Recommended (Part One)

Sleepwalkers by Van Der Graaf Generator

This song has it all. Bizarre existential lyrics, dubious falsetto, extended saxophone solo played by man in leather hat. One of my personal favourites. Prolific front-man Peter Hammill released two or three dozen solo albums until being momentarily held up by a heart attack in 2003. He has now recovered (three new albums) and is back on the road with some old relics of the 70s art rock scene. I hope to see him before his inevitable death from acute Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


At night, this mindless army, ranks unbroken by dissent,
is moved into action and their pace does not relent.
In step, with great precision, these dancers of the night
advance against the darkness - how implacable their might!
Eyes undulled by moon, their arms and legs akimbo,
they walk and live, hoping soon to surface from this limbo.
Their minds, anticipating the dawn of the day,
shall never know what's waiting mere insight away
- too far, too soon.


Legs akimbo? Shine on Peter, shine on.