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| Present | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 April 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 15–21 February 2004 | |||
| Studio | Pyworthy Rectory, North Devon | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock,art rock | |||
| Length | 102:05 | |||
| Label | Charisma | |||
| Van der Graaf Generator chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| BBC Music | (favorable)[2] |
| Uncut | (4/5)[3] |
Present is the ninth studio album by Britishprogressive rock bandVan der Graaf Generator, released in 2005. It was the band's first studio album sinceThe Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome in 1977, and the first with the 'classic' line-up sinceWorld Record in 1976. TheCharisma Records label was re-activated for its release, as well as a re-issue series of Van der Graaf Generator's catalogue andPeter Hammill's solo releases from 1972-86.
For many years the band's lead singer and principal songwriterPeter Hammill had rejected the idea of a VdGG re-union, but in 2004 (following two unannounced re-unions at Hammill concerts), work began on an official re-union album.Present was the result. It consists of one disc of compositions (five 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 (except for the bootleg-qualityTime Vaults), had any of these improvisations been officially released.
In 2005, the band embarked on a successful re-union tour. Only two songs fromPresent were played on the tour were "Every Bloody Emperor" and "Nutter Alert".
All tracks are written by Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, David Jackson and Peter Hammill except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Every Bloody Emperor" | Peter Hammill | 7:03 |
| 2. | "Boleas Panic" | David Jackson | 6:50 |
| 3. | "Nutter Alert" | Hammill | 6:11 |
| 4. | "Abandon Ship!" | Guy Evans, Hammill | 5:07 |
| 5. | "In Babelsberg" | Hammill | 5:30 |
| 6. | "On The Beach" | Jackson, Hammill | 6:48 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vulcan Meld" | 7:19 |
| 2. | "Double Bass" | 6:33 |
| 3. | "Slo Moves" | 6:24 |
| 4. | "Architectural Hair" | 8:55 |
| 5. | "Spanner" | 5:02 |
| 6. | "Crux" | 5:50 |
| 7. | "Manuelle" | 7:51 |
| 8. | "'Eavy Mate" | 3:50 |
| 9. | "Homage To Teo" | 4:45 |
| 10. | "The Price Of Admission" | 8:49 |
The album was named as one ofClassic Rock‘s 10 essentialprogressive rock albums of the decade.[4]
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] | 100 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[6] | 36 |
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