Godbluff is the fifth album released by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was the first album after the band reformed in 1975 and was recorded after a European tour.[1]
As the first self-produced album by the band, it featured a tighter, more pared-down sound than the band's earlier recordings with producer John Anthony. Hammill said "we did not want to make 'Son of Pawn Hearts' with a big long side two and lots of studio experiments".[2] Van der Graaf Generator would never work with an outside producer from this point forward. Hammill made extensive use of the Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard,[3] which he had first started using on his previous solo album, Nadir's Big Chance (1975).[citation needed]
Godbluff's album cover was minimal, consisting of a band logo and "stamped" red album title on an otherwise black sleeve. The band logo that first appeared here was designed by John Pasche;[4] it would also be used on the next two albums, Still Life (April 1976) and World Record (October 1976). Godbluff's sleeve design was later parodied on the cover of Fall Heads Roll by The Fall.
In Melody Maker, the reviewer said that "in a very real sense, [Godbluff] is the sound of the mid-seventies: uncomfortable, coherent, unremitting, courageous".[7] Geoff Barton of Sounds deemed Godbluff "simply, an essential buy".[8] A negative review appeared in the Lancashire Evening Post in November 1975, in which Bob Papworth wrote that "Godbluff is a lengthy exhibition of the type of studiously avant-garde rock which so many other groups play infinitely better." Papworth added that "Guy Evans couldn't drum his way out of a paper bag and David Jackson's saxes and flutes are a little too simplistic to be credible."[9]
In his 2011 AllMusic review, Steve McDonald wrote: "the album opened with daring quietness, with David Jackson's flute echoing across the stereo space, joined by Hammill's voice as he whispered the opening lines. There was sturm und drang to come, but the music had been opened up and the lyrics had developed more focus, often abandoning metaphor in favor of statement. Godbluff was a bravura comeback – only four cuts, but all were classics."[5]
In a May 2002 review in Mojo magazine, Julian Cope said of the album: "It was the best re-formation ever. Godbluff was every inch a classic. It conjured up vast tracts of heathland, the burning huts of herdsmen, hordes of chariot maniacs trashing farmsteads, heads on javelins stuck in. And Hammill standing amidst all this, Zoroaster-like and mystified, searching desperately and eloquently for some semblance of moral where there was none."[2]
Track listing
All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except where indicated.
^"Van der Graaf Generator: Godbluff (Charisma)". Melody Maker. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
^Barton, Geoff. "Graaf's bluff is just enough". Sounds. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
^Papworth, Bob (17 November 1975). "Van too many". Lancashire Evening Post.
^Scharf 2016-01-27T18:00:00.260Z, Natasha. "My Prog Hero: Inspiring the wider music world…". loudersound.
External links
Godbluff (1975) at vandergraafgenerator.co.uk
Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975) - review by Steven McDonald at AllMusic.com
Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975) - at Discogs.com
Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975) - at ProgArchives.com
Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975) - stream at Spotify.com
The Sleepwalkers (2005 Digital Remaster) on YouTube
April 11, 2023
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Godbluff is the fifth album released by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator It was the first album after the band reformed in 1975 and was recorded after a European tour 1 GodbluffStudio album by Van der Graaf GeneratorReleased10 October 1975Recorded9 29 June 1975StudioRockfield Studios MonmouthshireGenreProgressive rockLength37 44LabelUK Charisma RecordsUSA Mercury RecordsProducerVan der Graaf GeneratorVan der Graaf Generator chronologyPawn Hearts 1971 Godbluff 1975 Still Life 1976 As the first self produced album by the band it featured a tighter more pared down sound than the band s earlier recordings with producer John Anthony Hammill said we did not want to make Son of Pawn Hearts with a big long side two and lots of studio experiments 2 Van der Graaf Generator would never work with an outside producer from this point forward Hammill made extensive use of the Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard 3 which he had first started using on his previous solo album Nadir s Big Chance 1975 citation needed The first release of the record in the United States was on Mercury Records The 2005 reissue added live performances by the band of two songs from Peter Hammill s album The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage 1974 recorded at a concert at L Altro Mondo Rimini Italy Contents 1 Artwork 2 Reception 3 Track listing 3 1 Bonus tracks on CD reissue 4 Personnel 5 References 6 External linksArtwork EditGodbluff s album cover was minimal consisting of a band logo and stamped red album title on an otherwise black sleeve The band logo that first appeared here was designed by John Pasche 4 it would also be used on the next two albums Still Life April 1976 and World Record October 1976 Godbluff s sleeve design was later parodied on the cover of Fall Heads Roll by The Fall Reception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 5 Christgau s Record GuideD 6 Sleepwalkers Sample source source An audio sample of Sleepwalkers written by Peter Hammill 1975 Problems playing this file See media help In Melody Maker the reviewer said that in a very real sense Godbluff is the sound of the mid seventies uncomfortable coherent unremitting courageous 7 Geoff Barton of Sounds deemed Godbluff simply an essential buy 8 A negative review appeared in the Lancashire Evening Post in November 1975 in which Bob Papworth wrote that Godbluff is a lengthy exhibition of the type of studiously avant garde rock which so many other groups play infinitely better Papworth added that Guy Evans couldn t drum his way out of a paper bag and David Jackson s saxes and flutes are a little too simplistic to be credible 9 In his 2011 AllMusic review Steve McDonald wrote the album opened with daring quietness with David Jackson s flute echoing across the stereo space joined by Hammill s voice as he whispered the opening lines There was sturm und drang to come but the music had been opened up and the lyrics had developed more focus often abandoning metaphor in favor of statement Godbluff was a bravura comeback only four cuts but all were classics 5 In a May 2002 review in Mojo magazine Julian Cope said of the album It was the best re formation ever Godbluff was every inch a classic It conjured up vast tracts of heathland the burning huts of herdsmen hordes of chariot maniacs trashing farmsteads heads on javelins stuck in And Hammill standing amidst all this Zoroaster like and mystified searching desperately and eloquently for some semblance of moral where there was none 2 Track listing EditAll tracks written by Peter Hammill except where indicated Side oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 The Undercover Man 7 322 Scorched Earth Hammill David Jackson9 44 Side twoNo TitleLength1 Arrow 9 482 The Sleepwalkers 10 40 Bonus tracks on CD reissue Edit Forsaken Gardens 7 58 A Louse Is Not a Home 12 47 Both recorded live at L altro Mondo Rimini Italy on 9 August 1975Personnel EditVan der Graaf GeneratorPeter Hammill vocals piano clavinet electric guitar 10 David Jackson saxophones and flute Hugh Banton Hammond organ including bass pedals bass guitar Guy Evans drums and percussionTechnicalProduced by Van der Graaf Generator Engineered by Pat Moran Cut by George Peckham at The Master RoomReferences Edit Europe in May June 1975 Retrieved 24 November 2013 a b Run For Your Lives Van Der Graaf Generator Mojo May 2002 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Van Der Graaf Generator Things went a bit mad after a while Uncut 2 November 2018 Retrieved 5 November 2021 Godbluff 2005 Charisma release notes Retrieved 27 June 2013 a b McDonald Steven 2011 Godbluff Van der Graaf Generator allmusic com Retrieved 2 July 2011 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s U Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved 17 March 2019 via robertchristgau com Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff Charisma Melody Maker Retrieved 27 June 2013 Barton Geoff Graaf s bluff is just enough Sounds Retrieved 27 June 2013 Papworth Bob 17 November 1975 Van too many Lancashire Evening Post Scharf 2016 01 27T18 00 00 260Z Natasha My Prog Hero Inspiring the wider music world loudersound External links EditGodbluff 1975 at vandergraafgenerator co uk Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff 1975 review by Steven McDonald at AllMusic com Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff 1975 at Discogs com Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff 1975 at ProgArchives com Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff 1975 stream at Spotify com The Sleepwalkers 2005 Digital Remaster on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Godbluff amp oldid 1108046977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
