD set, featuring an entire second disc with 15 rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks, including additional material and alternate mixes, featuring collaborations with Joji Hirota and Martin Robertson. This special release also comes with a beautifully illustrated booklet, complete with a brand-new essay by respected writer Jon Dann. With its sweeping melodies and atmospheric textures, Sail The World remains a stunning work from one of progressive music’s most revered composers”. And well, what can we politely say here? It sounds like what it is, politely nice enough inoffensive documentary soundtrack music that really isn’t doing much for these ears, certainly not enough to make me want to stick with it through 41 tracks. Hey, look, we shared the information, and yes he was a part of the very early days of Genesis and well, I stuck with it for twelve tracks while I had some paint drying, I’m sure some of you out there will appreciate the details…
Camel – Nude (Esoteric) – An album that originally came out in January 1981, a properly proper prog rock concept album based upon the true story of a Japanese soldier who was marooned on a small island in the Pacific in World War II and didn’t realise that the war had ended. Eventually returning to his homeland after many years he is greeted with huge crowds welcoming him, but longs for time to reflect and this is Camel album about that soldier. It sounded good at the time, especsially that rush of Captured, the Francis Monkman flavour of that rush, the melting guitar opening of Lies the pharp of the great parade and Nude’s homecoming, it wasn’t typical Camel but it is in many ways it was a Camel classic and yes, one of the best Progressive Rock albums of the 1980s. It does have a lot of those mellow Camel (dare we say Floydian?) trademarks and we do suspect one or two of those then just emerging 80s prog bands (like IQ) might well have been slightly influenced by some of those guitar lines. Nude is very mellow album, well besides the brilliant rush of Captured, a track that makes the price of admission worth it all by itself.
An album that sounded great at the time and sounds just as fine now, a proper prog rock concept album. This three disc, 2CD and multi-region Blu-Ray version features the original album mix remastered by Ben Wiseman, along with 5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes by Stephen W Tayler and includes an illustrated booklet with essay and well, judging remixes when the label have only sent MP3s isn’t that easy, ridiculous actually, but things certainly do sound brighter – when Sounds reviewed Camel back in the day they always came up with a pun so we’ll just say no one’s going to get the hump with these new versions. Loved this album when it first came out, it cost me £3.99 in the record department of Boots the Chemist in Holyhead, it got me through hours of school homework and the Philips System 2000 video recordings of them performing this on the Old Grey Whistle Test are still kicking around here somewhere. Parts of it do sound a little dated and 80s now but then it was made for those times, most of it more than stands up to the hear and now, it probably is my favourite Camel album, it was the only one I listened to more than a handful of times…
Camel – Pressure Points – Live in Concert (Esoteric) – Originally released in 1984, the album was recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in that year and on the band’s tour to promote the album Stationary Traveller. Says here on the press release that the concert was notable in terms of former member Peter Bardens joining the band for the closing part of the set – now I’m not going to claim to be a big Camel fan, I loved Nude (and still do) most of the time Camel felt a little too polite and dare I say a little unadventurious (dare I say a little bland?). Upon its original release this album was a single LP release and omitted six songs performed, including what the press release says is a rousing version of Lady Fantasy. To accompany the album release back in ’84, Decca Records issued a separate long form video film of the concert also entitled Pressure Points: Live in Concert which featured the entire performance. This new 3 disc 2CD and Multi-Region Blu-Ray video version features two CDs of the concert remastered by Ben Wiseman, along with a video Blu-ray of the Pressure Points concert film, and includes an illustrated booklet with essay. Most of this sounds very mid-paced and polite, songs that repeat themselves in a far too obvious way and way too many times, Camel could really be boring at times. The Nude material on here is good, the version of Captured is almost a speed metal version, Long Goodbyes is a bit of a standout, Rhayander/Rhayander Goes To Town are both pleasantly jaunty until we get to the saxophone which really is just way too polite and heard it all before, album closer Lady Fantasy, from the 1974 album Mirage, is greeted with a massive cheer, it is that classic 70s melting slow moving guitar-led prog thing that I guess people loved Camel for back there, it really isn’t doing it for anyone here, we’ll politely park the information here and leave it with you.
Meanwhile, this month…
THE ORGAN 