BALLERMANN

In the late Seventies I discovered a record store in The Hague (Holland) named Moonlight Records (owned by the Pythagoras drummer Bob De Jong) that turned out to be my Prog Walhalla: for the first time I listened to Krautrock (exported German prog with a 'socalled Krautrock' label on the front cover), like Novalis, Eloy, Jane, Wallenstein and '. Grobschnitt. I bought their 2-LP Ballermann, it was my first musical encounter with Grobschnitt. I was carried away by their unique progrock sound and pretty surprised that Germans could be so humorous! For me Ballerman was a start to buy all their Seventies albums and I am still delighted about the adventurous and very distinctive music.

On this reissue CD we can enjoy Grobschnitt their melodic blend of several styles, embellished with often unusual vocals, tasteful keyboards and bluesrock-inspired guitarwork. The sonor palet in the 7 tracks is very varied: bluesy in Nickel-Odeon, swinging in Morning Song and an intro on Grand piano and harmonic interplay between vocals, guitar and violin-Mellotron in the long and alternating Magic Train. But of course the focus is on the absolute highlight in German progrock history, the epic of all epics, Solar Music Part One and Two (more than 35 minutes): it's a compelling blend of rock, psychedelia, classical and blues. Not a single second it bores, so many great shifting moods and exciting musical ideas. Like the final part of Part One featuring a hypnotizing atmosphere with mindblowing guitarwork and fabulous drumming and Part Two with a strong build-up, from spacey to bombastic delivering fiery, wah-wah drenched guitar and lush Hammond organ, wonderfully concluded with a dreamy part that contains harpsichord-like runs and sensitive electric guitar, breathtaking. It's a perfect example how unique and captivating Grobschnitt sounds!

For me Ballerman is one of the highlights in the German progrock history, and if you have never heard of the epic Solar Music '.. "try before you die"!