5/5 Van der Graaf: the Next Generator (cooks!)
  by C. Lichiello (Ohio)
OK, I gave it a 5 maybe because I'm such an intractible devotee... But it IS really GOOD, just not a masterpiece.

The video IS really GOOD, but in 4:3 aspect, not widescreen. It was filmed in '07 for Dutch television. You can see Peter Hammill sweat and the moles on Guy Evans' face. Good enough for you? Works for me.

The sound IS really GOOD, but in Stereo, not 5.1 surround. Personally I'd 10x rather have a well-done high-quality, mixdown to stereo than some hack half-excuse afterthought attempt to mimic surround where all you get from the rear channels is echo from the hall and audience noise. And THIS crowd you'll see was WAY into it... much larger and more appreciative than the few hundred who showed up for their '09 North American gigs.

The rock IS really GOOD, but c'mon these guys are 60-something, not a Boy-band. PH messed up a couple lyrics and one of his foot pedals was buzzy but overall they played well and treated the concert-goers to fine renditions of material that obviously EVERYONE had high respect for. It's mostly catalog selections, with only "Every Bloody Emporer", "All That Before", and "Lifetime" (my wife's favorite) coming from their reunion era. They played MUCH more from their excellent trio studio album _Trisector_ when they hit the US & Canada.

If you're a forever-fan you may miss David Jackson but they don't sound the least bit thin without him. Hugh Banton fills in mightily on the keys and bass pedals while PH spends more time on both guitar and electric piano/fender rhodes than he used to. In fact the "bonus" interview of Hammill has him explaining about how some pieces translated conveniently to the trio format and others just won't, period.

And speaking of "bonus," how 'bout that Amazon price, huh? With cross-the-pond shipping mine set me back 30 bucks but I'm still happy!
I just never thought it would get a US release. WELL worth the money.
-Ole Troll