The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome

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.

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
Studio album by
Van der Graaf
Released2 September 1977
Recorded13 May - 12 June 1977
StudioFoel, Morgan and Rockfield Studios
GenreProgressive rock [1]
Length43:34
LabelCharisma (UK)
Mercury (USA)
ProducerPeter Hammill
Van der Graaf chronology
World Record
(1976)		 The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
(1977)		 Vital
(1978)

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/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 (July 1978), that followed, but contemporaneous Charisma Records promotional materials used both the full and shortened name.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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.TitleLength
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.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."The Wave" 3:15
6."Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)"Hammill, Graham Smith5:21
7."The Sphinx in the Face" 5:59
8."Chemical World" 6:12
9."The Sphinx Returns" 1:18

Tracks on 2005 reissue

  1. "Door" – 3:23
    • Non-album studio version
  2. "The Wave" – 3:03
    • Instrumental demo version
  3. "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

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.
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