The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
| type = Album
| artist = Van der Graaf
| cover = quietzone.jpg
| alt = A person on a swing, in front of the Earth as seen from space
| released = 2 September 1977
| recorded = 13 May – 12 June 1977
| venue =
| studio = Foel, Morgan and Rockfield Studios
| genre = Progressive rock{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20976 |title=Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review | AllMusic |first=Steven |last=McDonald |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |accessdate=16 March 2016}}
| length = 43:34
| label = Charisma (UK)
Mercury (USA)
| producer = Peter Hammill
| prev_title = World Record
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = Vital
| next_year = 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.Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 266. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. 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
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}
| rev2 =
| rev2score =
}}
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".{{cite web|title=Graaf generate power: Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review at Melody Maker by J.O.|url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/qz_revu.htm|access-date=6 January 2014}}
Track listing
All songs written by Peter Hammill, except where noted.
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one, "The Quiet Zone"
| title1 = Lizard Play
| length1 = 4:29
| title2 = The Habit of the Broken Heart
| length2 = 4:40
| title3 = The Siren Song
| length3 = 6:05
| title4 = Last Frame
| length4 = 6:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two, "The Pleasure Dome"
| title5 = The Wave
| length5 = 3:15
| title6 = Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)
| writer6 = Hammill, Graham Smith
| length6 = 5:21
| title7 = The Sphinx in the Face
| length7 = 5:59
| title8 = Chemical World
| length8 = 6:12
| title9 = The Sphinx Returns
| length9 = 1:18
}}{{Tracklisting
| headline = 2005 CD bonus tracks
| title10 = Door
| length10 = 3:23
| title11 = The Wave
| note11 = Demo Version
| length11 = 3:14
| title12 = Ship Of Fools
| note12 = B-side of "Cat's Eye" single
| length12 = 3:46
}}
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 :
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/qzone.htm The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome] at vandergraafgenerator.co.uk
- [http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-quiet-zone-the-pleasure-dome-mw0000196731 Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album review by Steven McDonald, credits & releases] at AllMusic.com
- [https://www.discogs.com/Van-Der-Graaf-The-Quiet-Zone-The-Pleasure-Dome/release/868212 Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album releases & credits] at Discogs.com
- [http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1422 Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album credits & user reviews] at ProgArchives.com
- [https://open.spotify.com/album/0eOBTsAhFUTOOcAcxJNE3V Van der Graaf - The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) album to be listened] as stream at Spotify.com
{{Van der Graaf Generator}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Van der Graaf Generator albums
Category:Charisma Records albums