SOLAR MUSIC - LIVE

This album purchase came about by a complete chance on my part since I new nothing about Grobschnitt at time. The only thing I did know was that this live release had somewhat of of a following here on Prog Archives and that was good enough for me!

Wow, just wow. I really can't find any better words to describe this experience. I honestly never imagined that I would love a live album this much. Add the fact that both this material and the band behind it were completely unknown to me at the time only amazes me even more. Solar Music - Live is as great as a live gig put on an album will ever get. The music is very much alive all throughout the show and shape-shifts with the jam-like instrumental arrangements of these skilled musicians. This is not a technically advanced performance and none of the musicians steal the show from one another. There is a rare sense of harmony here that just can't be put down into words and instead simply has to be experienced first-hand.

There is really no point to talk about the individual moments or some specific arrangements that enhance this album because that is really not what this album is about. I always look at this release as one long 54+ minute track, which is clearly what Grobschnitt were going for here. I later went back and revisited the original studio version of Solar Music on Ballermann, purely for curiosity reasons. Even if that composition was just as recognizable, the magic just wasn't there. So if you only will check out one Grobschnitt release then make sure it's this one!

***** star songs: Solar Music I (4:23) Food Sicore (3:51) Mühlheim Special (12:07) Solar Music III (9:57)

**** star songs: Solar Music II (6:01) Otto Pankrock (7:25) Golden Mist (10:21)