"The Long Hello" from 1974 Part 1

 

This was the band behind Peter Hammill in VDGG, for the most part, as per discogs:

The Long Hello first started in 1973 as a one-off project of Van Der Graaf Generator bandmates David Jackson (sax and flute player), Guy Evans (percussionist) & organist Hugh Banton, supported by friends Piero Messina, Ced Curtis and Nic Potter. In 1980 the name 'The Long Hello' re-emerged as the common title for several other albums by these ex VdGG members separately. In total, 4 albums were released :

The Long Hello (volume 1) by Jackson, Evans and Banton

The Long Hello Volume Two by Nic Potter and Guy Evans

The Long Hello Volume Three by David Jackson

The Long Hello Volume Four by Guy Evans and David Jackson

It turns out there was a fifth one though called Gentlemen Prefer Blues, listed here.

In any case the first one was by far the best, though the fourth being more experimental definitely has some worth.

I always loved The O Flat Sessions with its eerie and atmospheric mystery, note that this track was written by Italian guitarist P. Messina:

His other composition on here is Fairhazel Gardens which is also quite lovely with its odd chord progression: