Progressive Rock charts

Review: It's hard to tell whether The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other is the most reassuring or disappointing moment in the history of Van der Graaf Generator. The progressive rock outfit that came out of Manchester University in the mid-late-1960s have been going, in some form or another, for 55 years. And yet here we are, in 2022, discussing this, the only UK Top 50 album they ever released.

The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other was also their first LP released in Britain, which speaks volumes about how unfair music can be. Despite the obvious visibility issues of a band that continue to pass many by, it's safe to say critics have always been pretty blown away by the VDGG, and no more so than on this outing. At times its unsettling, in other moments joyous, it packs so much personality you can't help but get to know the players intimately on first listen.