The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
Studio album by Van der Graaf
Released	2 September 1977
Recorded	13 May – 12 June 1977
Studio	Foel, Morgan and Rockfield Studios
Genre	Progressive rock[1]
Length	43:34
Label	Charisma (UK) Mercury (USA)
Producer	Peter Hammill
Van der Graaf chronology
World Record (1976) The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) Vital (1978)

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome is the eighth album by British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Released in 1977, it was their last studio album before their 2005 reunion.[2] The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late 1970s solo work.

For this album, bassist Nic Potter returned to the band, having left in 1970, and violinist Graham Smith (String Driven Thing) also joined the line-up, in place of the two members who had departed in the aftermath of their previous album, World Record (October 1976): organist Hugh Banton and saxophonist/flutist David Jackson. This considerably modified the band's sound. Officially, the band's name was shortened to just "Van der Graaf" for this album and the live album, Vital (July 1978), that followed, but contemporaneous Charisma Records promotional materials used both the full and shortened name.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Critical reception was positive. Melody Maker said the band "[had] just come up with an album that finally approached the band's long-promised potential".[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Hammill, except where noted.

Side one, "The Quiet Zone"

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lizard Play"	4:29
2.	"The Habit of the Broken Heart"	4:40
3.	"The Siren Song"	6:05
4.	"Last Frame"	6:15

Side two, "The Pleasure Dome"

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"The Wave"		3:15
6.	"Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)"	Hammill, Graham Smith	5:21
7.	"The Sphinx in the Face"		5:59
8.	"Chemical World"		6:12
9.	"The Sphinx Returns"		1:18

Tracks on 2005 reissue

10. "Door" – 3:23
    • Non-album studio version
11. "The Wave" – 3:03
    • Instrumental demo version
12. "Ship of Fools" – 3:43
    • B-side of "Cat's Eye" single (only released in France)

Reissue packaging issues

The 2005 reissue added some B-sides and a demo. The last two of these, "The Wave" and "Ship of Fools", were labelled the wrong way around on the CD packaging.

Personnel

Van der Graaf

• Peter Hammill – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, piano
• Graham Smith – violin
• Nic Potter – bass guitar
• Guy Evans – drums, percussion

as a guest musician

• David Jackson – saxophone (7, 9)[4]

References

1. McDonald, Steven (2011). "Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
2. Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 266. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005.
3. "Graaf generate power: Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review at Melody Maker by J.O." Retrieved 6 January 2014.
4. "Van der Graaf Generator The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome reviews". Retrieved 22 January 2024.

External links

• The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome at vandergraafgenerator.co.uk
• Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review by Steven McDonald, credits & releases at AllMusic.com
• Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
• Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
• Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album to be listened as stream at Spotify.com