…three years in the making, this is nothing less than a a complete reworking by Rob Gould of the classic Van der Graaf Generator album, and we’re releasing it 50 years on from the original, astonishing album being unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

Please note: we’re releasing it on CD rather than vinyl as the crazy vinyl production schedules that little labels like Fruits de Mer face right now mean that we’d be looking at spring/summer 2022 before it could escape – and a 51st celebration doesn’t have quite the same ring to it (but the CD will come in an LP sleeve, just to add to the confusion).

Keyboard player and composer, Rob Gould, has already written and recorded 13 solo albums, not to mention an album’s worth of tracks that he’s recorded for Fruits De Mer Records - all cover versions - ranging from Pink Floyd's 'A Saucerful of Secrets', The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows', Manfred Mann's 'Funniest Gig' to two David Bowie songs, appearing on various FdM projects over the years.
For ‘Pawn Hearts’, Rob is joined on ‘Pawn Hearts’ by guest artists including Cary Grace, Brazilian band ‘Dr. Fantastico’ and The Purple Gang’s Chris Joe Beard.

Rob reflects on the recording…
Doing justice to Van Der Graaf Generator's 1971 masterpiece shouldn’t be (and was never going to be) easy in my view. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be able to make this recording, make some amazing new friends and deepen existing friendships during the process of making this record. So, finally, after the long haul, we have a completed work. One which I, personally, am very proud of. I would like to take this opportunity to thank once again my amazing fellow music makers, Luiz, Pete, Cary, 'Pizza', Joe, Sam, Gabriel and Fernando..I could NOT have done it without them! .. and of course my heart-felt thanks to Messrs Hammill, Evans, Banton and Jackson for their incredible, life-affirming music!

The CD was limited to a run of 150 copies, with 40 of those going to Rob. The release was heavily oversubscribed, so I did a lucky draw among everyone who registered an interest by October 10th.