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World Record

a Studio Release
Release Year:
1976
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Added To Proggnosis on: 01 Dec 2000
Last Updated on: 04 Jan 2011 by: Rob

Track Listing 

  1. When She Comes
  2. A Place to Survive
  3. Masks
  4. Meurglys III
  5. Wondering

Performer Credits  


Guy Evans
drums, percussion
Hugh Banton
organs, piano, Mellotron, bass pedal/guitar, synthesizer, vocals
Peter Hammill
lead vocal, guitars, piano
David Jackson
saxophone, flute, vocals

Reviews


review by: DBSilverWorld Record is the weakest of the '2nd Generation' releases by Van Der Graaf Generator, but it is by no means a weak album. Hammill is in great voice and lyric, Evens drums are crisp and inventive, Jackson gets many opportunities to step out here, and Banton's keyboards are consistently on the mark. There was a lot of tension between Hammill and Banton at this time and in the band in general. In fact Banton and Jackson would leave the band following World Record. Even so, you cannot tell this from the final product although the songs themselves are a shade below Godbluff and Still Life. World Record is a balanced and even album none-the-less.
Masques is the highlight here. The studio work does wonders with Hammill's distinctive voice and headphones, high volume and a little privacy will make this song fly.
When She Comes is a fine demonstration of how effectively VDGG can build a prog tune over a complex almost avant rythym. While it's not the best piece they have done (or even the best on this album), it encompasses all the components of the VDGG sound and provides each member an opportunity to shine in their way.
Meurglys III (The Songwriter's Guild) contains hypnotic rythyms that have the ability to haunt long after the song has finished. It contains a sometimes delicate/sometimes gut-wrenching sax solo unlike any on other VDGG recordings and it is not to be missed. This song is not the best on this album and perhaps it is a bit too long.
A Place to Survive is probably the weakest song on the album. Listenable but unexceptional by VDGG standards.
The Banton-Hammill composition Wonderings ranks among the best works by this incredible band with Hammill in his best voice and musical suprises within. VDGG has never sounded more 'Proggier'.
If you are new to VDGG, there might be better places to start. For 2nd Generation VDGG, try Still Life or God Bluf. For 1st Generation you have to start with Pawn Hearts.

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