To the Barbican last night to see Van der Graaf Generator - third encounter since the reunion - solo Peter Hammill seen many times. Only knew about a third of the set. After a restrained start - second song Flight was good but could probably have been replaced by one from the band repertoire. The killer combination came at the end: Man-Erg, A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers and Childlike Faith in Childhood's End (for me Still Life is the quintessential VdGG record) - very few rock bands are equipped musically or philosophically to explore the areas these complex songs encompass.
Quite by chance, as I wound my way round the circuitous Brutalist concrete elevated walkways, close to the ruins of St Alphege, I found the Michael Ayrton Minotaur sculpture that once graced Postman's Park, surrounded by security fencing with a notice saying that it had been removed (was this a facsimile before me?) A timely reminder to repost a piece about that creature and its creator.
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