Present (Van der Graaf Generator album)

Present is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band 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. The Charisma Records label was re-activated for its release, as well as a re-issue series of Van der Graaf Generator's catalogue and Peter Hammill's solo releases from 1972-86.

For many years the band's lead singer and principal songwriter Peter 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-quality Time Vaults), had any of these improvisations been officially released.

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

Disc 1

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

Disc 2
All written by Banton, Evans, Jackson, Hammill


 * 1) "Vulcan Meld" - 7:19
 * 2) "Double Bass" - 6:34
 * 3) "Slo Moves" - 6:24
 * 4) "Architectural Hair" - 8:55
 * 5) "Spanner" - 5:03
 * 6) "Crux" - 5:50
 * 7) "Manuelle" - 7:51
 * 8) "'Eavy Mate" - 3:51
 * 9) "Homage to Teo" - 4:45
 * 10) "The Price of Admission" - 8:49

Personnel

 * Van der Graaf Generator
 * Peter Hammill – vocals, guitar, keyboards
 * David Jackson – saxophone, flute
 * Hugh Banton – organ, bass
 * Guy Evans – drums, percussion

Reception
The album was named as one of Classic Rock‘s 10 essential progressive rock albums of the decade.