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 at Foal, Morgan Studios and Rockfield Studios
Genre	Progressive rock[1]
Length	43:34
Label	UK Charisma Records USA Mercury Records
Producer	Peter Hammill
Van der Graaf chronology
World Record (1976) The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) Vital (1978)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, is the eighth album by British British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was their last studio album before their 2005 reunion.^[3] 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: organist Hugh Banton and saxophonist/flautist 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, that followed, but contemporaneous Charisma Records promotional materials used both the full and shortened name.

Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except where indicated.

Side One, "The Quiet Zone"

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"

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

Reissue Bonus Tracks

10. "Door" – 3:23
11. "The Wave" – 3:03
    • Demo version
12. "Ship of Fools" – 3:43
    • B-side of "Cat's Eye" single

Reissue Packaging Issues

The 2005 reissue added some B-sides and a demo. The last two of these were mislabeled on the CD packaging.

Reception

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".^[4]

Personnel

• Peter Hammill – vocals, piano and guitars
• Guy Evans – drums and percussion
• Nic Potter – bass guitar
• Graham Smith – violin
• David Jackson – saxophone on "The Sphinx in the Face" and "The Sphinx Returns"

References

1. McDonald, Steven (2011). "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome - Van der Graaf Generator | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
2. McDonald, Steven (2011). "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome - Van der Graaf Generator | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
3. Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 266. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005.
4. "Graaf generates power". Retrieved 6 January 2014.