Van Der

Still Life
$16.98
I LOVE this album. This is probably my favorite Van Der Graaf album, even though I frequently point out Pawn Hearts as the perfect starting point for the band. Both albums rule a lot.

On Still Life, we have sentimental vocals that soar, sail, and RIP through my emotional feelings personally. The sax solos are quite melodic too. I'm still a bit shocked how awesome this album is and yet, it HASN'T gone on to become a classic.

I think once you feel the emotional brilliance in the lead singers voice and the way his voice just perfectly sails in all kinds of directions (with each vocal melody hitting the nail RIGHT on the head) you will see why I'm making such a big deal about Still Life. A CLASSIC!

Oh sure, I'm not going back on my word that all Van Der Graaf albums sound pretty much the same, but there's definitely something special about Still Life. The band turned it up a notch for this one. Everything feels slightly improved all around.

H To He Who Am The Only One
$9.49
H to He Who Am the Only One has to be the best title an album ever had! Robert Fripp of King Crimson played on "Emperor in His war Room" "Lost" has to be one of the more soft machine influenced tracks on the lp interwinding jazz, space-rock, and what was to become hammills signature vocal and writing style for years to come. This 1070 release was also years ahead of other bands their equal as far as artistic development and commercial appeal. The cover by Paul Whitehead also reflected the times and its first side opened with "Killer" probably the one song the band found to be " an albatross around our necks" as PH put it. Nic Potter the bassist unfortunately left in the middle of the recording due to his concepts of the world and the occult witch he feared the band was reaching out to. He would resurface again 7 years later for the "Over" sessions ....an excellent bassist who would be greatly missed. An album of great importance as far as time of release and what it lead to their magnus opus the following year , witch was "Pawn Hearts"

Not Cancer
$1.99