A Grounding in Numbers, as with VDGG's previous two records since the trio's reformation back in 2004, feels a lot like a Peter Hammill solo effort. The record is oriented towards shorter songs, rather than compositions filled with intricate and expansive instrumental passages. This makes a lot of sense, considering these dudes are past 60. For the prog-heads out there who crave the chops marking the group's older records, A Grounding in Numbers does contain some heady, if abridged, workouts. Two of them, "Highly Strung" and the fantastic "Embarrassing Kid," are album highlights.