I've been in a huge VDGG phase lately, and just listened to what I think is their ultimate release (probably too loud for the neighbours' liking). I find this album utterly enthralling from the opening flute of "The Undercover Man" through to the closing strains of "The Sleepwalkers". I'm honestly glued to every second of it, and no matter how many times (hundreds?) I've heard it over the years, it's just one of those albums that continues to reveal more to me with every listen. I agree with Guy Evans when he says it's their most 'live-sounding' album. Every member is firing on all cylinders here... Jackson and Evans possibly never better... Banton's organ, bass, and pedals as only he ever played them... Hammill, in his usual tour-de-force vocal delivery, running the gamut between angelic and shrieking lunatic - making no attempt to make his double-tracked vocals line up, each take so obviously distinct that no two could ever match anyway.
As much as I love "Pilgrims" and "La Rossa", I think they did the right thing leaving those off and saving them for the next album. This one is perfect exactly as is, and I can't imagine it any other way. I love every VDGG album, but this one rises above them all - yes, even Pawn Hearts - as their crowning achievement IMO.
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