VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR - H to He Pink Scroll Charisma 1970 EX ++ BARELY PLAYED

	£		227
	$		301

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR -

H to He Who Am the Only One

CHARISMA "PINK SCROLL"

CAS 1027

First PressUK

 1970 Ultra Heavy vinyl

Machined First UK press matrices: A-1U B-1U

Up for auction is this absolutely gorgeous album. In my opinion even better than the follow up "Pawn Hearts" or predecessor "The Least we can Do ..." although both of course are also topnotch and all in my top 20 all time best albums. Visually this is in at least EX+ to NM condition.  It is  the first press heavy vinyl as also attested by the first press matrices. 

H to He, Who Am the Only One is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van Der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970.

During the recording of the album, Nic Potter quit the band. Organist Hugh Banton offered to play bass guitar on the two tracks that had not yet been finished. In concert, Banton would play bass pedals to substitute for the lack of a bassist. H to He, Who Am the Only One also featured Robert Fripp of King Crimson playing lead guitar on one track.

The album contains several references to modern physics: "H to He" in the title refers to "the fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei"; c in 'Pioneers over c.' refers to the speed of light.

The foreboding crawl of the Hammond organ is what made Van Der Graaf Generator one of the darkest and most engrossing of all the early progressive bands. On H to He Who Am the Only One, the brooding tones of synthesizer and oscillator along with Peter Hammil's distinct and overly ominous voice make it one of this British band's best efforts. Kicking off with the prog classic "Killer," an eight minute synthesized feast of menacing tones and threatening lyrics, the album slowly becomes shadowed with Van Der Graaf's sinister instrumental moodiness. With superb percussion work via Guy Evans, who utilizes the tympani drum to its full extent, tracks like "The Emperor in His War-Room" and "Lost" are embraced with a blackened texture that never fades. The effective use of saxophone (both alto and tenor) and baritone from David Jackson gives the somberness some life without taking away any of the instrumental petulance. H to He is carpeted with a science fiction theme, bolstered by the bleak but extremely compelling use of heavy tones and the absence of rhythms and flighty pulsations. This album, which represents Van Der Graaf in their most illustrious stage, is a pristine example of how dark progressive rock should sound.(Allmusic)

 Gatefold Sleeve:  EX+. Absolutely stunning sleeve that looks like it was just bought over the counter!!!  The pictures tell all!!! For a matt sleeve it is amazing to have survived 44 years in such immaculate condition. Most that I have ever seen were in wornout condition. This sleeve being of a dark blue hue is of course very prone to extreme wear and fading. This sleeve is in true "timewarp" condition and cannot be faulted on any aspect. A small colourfill near the opening.This is an ultimate upgrade for the serious collector!!!

Vinyl: EX+ to NM. This vinyl is ultra heavy and does not flex at all like all later issues. It is in beautiful glossy condition without any marks or hairlines. It has barely been played which the labels bear clear witness to.The sound is absolutely fantastic with beautiful channel separation!! I played it on my Debut deck with a Linn Sondek cartridge. Surely the best I have ever seen of this album. This will suit most established collectors as an upgrade. Of course, NO skips, NO jumps, NO ticks.

Inner sleeve: EX+. 

LABELS: NM. Only 1 tiny spindle trace if observed carefully.

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 45.00.  These fees in England have gone up significantly last May. Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

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