Genre: progressive
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title:  The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
Company: ABC Dunhill
Catalog: CPLP 4515
Year: 1970
Country/State: Manchester, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6122
Price: $40.00

It only took two years for Van De Graaf Generation to release their sophomore LP - 1970's John Anthony produced "The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" (great album title). In the UK the album was released on manager Tony Statton-Smith's newly formed Charisma imprint. In the States ABC's Probe subsidiary had the pleasure. Naturally the US and UK pressings sported different covers, though they shared the same track listing. With Hammill again responsible for the bulk of the six songs, the majority of these songs were apparently written and in some cases even recorded prior to the debut album.

- Yeah, Peter Hammill's lyrics and delivery were pretty depressing (the blowing wind sound effects and Hugh Banton's ghostly synthesizers aptly set the tone), but 'Darkness (II/II)' has always been a personal favorite given it's nifty melody and the amazing performances from bassist Nic Potter and the rest of the band. The song title apparently came from the fact Hammill wrote it on November 11th. Regardless the song simply sounds amazing when cranked up on a quality stereo system. rating: **** stars
- Complete with a Baroque-tinged woodwind arrangement, 'Refugees' found the band marching off in a pastoral direction. Easily one of the prettiest and most mainstream things they ever wrote and recorded, I think most folks would be amazed to learn this ballad was by one of England's foremost progressive bands. Maybe it's just me, but I've always taken the lyric to be a comment on the impact of communism on human desire for freedom (yeah, I need to cutback on the caffeine). rating: **** stars
- 'White Hammer' found Hammill and company moving towards a hybrid incorporating Al Stewart-styled story-telling ("In the year 1486 ... Malleus Maleficarum ...") and a mix of progressive and hard rock elements. Hammill's typically dark and dense lyrics seemed to have something to do with the evils associated with the Spanish inquisition, but who really knows. Hum, wonder if Stewart ever thought about recording an album on the subject. Yeah, it sounds a bit over the top, but kicked along by Guy Evans dynamic drums and Jackson's surprisingly effective sax, the track actually rocked out with a surprising amount ton of energy. rating: **** stars
- I can't swear this is true, but recall reading that the eclectic rocker 'What Would Robert Have Said?' was inspired by band namesake Robert van der Graaf. rating: *** stars
- 'Out of My Book' was another beautiful ballad with great multi-tracked vocals ... about as close to a pop construction as these guys would ever come. Simply wonderful with Jackson turning some beautiful flute work and Banton adding to the melody with what sounded like a church organ. rating: **** stars
- While the extended 'After the Flood' attracts the most critical attention, to my ears its always been one of the album's least interesting performances. Clocking in just short of twelve minutes, the post-apocalypse/environmental disaster lyrics were definitely sobering - doubtful you'll find anyone shaking their groove thing to this one. Technically the song was certainly impressive mutating through a much of segments, including a slow ballad section, some frightening distortion-laced Hammill vocals, some pseudo-jazz moves, and even outright discordant experimentation where Jackson was allowed to freak out on sax for a couple of minutes, but it felt kind of stitched together, with the changes sound abrupt and forced. The good news is that if you could get through the first two thirds of the song, the track took an unexpected change in direction, revealing a likeable, rock melody. rating: *** stars

In the UK the album was tapped for a single in the form of:



- 1970's 'Refugees' b/w 'The Boat Of Millions Of Years' (Charisma catalog number CS 122)

As shown on the US pressing, Hammill's liner notes have always made me smile: "Don't listen when you're hustling, depressed, or with preoccupations, and if you're always in these moods, don't even bother ..."

"At Least We Can Wave To Each Other" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Darkness (II/II) (Peter Hammill) - 7:25
2.) Refugees (Peter Hammill) - 6:22
3.) White Hammer (Peter Hammill) - 8:15

(side 2)
1.) What Would Robert Have Said? (Peter Hammill) - 6:05
2.) Out of My Book (Peter Hammill - David Jackson) - 4:04
3.) After the Flood (Peter Hammill) - 11:58