SIDDHARTHA

Well, this is obviously krautrock music. A more appropriate category doesn't come into my mind when listening to this very special thing. The songs are experimental with surprising changes - full of variations and freaky contributions by the musicians. This album is referring to many different music styles which is significant for kraut. On the other hand there are also poppish vocals and simple elements which are far away from a prog relation. But that's not unusual what I would say. SIDDHARTHA mixes this in a very special unique manner, often in an orchestral mood similar to the german band Out Of Focus for example, supported by a dramatic organ. Stylistically something which I never heard before and it takes time to come in for sure.

Beginning with Looking In The Past I was first thinking to be on a song contest not only because of the female vocals (which are finally suitable though when you are listening to this for more than one or two times). Then suddenly the song changes into a fantastic blend of Jazz and Art Rock which is later divided by some simple dancing school impressions. Crazy! The instrumental Tanz Im Schnee starts jazzy swinging, gets a little bit rockier later and ends symphonic and very dramatically with classic impressions and a church organ. Times Of Delight impresses with twin electric guitars and violin, mainly psychedelic with a maniac end.

Weit weg is the longest song, epic with german lyrics, several speed and style variations, sometimes folk oriented, sometimes jazz rock. I'm sure drummer Klaus Hermann must have been a member of a german marching band (Spielmannszug) before he came to the band. The psychedelic Gift Of The Fool begins with violin impressions which I associate spontaneously with relaxing in an austrian Heuriger drinking a glass of wine. The vocals - this time in english - are very special once again. Another interesting song whereby you might have problems to get the orientation back afterwards.

As you hopefully have mentioned now 'Weltschmerz' is a very special object. Is it simple or is it brilliant? Both is suitable but it's hard to digest. If you're interested in obscure krautrock this album is a recommendation which you cannot ignore - 3.5 stars.

The band was apparently a group of university students who played local venues in Germany in the mid-seventies, and disappeared in the latter part of that decade leaving only this album in their wake.

The first track is quite misleading, as it begins with some kind of new-wave female vocals and poppish accompaniment. This quickly turns psychedelic though, and over the six minutes or so of the track manages to work in a little bit of punk, some twisted blues, and an extended instrumental section that sound like it might have been an attempt at a proggy number. Very weird, but it has grown on me a bit after a dozen playings or so. Very strong electric guitar presence on this track too.

The second track is almost as long, but is more of a blend of swing and artsy keyboards, with a doodling bass line that sounds more like a tuning session than anything else. There’s some echoing footsteps dubbed in for some reason and plenty more guitar, but here the tone is deeper and less pronounced.

“Times Of Delight” might qualify as a symphonic number, but the guitar here borders on Animals-era Pink Floyd before shifting to a strumming acoustic section around the time the violin kicks in. This is a pleasant tune whose meaning completely escapes me.

“Weit Weg” is the most disjointed and confusing track on the album, with a mixture of strumming and picking guitar and violin that doesn’t seem to quite track with the keyboards, and giving way to folkish flute and electric piano and eventually German vocals that also border on folk. There’s also some tuba mixed in midway, but the first couple times I heard this track I wasn’t sure if this was really a tuba, giving this an almost carnival feel. Then again, I always think tuba gives music a carnival feel, much like acoustic guitar picking always sounds like Spanish music to me. So maybe you should disregard that comment altogether.

The last track is “Gift of a Fool”, and the organ is quite prominent here, with the violin mixing with the guitar and vocals to give off a very dated feel. For some reason the vocalist has shifted to English, and the drums move to the forefront for about the only time on the album during the latter part of the song.

I’m not sure what to make of this album, but I suppose it should be considered progressive simply because I can’t think of how else to describe it. A very interesting and eclectic collection of tunes, and recommended if you happen across it somewhere. Three stars.

peace

"Looking In The Past" begins with a powerful song of a female singer, followed by a surrounding keyboard and underground, the subject is developed almost completely instrumental.

"Tanz Im Schnee" is a jewel made by this group of adolescents, enthusiastic bass guitar, with powerful rates, a guitar that perfectly follows the development of the subject, a style support jazz of the battery and the omnipresent keyboard that makes of this subject an intense experience, really is the high point of the album.

"Times Of Delight" is good and mysterious, the bad thing is the poor performance of the male singer in where it is not reached to listen nor to understand what says, besides to have an English very badly spoken.

"Weit Weg" this it is the most complex track of the album, sung in German, diverse changes of rates, is used the violin and tuba giving him to a strange atmosphere of circus and mystery is a great subject although it is not easy to understand initially, but its power catch you and like.

"Gift Of The Fool" the disc finishes with a mysterious song in where it becomes to emphasize the great work of the organ, delicate sound of violin and an appropriate vocal performance.

Finally single it is to say that it is a good discovery of the underground German progressive world of 70's, you do not doubt purchase to it this disc