ROCKPOMMEL'S LAND

It is really hard for me to do this review for two reasons: the first one...for the first time in my (long) life I listened to a CD that actually does sound better than the vinyl version of it, and I would have never thought it would be possible. Second reason...this is an almost impossible CD to find! I was lucky to find it and I only bought it to avoid getting out my old LP copy to listen to. So why this review? Well, just to tell every prog fan around how happy I am to have this one in my collection, because it's a real joy to listen to this music. I mean, you can actually spur the joy the musicians had playing this music. And that's the goal of music, to pass on to the listener the feelings you experience when you play it. And having well over 10'000 records in my collection I can tell you this: don't believe a word about this band being a copy of anyone else! Grobschnitt has its identity, for sure. First of all, the voice: you tell me who should be this singer be compared to? Then, in 1977 one should have been totally out of mind trying to keep a record deal imitating bands like Yes or Genesis! An I think that even dogs waves their tails for a reason. No, this one simply admits influences. It is in small parts looking at previous bands' sound, but this only sound wise, not steeling compositions or arrangements. The german (and this bank I think has little to do with the Krautrock) root from the previous album "Jumbo" where dropped for a more international english version. The nice cover reflecting of course the desire to be part of "the bigs" of the era, but still be different somehow. Take the final song, ending with a long electric piano solo, not overdoing it, in a nice relaxed arrangement. Or the drumming, smooth and precise, at the service of the song. Not trying to show the abilities of the drummer. Instruments equilibrium seems to be the driving force behind all compositions. Less a show of skills, more being behind the music. About this one being a concept album, well I don't have a big opinion about it. I simply love the songs. This is what prog should still sound like today. It still sound fresh and spontaneous after 35 years. You name how many other albums can do this...What a pity it's not available so easy. You're lucky today you can download it from some databank. Do it, you'll never regret it.