Van der Graaf Generator: H to He Who Am the Only One (1970)
As far as I’m concerned, Van der Graaf Generator’s third album will remain always as one of my very favorite prog rock albums. This really proves how much the band had improved in just three albums.
The music is dominated by Peter Hammill’s distinct vocals, the sometimes spacy organ of Hugh Banton, the saxes of David Jackson, and the drums of Guy Evans. Peter Hammill’s gloom and doom lyrics still haven’t taken full effect (that would have to wait until Pawn Hearts, released the following year in 1971). But regardless, this album is stuffed with some great stuff like “Killer”, “Emporer in his War Room”, “Lost”, and one of my favorites, “Pioneers Over C”. That last one is a totally killer epic with lyrics dealing with space travel.
I don’t know how to describe this album, maybe a little King Crimson and Pink Floyd, but basically the band had a sound all their own. Even King Crimson’s Robert Fripp makes a guest appearance on this album (he would then appear on Peter Hammill’s first solo effort, Fool’s Mate in 1971, and VdGG’s following effort Pawn Hearts). The cover artwork is done by Paul Whitehead, the same guy who did the cover to Genesis’ Trespass, Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot. He especially did real well with the artwork inside the gatefold, which features a hand trying to hold on to a galaxy (which obviously refers to “Pioneers Over C”).
For some reason or another, VdGG never made it, unlike other prog bands like Yes, ELP, and (more so in Europe initially, than America), Genesis, except for Italy, in which Pawn Hearts was a huge seller there. Perhaps the reason for lack of success was VdGG’s music was less accessible and didn’t have any songs that went over very well on the FM. But don’t let that scare you off, this is prog rock, it just takes you a few listens to get in to. Once I listened to H to He… enough times, I was totally amazed. If you’ve pretty much finished your Yes, ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, etc. collection, this is an excellent album to try.