MISSING LINK

The only German band's album is almost forgotten but quite interesting release. Krautrock with accent on jazzy side, with keyboard passages and some (not very attractive) vocals. Melodic (sometimes even more than average German band from that time), with rich arrangements, band's music sound quite attractive.

Possibly, nearest to Colosseum sound, this album can attract jazz-rock and krautrock lovers both. Nice early European jazz-rock, not very memorable compositions though. Band recorded this only album and was disbanded (CD re-release from 2005 has their only single as bonus). Dieter Miekautsch later played with much better known Embryo.

MISSING LINK released only one album in 1972 before breaking up. They were based in Munich which could boast of bands like AMON DUUL II, BETWEEN, EMBRYO, OUT OF FOCUS, POPOL VUH, SUBJECT ESQ. among others. Holger Brandt the drummer for MISSING LINK would go on to play for SAHARAH, while the keyboard player Dieter Miekautsch would go on to play for both EMBRYO and MISSUS BEASTLY. The music here has a strong Jazz flavour similar to early EMBRYO or KRAAN. They recorded "Nevergreen !" at Dieter Dierks studio and made use of the mellotron he had there.

"Spoiled Love" is heavy and dark to open, vocals arrive as it settles before a minute. Gorgeous guitar before 2 minutes goes on and on. A calm with keys a minute later then mellotron floods in. Amazing ! Sax before 4 minutes then the vocals return. Love this track. "Song For Ann" is filled with piano melodies. "Time Will Change" is a cool track with sax, piano, guitar and drums standing out at different times. It settles before 3 minutes as piano and vocals take over, then guitar and sax join in too. "Only Me" has a good uptempo intro before it settles with vocals a minute in. The contrast continues. I really like the organ before 4 1/2 minutes.

"Sorcery" is my second favourite track after the first song. This is an impressive instrumental where each member gets a chance to be in the spotlight. Outstanding tune ! "Filled Up" opens strongly as horns and a good rhythm section dominate. It sounds like harpsichord 1 1/2 minutes in and later. Vocals 2 minutes in. The tempo picks up after 3 1/2 minutes. Nice bass. Themes are repeated. "Kid's Haunting" is uptempo with strummed guitar and prominant bass. It changes after a minute as sax and drums take the lead. Vocals 2 minutes in. The guitar lights it up after 3 1/2 minutes. Great bass here too. Organ 5 1/2 minutes in. The tempo picks up again with vocals and bass leading the way.

Being a big fan of both KRAAN and EMBRYO I certainly fell for the sounds of MISSING LINK. A solid 4 stars.

Graced with a usual rather ugly artwork (this is only confirming the German trend as opposed to the much more refined British, Italian or French counterparts), Missing Link's sole album is something of a lone gem just lost in the middle of nowhere, but fortunately, it was rediscovered a while ago. A rather short album versed in a rather rocky-oriented jazz- rock (if you can understand this), recorded in at the unavoidable Dieter Dierks studios, this Munich sextet had a rather unique sound, in mixing jazz and rock in their own terms much like the cross-town rivals Out Of Focus did.

Somehow much closer to Colosseum or Burnin' Red Ivanhoe than to Miles or Nucleus, this album is also fairly close to some Kraan (and somehow to a lesser extent the sadly forgotten Ardo Bombec) due to a slight psych element still present throughout the album. The album is very varied in moods ranging from the almost acoustic (piano-dominated) Song For Ann to the full-blown jazz fused with rock of Time Will Change (with its great funky guitar) to the dramatic Only Me. A good cross of Colosseum and Kraan with some moments making you think of Atomic Rooster (the opening of Kids Hunting), the album never really raise the hair in your neck, but you will find plenty of good rocking and many progressive joys in successive listenings. The album has just received a GOD reissue with a non-album single A-side as a bonus Friday On My Mind.

Unfortunately, the group would stop at this album, and keyboard man Miekausch would go on to join Embryo and Missus Beastly, but and drummer Brandt headed for the superb Sahara. While not really essential per se, this album does deserve its fourth star because of its relatively equivalent-free sound, and its refreshingly happy feels and its original tone

This is the singular release by little known band MISSING LINK hailing from Munich and being lucky to meet UA-agent Gerhard Augustin who coached as well Amon Düül II and was looking for young talented musicians. They got a contract for three album but unfortunately disbanded already one year after the release of their debut. As mentioned already in their biography Dieter Miekautsch joined MISSUS BEASTLY and EMBRYO and Holger Brandt was drumming for BETWEEN and SAHARA thereafter. The seven own compositions presented on "Nevergreen!" are absolutely noteworthy and can be described as intricate jazz rock with occassional echoes of classical harmonies quite obviously inspired by British bands like COLOSSEUM, MOGUL THRASH or WARM DUST. Especially Miekausch shines on "Song for Ann" presenting it solo on piano. But apart from that more mellow one all other tracks are dominated by a vital rhythm section and powerful, blues-tinged vocalss serving as a backbone for the jazzy harmony lines presented on electric guitar and sax highlighting in expressive solos. Keyboards like e-piano, Hammond or as well Mellotron (in"Spoiled Love") have been used rather additionally for rounding up their sound. Some slightly odd and disharmonic parts are very well integrated into the compositions.

Although this album is not considered a classic by many experts of the German 70's progressive scene I'd say it's absolutely on par with releases by EMBRYO, KRAAN or THIRSTY MOON and I'd highly recommend it to fans of those or mentioned British counterparts. Maybe not an essential but certainly an excellent addition to any Prog collection!

Very good,but tipical '70 s prgrock-fusion from Germany.Similar to Missus Beastly and Out Of Focus.Lots of saxophone playing.This is one and only album of yours(i know..?).I recommended all german rock fan, no dissapointed.-1 star because the total time is only 36 minutes.