TRAUMHAUS

I don't know if I can use the same words from the SPECIAL COLLABORATOR kenethlevine in their review (#166244), but my sensation is at least very similar about this first album form German band TRAUMHAUS. In other words, if this album isn't a total deception... have stayed in due in relationship to my expectations .They try make a mix of 2 styles of prog- symphonic and heavy or prog metal. In terms of Symphonic-prog, although the keyboards is practically the melody and harmony conductor don't convince and in their other "ingredient" the music sounds repetitive ( in the most of 8 tracks). Some exceptions which save the disk from the "abyss" are in the two last tracks : Track 7 "Navanita" where the band shows a strong an pleasant rhythm section and slightly close to GENTLE GIANT and track 8 "Am Abgrund" with a beautiful work of keyboards and guitars in GENESIS vein. But in a 60:12 of total time , these only 12 min from 2 last tracks isn't enough to proportion a better rate than 2 stars !!!

German Symphonic Prog has a very distinctive sound and Traumhaus is not the excpetion. Bands like Epidaurus, Novalis and Grobschnitt are some of the most interesting examples of the particular sound from this part of the world and their mark is totally clear on Traumhaus second album.

But the band has their own sound perhaps the influences; some prog metal sections are entwined with the classical German prog sound, full of psych, kraut and wagnerian sections. And if you add the leading role taken by keyboards, you have a consistent prog album full of brilliant atmospheres and beautiful epic sections.

Maybe not one of the best bands from Germany and even into de prog genre but an enjoyable piece of good symph prog wirh some thrilling moments in the first minutes of "Die Andere Seite Part 1"; the powerful and floating "Hinaus"; the heavy but amazing "Bleibe Hier" and of course, "Die Andere Seite Part 3". An album than any prog fan could enjoy easily.

3+* ...

German neo prog,played very close to the style of IQ,PENDRAGON,GALAHAD,GREY LADY DOWN and the likes.Add also some heavier moments in the vein of SYLVAN or even better DARIUS and a few symphonic touches here and there.Guitars are on the front actually with keyboards playing a second role here.The album has some interesting moments as well as some really boring ones,but its main problem stands for the heavy German vocals,which a very raw thing for such a melodic style of music.Not really recommended (and this comes from a neo prog fan),except you can stand this German sung attack or you are a dedicated fan of neo progressive...2 stars are the best I can offer...

Something happened to German prog in the 90s, or perhaps I should say, nothing happened, which is the problem. Of course, there are exceptions - groups like Dice, Faun, Versus X, Inquire, Poor Genetic Material, Shades of Dawn and Sylvan have all had some impact, but compared to their counterparts from the 70s and even the 80s, Germany suffered a prog decline far greater than countries like Italy. Moreover, whereas bands like Novalis and Anyone's Daughter switched over to their native tongue as a vehicle for producing exciting new music, relatively few of the bigger names on the modern scene have taken this route. A notable exception is Traumhaus, who released this debut in 2001 and nothing until an EP 4 years later.

While a flawed work, chiefly due to the excessively pounding nature of the drums and rhythm guitars, this album is likable enough, thanks to some deft guitar/key interchanges a la Anyone's Daughter, the group to which they seem most closely allied. Yet Traumhaus can be much heavier, the power chords chugging away or crashing down upon the listener in a style never plied by AD. Just listen to "Peter Und Der Wolf" to see what I mean. But "Zu Spat" is a more controlled affair and would suit those who are fans of the traditional 70s/80s bands, and "Wandler" is simply beautiful, dominated by effective vocals, acoustic guitar, and a plethora of keyboards including wonderfully retro organ. Its denouement involves a mix of heavy rhythms and creative leads to string them together. The suite, "Ausgeliefert", has many highlights but would probably be best appreciated by native speakers, as it tells the story of a sex abuse survivor. These tracks all grew on me as I came to appreciate the depth not readily apparent when I first listened to all the headbanging. The choice of singing in German was a wise one and enhances the quality of the release.

Not surprisingly, the formula burns out a bit by the last few, mostly because the melodies are a bit less impressive, and the heavy underpinnings start to sound similar to what we heard before. "Navanita" is pretty much a 5 minute jam and is interesting as such but not really what I ordered. Still, this is a pretty decent debut album and worth picking up if in your house you dream of German progressive symphonic with a bit of neo and metal woven in. 2.5 stars rounded up.