Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other [Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]

Van Der Graaf Generator | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Label: Toshiba EMI Japan
• ASIN: B0009OAVHE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,302,510 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Darkness

2. Refugees

3. White Hammer

4. Whatever Would Robert Have Said?

5. Out of My Book

6. After the Flood

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The second album of progressive rock's best group by VICTOR, January 26, 2004

By 

Victor F. Tripaldi (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (Audio CD)

"The Least we can do is wave to each other" is a brillant and beautiful album. The second lp by VDGG and the first for charisma records this lp actually stands up to any thing released in 1969. Virgin will be remastering the entire catalog in 2005,go to sofasound.com for details. In may 2005 in London VDGG will preform a reunion concert. Their first since 1977. Hopefully they will play the outstanding tracks on this record. A MUST FOR ALL PROG LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!! "Darkness 11/11", "Refugees", "White Hammer", "Whatever Robert would of said", the ouitstanding "Out of my Book" and "After the Flood" are all exceptional tracks! Peter hammill's lryics for the cd can be found on the sofssound site. Hard to find so just wait for the 2005 remastered edition.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The first proper VdGG album, but who were Mike and Susie?, August 22, 2001

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (Audio CD)

While most rock songs concerned themselves with the business of getting off with girls, Peter Hammill had other things on his mind: you don't get lines like "Malleus Maleficarum slaughtered and tortured" in your average rock lyric. This album portrays Hammill's vision of some sort of occult-related nuclear apocalypse. This band was so underground they were molten -- without being magma, of course ;-)

I feel that liking this album is going to be a tough assignment for newcomers. I've known Van Der Graaf for 28 years, and this album for a week. I love the albums I knew in my youth -- particularly GODBLUFF, STILL LIFE and PAWN HEARTS -- but, at the age of 42, I struggle to digest new VdGG discoveries. As always with VdGG albums, this one improves with each hearing. After about my fourth hearing, I was so disillusioned that I was all prepared to write a short of essay entitled, 'Whatever was the point in progressive music?', focussing on the assertion that teenagers and students in the early 70s had less money but less choice of leisure products -- no video, no Nintendo, and in the UK at least, no all-day TV.

But after several more auditions, I believe this album stacks up well (without being quite so excellent) as the other three I named. All the VdGG ingredients are here, fully-formed -- even the fledgling special effects. (I would imagine Hammill is quite embarrassed today about the dalek voice borrowed from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop used to sing the 'total annihilation' lyric in 'After the Flood'.) As other reviewers have said, this album owes something to IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING; there are also very faint echoes of the acoustic guitar style of Bowie's SPACE ODDITY and Jethro Tull's flute.

Despite the fact that 'Refugees' from this album was VdGG's biggest UK single (no less than #47 in the hit parade!), I wouldn't recommend this as the first port of call for a VdGG newcomer -- possibly STILL LIFE and the remastered collection in INTRODUCTION are the best starting points. Provided you give them enough time, you'll soon find that buying VdGG albums becomes addictive. And you'll end up buying this one, even if it takes 28 years. And maybe you'll be able to help me understand the line 'West is Mike and Susie'.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mesmorising,apocalyptic, yet gorgeous recording!, April 15, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (Audio CD)

At first listen this album may not be easy, but thats what it's all about,lost of touch,lost loves,violent foretold revelations.There is no escaping,yet we feel human vulnerability in all the songs, Peter Hammill delivers; scarcely,provoking,horrific,and he can be as gentle as a child a whole spectrum that goes to perfection whith the album theme.It must be listened as a whole or not at all! The imaging is astounding,Hugh Banton plays some really scary,graphic,torturus organ,David Jackson proves he's not just another sax player.On rythmic section ,Guy and Nic provides us with the appropriate power and contorsion! A rare and beautiful album! In my quest as a musical instigator it is my duty to find rareties like this for myself and all you people.Most of the music today is tedious,soporific,and blatant no rest for the wicked I gess,NOT!