THE HISTORY OF SOLAR MUSIC VOL. 3

Since my 1,200th review which was dedicated to "Ballermann", the Grobschnitt studio album which contained the original version of "Solar Music", I have spent each following 100th review to a live version of this great track. So, no wonder that my 1,500 one follows the same pattern. As usual this "Solar Music" is an ultra long live CD set (almost 155 minutes).

Eroc (the guardian of Solar Music) has chosen another two live sessions. The first one in Meschede (in 81) and apparently during a festival (this can be noticed on the intro of "Etwas Später" - a little late).

After a short introduction "Im Schönen Sauerland" which is another farce of the band, this CD really starts with "Space Rider". Far more convincing that its studio counterpart (but the whole "Illegal" album was poor but it was their most recent studio album at the time of this gig). This song is space-hard-rock driven and the upbeat tempo has lot to do with "Hawkwind". After the traditional song (almost five minutes), a long guitar jam followed by a great synth solo fill the remaining six minutes (one can even recognize the riff of "Really Got Me" in the middle part) but it was maybe not that all necessary. As all the very short tracks available.

And now, the first "Solar Music" moment of this double live album. Brilliantly introduced to make the the mouth of the audience water. What is interesting with all these "Solar Music" versions is to see ithe evolution in time and feeling. No version is similar to another one, but still there is a main theme which is surrounded by some gorgeous instrumental solo (mainly guitar).

Not all versions are great (see my review for the second album of this genre) but this Meschede one is really good. A great and subtle intro part (even the crazy opening sounds smooth and gentle) shows the way the band has decided to go on that evening.

The original version clocked at thirty three minutes. But live renditions could go from thirty to sixty (or even more) minutes. This one is on the shorter edge (not even forty minutes!). And almost each part are smoother than the original. Lots of spacey moments, wonderful keyboard play and astounding guitar breaks.

I would encourage any prog lover to listen at least once to a version of "Solar Music". It is always a pleasure to re-discover this wonderful piece of music which summarizes to the perfection the feeling one can have while listening to a very special track. Grandiose my prog friends.

Immaculate beauty at times, yes. I can't help, I am somewhat biased in terms of "Solar Music". This version being one of the most emotional, smoothest of all. At least during the first two movements.

The third one is a bit noisier and chaotic. The beat gets harder and the guitar is crying more. At the same time, vocals are more powerful as well and ends up in a melodic climax which leads to the "percussion" part. What an energy!

One could think of a drum solo, but even if Eroc is very much present he is not the centre part of this section. This is another wild guitar moment. It is thanks to him by the way that all these "Solar Music" versions are available. He is doing such a wonderful job by restoring all these great musical moments. Hats off, man. How sad I would have been not having been able to discover all these great recordings.

After such a great part, heaven is at hand. Definitely. I guess that I will chose one of these versions (amongst a few hundred songs) for my burial party. The Wakmanesque final keyboard part is just fantastic.

The nice thing with this song, is that when the band is inspired it is just a jewel all the way through. As I have probably written before: a total enchantment. And when the last notes of the "Final Part" are gone one feels so sad that there is only one option: to quickly listen to the second CD to discover another one of these versions.

But before to do so, there are still two pieces of music available on this CD. "Zugabe Travelling" which is a showcase for the band members since it mostly consists of the band's presentation. I guess that one has to take it as such. At times, it gets crazy, at times just average. But the crowd is inevitably cheering "Zu-ga-be, zu-ga-be etc." at the end of each concert. A long time on this album (at least two minutes).

And the band is coming back on stage for an "illegal" version of "Zugabe". This band is really a funny one. Great sense of humour and auto parody. This track being a "real" one with again such great guitar sounds.

These pieces of music (the first few before Solar Music and the two latter ones) decrease a bit the interest of these works. As if one couldn't live exclusively of some great "Solar Music"! Still, this first CD has been quite a ride. What about the second one?

The second CD was recorded in Hagen. And the version of "Solar Music" which is delivered here is a very old one (75), well before the mythical "Solar Music Live (released in 78).

It opens on a wild psychedelic improv called "Sun Trip Hagen '69". The studio work was available on their first studio album but this version is a totally disjointed musical experience, full of weird sounds and hectic passages. It gets the mood of a "normal" song during the last three-four minutes. For "Grobschnitt" veterans only.

We learn in the intro of Solar Music that it is the last part of the show and that is it always different (I confirm). And there you go for another forty minutes of another "Solar Music" travel. Don't be alarmed, I happen to listen to different records as well, but when "Solar Music" starts, who can stop it? Not me. That's for sure.

The sound is rawer than during its counterpart of the first CD. The polishing of time hasn't happened yet. The intro is pretty close to the original (but much longer) and the magic works again as one hears "do you hear Solar Music". The ones who know this piece understands what I mean. Still, this one really needs a long time to really kick off. Almost ten minutes.

But when it does, it does. The orgy of guitars always sound so marvelous.Just listen how the second part (called "Skip@12 min as they used to name the different section of this masterpiece). Poignant, vibrant, incomparable. Such a great crescendo. Arrrrgh. I must be damned. To be so hypnotized by a musical work. My drug, I guess. Eight minutes of pure happiness. I guess you can call it heaven again.

I have to admit that this version as a whole is not my fave one. This can be felt already during the long intro. An average rendition of a great song; highly depending of the form of the night. And the inspiration was probably not at its peak for several portions of it. It is only human.

It is time during the fourth section for the organ to play the major role. Aerial, strong, vaguely church- oriented at times, spacey during others. The dual part with the drumming is really cool. And they are joined by killing guitars for the apotheosis: such a great firework. An explosion of beautiful and frenetic music. It should be forbidden to have created such a number.

It is time to get down on earth again now. The closing and tranquil section is helping one to do so. Just sit back, listen, relax and ENJOY. Of course, once you get there, you know that "Solar Music" is almost on an end. But there will be more my prog friends. Don't be so sad!

To close this album, there will be the traditional "Zugabe" but "AF-Song 1" and "AF-Song 2" are true pieces of music. And the closing Zugabe Sinfonie has this definite Santana mood which was already to be noticed on the original (available on their debut).

What I am really missing is a visual testimonial of one of these concerts. I've heard that it was quite an experience! But maybe, one day or another our dear friend Eroc might come up with a great surprise. I wish I was there.

Sorry to have been so long (1,500 words for my 1,500th review, so.). But first of all, this album is bloody long and to describe "Solar Music" is not an easy stuff. You really need to discover it on your own to understand how some of us have felt while discovering this song from another world. Did I say "Solar Music"?

I promise to wait for another hundred reviews to come back with "The History Of Solar Music, part Four". But will I be able to wait for another month to do so? Four stars for Part Three.

I dedicate this review to my friend Febus. Hold on tight man!