The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, was Van der Graaf Generator's last studio album before their 2005 reunion. The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late '70s solo work.
For this album, bassist Nic Potter returned to the band, having left in 1970, and violinist Graham Smith (String Driven Thing), also joined the line-up, in place of the two members who had departed in the aftermath of their previous album, World Record: organist Hugh Banton and saxophonist/flautist David Jackson. This considerably modified the band's sound. Officially, the band's name was shortened to just "Van der Graaf" for this album and the live album Vital, that followed, but contemporaneous Charisma Records promotional materials used both the full and shortened name.
Personnel
Peter Hammill – vocals, piano and guitars
Guy Evans – drums and percussion
Nic Potter – bass guitar
Graham Smith – violin
David Jackson – saxophone on "The Sphinx in the Face" and "The Sphinx Returns"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quiet_Zone/The_Pleasure_Dome