Vital [Import, Live, Original recording remastered]

Van Der Graaf | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Live, Original recording remastered
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0009Y33H4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,483 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Limited Edition Japanese "Mini Vinyl" CD, faithfully reproduced using original LP artwork including the inner sleeve. Features most recently mastered audio including bonus tracks where applicable. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well, I Disagree . . ., August 8, 2006

By 

Zachary A. Hanson "Jazzpunk" (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vital (Audio CD)

This CD rates with the best live CD packages out there (_Yessongs_, ELP's _Welcome Back My Friends . . ._, Mars Volta's _Scabdates_). Take a world-class pack of musicians and have them play selections from a world-class catalog, insert some intriguing production values and, most important of all, rock hard at the concert you're recording, and you've got something very worthwhile.

I'm not a VDGG completist (Yet! I'm working on it!), but for sheer energy, this release ranks up there with their classic _Pawn Hearts_. On their other studio releases, they play it a little safe sometimes. Here, there are abundant moments of reckless energy and daring musicianship. Foremost in these regards is the amazing Graham Smith on violin. He adds just the right blend of virtuosity, harmony, and schizophonia to every song here. The seventeen-minute "Pioneers Over C" is perfect in these regards, switching from epic lament to out-of-control to melodic dirge at the drop of a dime, all within the space of a minute.

"A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers/ Sleepwalkers" is also amazing for the aplomb with which the band is able to add life to the original by throwing in what seem to be on-the-spot improvisations. This furthers my belief that VDGG were the best improvisers of all the prog giants of the '70s. Other bands could do it, but they couldn't make you FEEL the tension of the tightrope walk they were doing. You seem to feel VDGG's vertigo with them as they make their material new.

Besides earlier VDGG material like these songs, the lineup also treats some of Hammill's solo work and the later-'70s VDG. This stuff stands up great! I especially love the punkish "Nadir's Big Chance" with Guy Evans progifying it by making the drum part one big fill!!! The studio version is great and this is just as great in its own way.

Another beauty of this CD is Nic Poter's ur-bass on every song. They've got grunge prefigured by about 12 years here with the so-thick-you-can-spread-it, ultra-distorted, way-up-in-the-mix fuzz grounding every song firmly in the muckety muck of existence that Hammill is so superb at expressing lyrically.

Despite what the snobs say below, this CD is a must-own for every lover of challenging music. I think you'll agree with the crowd that cheers enthusiastically and loudly in between every song. VDG choose what's best out of their catalog, rock it silly, and renew it at every turn. Only the best bands can do that and VDG show why they are in this category with this superb release.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Least I can do, January 4, 2006

By 

Dr. W. Martin James (Arkadelphia, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vital (Audio CD)

I own this as an album. The only reason I purchased it was for the so-called 7 minute version of "Nadir's Big Chance." That cut, despite what the cd package says, is only 3:30, similar to the tune on Hammill's solo work of that title. As a VDGG fan, this was always the my least favorite recording in their catalog. I don't think the recording is that well done. Although when I first purchased the album, anything by VDGG was welcome. VDGG has better offerings such as "Godbluff" or "Pawn Hearts." If, like me, you want to hear an "extended version" of "Nadir's Big Chance," buy Hammill's solo work of the same title which is better than "Vital" anyway.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BRUTAL, RAW ORIGINAL PROG ROCK, August 18, 2005

By 

Ignaciocue (Mexico) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Vital (Audio CD)

QUITE BRUTAL AND RAW CD, NOT FOR VAN DER GRAAF STARTERS.
WONDERFUL NEVER THE LESS, IT HAS BEAUTIFUL PASSION IN ITS AGRESSIVENESS AND HONEST APPROACH.
IF YOU ARE NEW TO VAN DER GRAAF, BEGIN WITH LIZARD PLAY,THEIR MOST ACCESIBLE, AND GO ON WITH STILL LIFE, GODBLUFF, HE TO HE AND FINALLY THEIR MASTERPIECE PAWNHEARTS.

GREAT REMASTERING