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MOUTH

Eclectic Prog • Germany


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Mouth biography
Founded in Cologne, Germany in 2000

MOUTH were formed in Cologne in 2000 as a trio, comprised of Christian Koller (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Jan Wendeler (bass, bass synth) and Nick Mavridis (drums, backing vocals, keyboards).

The band's style is a blend of 'golden era' progressive rock - with influential names such are YES, GENESIS, GENTLE GIANT, SOFT MACHINE, HATFIELD & THE NORTH; as well as classic rock/hard rock and prog related names old and new: LED ZEPPELIN, THE WHO, DAVID BOWIE, T.REX and FISH.

Indeed, this is often cited as a mixture of retro prog, kraut rock, hard rock, psych and glam rock - all together it fuses into a unique spleen, often underlined with dystopian themes.

In 2007 they were offered to record an album, and their debut 'Rhizome', released for Bluenoise label, saw the light of the day two years later. Nearly at the same time Nick Mavridis left the band and was substituted by Thomas Ahlers until Mavridis re-entered the crew in 2010.

Jan Wendler left in 2012 and Gerald Kirsch joined as the new bass player since 2013. During the next years the band recorded a lot of songs, with the result of the albums 'Vortex' (2016) and 'Floating' (2018), both highly acclaimed productions showing way more kraut and psychedelic rock attitude.

After the death of Gerald Kirsch (2018) the band went on a short hiatus, but could already announce Thomas Johnen as a new member in March 2019. The live comeback then appeared at the Krach Am Bach Festival. Containing new and previously unreleased material a further EP is planned for late Summer 2019.

MOUTH Videos (YouTube and more)


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MOUTH discography


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MOUTH top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.09 | 3 ratings
Rhizome
2009
3.86 | 16 ratings
Vortex
2017
3.71 | 15 ratings
Floating
2018
3.00 | 2 ratings
Past-Present-Future
2019
3.85 | 7 ratings
Getaway
2023

MOUTH Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.10 | 2 ratings
Live'71
2017

MOUTH Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

MOUTH Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

MOUTH Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

MOUTH Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Getaway by MOUTH album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.85 | 7 ratings

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Getaway
Mouth Eclectic Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars Don't let the somewhat ponderous start fool you. It's safe that they are also underway with unbridled energy over the course. Much anticipated, the band MOUTH from Cologne in Germany has a new album in supply yet in June 2023. Specifically shaped by leader Christian Koller this is contributing a well thought out concept. And they are offering a rather unique sound (as usual). Featuring his spectacular guitar and keyboard contributions in the first row, 'Getaway' showcases a brew of fuzzy Garage Psych, Space and Kraut, also garnered with some Jazz respectively Canterbury moments. Turns out to be a constant mood swing of energetic and calming impressions. Means likewise melody and melancholy are certainly present too. This will definitely not be a bore, okay?

Getaway, boats go unleashed. Actually a 23 minute suite, the epic album title track works like a rollercoaster case. Forgive me, I put the focus on other tracks at the first glance. Yep, postponed but not cancelled. Divided into eight portions I would say this somewhat embraces the band's complete musical spectrum they've acquired since the first album release. Definitely needs time to capture everything, maybe it's something infinite in fact? Anyway, who is also on board here? Emphatically to note Nick Mavridis, who provides a supremely driving and powerful drumming style. When it comes to some basic recordings Gerald Kirsch (bass) was involved, still. He sadly died in 2018, which forced the band into a temporary shutdown. But finally they were successful to finish the whole production in collaboration with new member Thomas Johnen. Eroc has mastered the recordings, by preserving the overall vintage garage and krautish character of the sound.

The vocals are part of the master plan too, of course. Maybe not everybody will make friends with that, for example when Chris increases into a shouting mode, where you may have fear for his cords. No doubt, this definitely belongs to that unique feel and context. Unspectacular bass playing? It's not the dominant instrument, okay, but for example you should take notice of the second part of Purge & Hunt, actually a jazz tinged showpiece, backed by relatively simple organ patterns and guitar riffing. What might be noted furthermore? Remembering that I immediately fell in love with Sea, a fantastic jam hosting multi-layered keyboards and guitars which are swirrling around all over. Drowning impressed me in the same way due to its melancholic Mellotron, Moog(?), and electric piano interplay. It's causing mixed emotions anyhow. Because this is obviously referring to horrible experiences made by diverse refugees, including inhuman treatment, be it on the Mediterranean Sea or elsewhere. In many cases ending in a hopeless getaway. Albeit musically, just for the contradiction, the band makes a lot of positive spirit available during round about 50 minutes running time, that's assured.

 Floating by MOUTH album cover Studio Album, 2018
3.71 | 15 ratings

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Floating
Mouth Eclectic Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars I'm inclined to say that this songs are representing some survival of the band's recordings for the album 'Vortex' in the majority. Which doesn't reveal anything about the quality as such though. It's more a matter of concept and stylistical context here, I would say. The themes are still connected to the loose narrative of the forerunner album, which musically appears in a rather rough and unpolished manner. Here we are experiencing at least some tunes presented in a more charming outfit, even a bit pop infiltrated. And so just confirming this the opening Floating (Reprise) turns out to be a moderated alternative version, much more keyboard and acoustic guitar driven, the ideal crossover at least, if you will.

Also, Madbeth, Distance and Reversed all are awesome vintage styled exemplars in psychedelic, where Homagotago is evolving like ebb and flow, what makes a captivating krautrock improv in the end. The track title reminds at Can's Tago Mago, with intent I'm quite sure. Yeah, bring me coffee or tea, whatever! In any case there is an irresistible hypnotic flow given which impresses me much, yet still after uncounted rounds. And then the further jams Sunrise and Sunset are completing the ultimate show of soaring electric guitars, bravo! 'Floating' offers a well-engineered blend of composition and improvisation. Strongly recommended, moreover as a couple alongside with the album 'Vortex'.

 Live'71 by MOUTH album cover Live, 2017
3.10 | 2 ratings

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Live'71
Mouth Eclectic Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

3 stars Welcome to everybody who is keen on following courageous live music expeditions. But attention, transposed numbers! Though it may sound to you as such, not really a live take from 1971. Yeah, recently recorded at the BluNoise Fest instead, this comes rough and elemental. Complementing to the band's new corporate design in any case on the other hand. Including current bass player Gerald Kirsch here we have three motivated musicians on the stage. A little differing outfit as known from the recent studio recordings, where they were a duo more or less.

Most important, head Christian Koller is acting in multitasking mode on this occasion. That means continuously alternating between keyboards and guitar, by simultaniously performing some special vocal art on top of it. They are starting with the obvious, the centerpiece. While offering nearly the complete Vortex suite of course, their excellent psych-kraut follower album released last year, which sounds that blatantly vintage. It doesn't take long and you will know, especially Chris gives all his blood, sweat and tears, in German we would say 'die Sau rauslassen'.

A compressed 'Rhizome' medley is following and they are closing with the wild and furious On The Boat and the skilful Master Volume's Voice, a standard track concerning every gig since years. Hey, this might be something polarizing, just like a matter of get in or get out! Preferably to celebrate in front of the stage, by drinking or smoking this and that ... wow, somewhat reminds me of those adventurous Vibravoid gigs I already was able to attend. As for that, being at home, having a choice, I usually do prefer listening to the Vortex studio version. Nevertheless this a recommended album for sure, worth it to be checked out on their bandcamp page - 3.5 stars.

 Vortex by MOUTH album cover Studio Album, 2017
3.86 | 16 ratings

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Vortex
Mouth Eclectic Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars That was quite a surprise at the end of the last year, when Chris informed me about a new album the band has at the start. Well, in the first place, I don't really mean to consider the relatively long hibernation since their debut in 2009 came out. A little more though I'd like to emphasize the evolution regarding the musical approach in general. Back in the days 'Rhizome' was made of heavy art rock songs, provided with an eclectic touch ... but 'Vortex' yet is full of psych and kraut rock stuff, sort of sounding like an early 1970's treasure, incidentally detected somewhere in the attic or cellar recently.

Superficially it seems so, but it's not. Hailing from Cologne multi-instrumentalist Christian Koller is the driving force when it comes to this new songs, which were recorded between 2011 and 2015. He's handling the guitar, bass (mostly), vocals, diverse keyboard instruments and is responsible for the music and lyrics. The concept expresses a time and space travel right up to a dystopian future, the Vortex precisely. This will end in an epilogue which describes a hopeless, disenchanting state of affairs. Well, somewhat trendy, or what? While possibly born out of more and more mixed feelings our society provides in these days. Which, at least spontaneously, doesn't force a very positive expectation really.

Come what may, I will take this as a warning to mankind. And the music will not get you down, promised. As the word has different meanings, music-wise you can also see this as a vortex of impressions, emotions, at best presented by the extended title track. Besides the tricky guitar work, here we have plentiful mellotron, hammond, moog and piano underway. March Of The Cyclopes appears as a march in delirium mode, fantastic! My current favourite. Soaring multi-tracked guitars at the beginning. The krautish drums are perfectely complementing when the band switches into a halting groove, provided with flippy as well as hallucinogenic synthesizer adds. Incorporating a looping moog the hypnotic Parade sets the focus on the keys by way of example.

'The sun was fading everywhere' - yes, Epilogue actually expresses a rather melancholic, depressive mood right from the beginning. This will be replaced though by those inevitable hidden tracks, for example the repetitive Pedalboattrip, another highlight for sure. The second one Floating - End Theme then surprises with sitar, clavinet and obvious pop influences. As for a rough orientation this comes akin to the sound of bands like Turzi, Vibravoid, Cranium Pie and similar, also incorporating some progressivity ... of the Beatles let's say. In short, picking up the spirit of the 'old days' the album is a consistent listening pleasure, should not be ignored, at least when it comes to declared psych and kraut rock fans.

 Rhizome by MOUTH album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.09 | 3 ratings

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Rhizome
Mouth Eclectic Prog

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

3 stars Cologne based MOUTH are an energetic trio. So you can say the songs on their debut 'Rhizome' hold a significant noise factor. Which means there's definetely a heavy alternative/crossover influence to realize. On the other hand the tricky arrangements prove them as an art rock band first and foremost. Well - all in all you can expect a quite interesting effort. Not something for relaxed moments - more to wake you up in the morning and to strengthen your power in order to master the daily challenges.

MOUTH are made up of a classic rock instrumentation where all additionally care for the keyboard/synth duties. Christian Koller has a big share with his corresponding vocals and guitar work. Hence I can't imagine that Nick Mavridis was disappointed about this release - however he left the band just when the album came out. To express it in a positive way - he possibly wanted to reach for something new. To make a good start they use some heaviness and a catchy refrain for Cascade Inc - short, kicking, but certainly not that simple because provided with a staccato behaviour and changing time signatures - a suitable preview for the rest.

'Rhizome' is a collection of 12 compact tracks. Only The Balance is crossing the five minute mark. Here they offer an intriguing blend of mellow and crushing impressions. Koller's voice reaches for some falsetto heights. But what about the weird wah-wah synths?... oh, now I'm missing the guitar - however, a top-notch arrangement. What makes the songs appealing are the hooks, catchy melodies. This is sometimes backed by a killer groove like on Uniformed or Medusa. Play this loud, assimilate the energy and take care for the details ... 3.5 stars really!

Thanks to clarke2001 for the artist addition. and to rivertree for the last updates

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