5 Things to Know About Van der Graaf Generator’s Pawn Hearts

One side of the album is a single 23-minute prog suite. The original UK release had just three tracks, with the entire first side given over to “A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers.”

The suite is a dense, experimental piece. It showcases the band’s signature blend of saxophone, organ, and complex time signatures.

The album is considered a landmark of progressive rock. Its dark, theatrical style influenced many later prog and art rock bands.

The other two tracks are shorter but equally intense. “Man-Erg” and “A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers” are the only songs on the original release.

The album’s production is raw and unpolished. This adds to its intense, live-in-the-studio feel, which fans either love or find challenging.