Van der Graaf Generator

Frontman Peter Hammill's verbose lyrics have played such a key role in Van der Graaf Generator that the latest album by these unstoppable prog rock warhorses comes as a bit of a surprise: it's entirely instrumental. ALT is unlikely to win the group new fans (hardly surprising, given that they first formed 45 years ago), but nor does it suggest that Hammill and his bandmates – organist Hugh Banton and drummer Guy Evans – are content to rehash past glories. They'll be performing alongside Goblin at this weekend's Progressive Rock Fest in Hibiya Park, but first the group have a headlining show of their own at Kawasaki's Club Citta.