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| The second solo album from the leader of Van Der Graaf Generator, and the first to emerge after the band's momentary break-up in 1972. About two-thirds of it is Hammill unaccompanied, performing with guitar or piano. For the remaining one-third, he is joined by his bandmates from the mother group, and so many think of this as a supplemental Van Der Graaf Generator album. I prefer the tracks with full band accompaniment, for when Hammill performs alone, solo guitar or piano is instrumentation too sparing to conceal his overly abrasive vocals singing lyrics drowning in angst. The lyrical content on this album is indeed the kind of stuff teenagers love to mope around to in a Hamletian stupor, but if you're an older fan, you are likely to find Hammill's perpetual, existential rants herein to just be rather...well goofy. Still, I did like some of the images in the opening "German Overalls," which evokes scenes of 70s touring life (with bandmates Hugh and David even mentioned briefly in the lyrics), and certain songs, like "(In the) Black Room" are smoke with the classic Van Der Graaf sound. Overall, though, I was disappointed with this release, given the general well regard given to it amongst prog fans. review by Joe McGlinchey — 11-13-00 —
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