Present (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Present
Type = Album
Artist = Van der Graaf Generator

---

Released = 2005
Recorded = 2004-2005
Genre = Art rock
Length = 102:05
Label = EMI
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Vital"
(1978)
This album = "Present"
(2005)
Next album = "Real Time"
(2007)

"Present" is an album by Van der Graaf Generator, released in 2005. It was the band's first studio album since "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome" in 1977, and the first with the 'classic' line-up since "World Record" in 1976.

For many years the band's lead singer and principal songwriter Peter Hammill had rejected the idea of a VdGG reunion, but in 2004 (following two one-off, unannounced reunions at Hammill concerts), work began on an official reunion album. "Present" was the result. It consists of one disc of songs (plus an instrumental, "Boleas Panic"), and one disc of studio improvisations. The band had always improvised in the studio throughout their history, but never before (excepting the bootleg-quality "Time Vaults"), had these improvisations been officially released.

In 2005, the band embarked on a successful reunion tour. Only two songs from "Present", however, were played on the tour: "Every Bloody Emperor" and "Nutter Alert".

Track listing

Disc 1

#"Every Bloody Emperor" (Hammill) - 7:03
#"Boleas Panic" (Jackson) - 6:50
#"Nutter Alert" (Hammill) - 6:11
#"Abandon Ship!" (Evans, Hammill) - 5:07
#"In Babelsberg" (Hammill) - 5:30
#"On The Beach" (Jackson, Hammill) - 6:48

Disc 2

All written by Banton, Evans, Jackson, Hammill

#"Vulcan Meld" - 7:19
#"Double Bass" - 6:34
#"Slo Moves" - 6:24
#"Architectural Hair" - 8:55
#"Spanner" - 5:03
#"Crux" - 5:50
#"Manuelle" - 7:51
#"'Eavy Mate" 3:51
#"Homage To Teo" - 4:45
#"The Price Of Admission" - 8:49

Personnel

*Peter Hammill – vocals, guitar, keyboards
*David Jackson – saxophone, flute
*Hugh Banton – organ
*Guy Evans – drums, percussion