Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24392
Posted: March 03 2015 at 05:13
I am very familiar with this song, as ADII are one of Micky's Top 10 bands, and their albums are frequent guests of our CD player. This album in particular (Wolf City) is my favourite of a band that I have grown to appreciate over the years, though it wasn't always so. A friend of ours (also a fan) once called ADII "the European answer to Jefferson Airplane", which I think is (at least in part) a rather fitting description - though the Germans are definitely more edgy and adventurous than the legendary San Francisco outfit.
Regarding this particular song, my favourite element of it is the violin - which reminds me of East of Eden, another great early prog band that sadly seems to have been forgotten by most prog fans. On the other hand, Renate Knaup's vocals are definitely an acquired taste. I am still somewhat ambivalent about them, though they are undeniably an integral part of the band's sound.
Joined: August 12 2011
Location: Uruguay
Status: Offline
Points: 86
Posted: March 02 2015 at 19:11
First time listening to Amon Duul II here, too. On a first listen I have to say I loved the bass the whole way through. It got stuck on my mind. The violin flourishes are nice, and I especially love keyboards and ambience between 2:50 and 3:20 aprox. Also that weird synth/guitar? solo during the six minute is crazy and so interesting!
The acoustic guitar towards the end is amazing, as well as with the violin I love the folksy tone it gives to the song. The female singer is definitely one of the most interesting aspects, even when her sound is quite similar to some male singers. She reminded me of folk singer Laura Marling for some weird reason.
The whole song reminded me of A Very Cellular Song by The Incredible String Band even though they are very different -if that makes sense-, and some more 'dissonant' moments remind me of the noisier side of the Grateful Dead and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Joined: November 16 2014
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 120
Posted: March 02 2015 at 14:59
Well, I had never heard Amon Duul before, but now I'm curious. This song is very "bright", I like it. And there's a violin. I always love it when there's one.
And, before I looked it up, I thought the vocalist was male, since I'm so used to those male singers who have "helium voices".
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46828
Posted: March 01 2015 at 07:18
Horizons wrote:
For round 2 I bring you the one and only Gazpacho.
From their masterful Night, this band beautifully blends moody alt-rock with interesting progressive structures and musicianship.
I'll be posting my thoughts a little later. Enjoy.
excellent choice.. I remember this band well from the old genre team days. I don't think we added it, perhaps it was one the bands we had to investigate and parcel out among the new subs when we broke up the old Art Rock subgenre. We did 100's of bands that way, this is one of them I remember.
*2 listens later*
It isn't music that one listens to get amped up for a hot date, or even music that inspires you to plug in and crank the amp, but music made for sitting on the couch with a good book. It is music that sort of washes over you rather than through you if that makes any sense. I do like the way the song builds into that climatic bit, but especially love how it comes down in the last minute or so of the song. Very enjoyable!
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24392
Posted: March 01 2015 at 07:09
I have to admit I am not a big fan of the KScope school of "post-prog". In particular, all the Gazpacho albums i have heard have failed to make much of an impression, as I found them rather one-dimensional. That said, this song is quite enjoyable, especially the instrumental section with its unexpected, guitar-driven crescendo. In my view, Radiohead and Porcupine Tree are obvious comparisons, the former on account of the vocal style, the latter in terms of song structure.
Joined: August 12 2011
Location: Uruguay
Status: Offline
Points: 86
Posted: February 28 2015 at 19:01
Chequered Light Buildings is an amazing song, yet I have always found it not as strong as the rest of the album. I certainly love the guitar chunks on the climax, almost "off-time" sounding for a few seconds. I also love the addition of the organ in that section, and the drums sound amazing the whole way through. As a stand-alone song, is beautiful and intense, I love the atmospheric guitar ending that connects so perfectly with Upside Down (which is my second favourite song off the album, but that's not really important here).
I also think the lyrics aren't as strong as in other songs from the band, though they aren't really bad.
Oh, and well, the idea was thinking of what other bands the musi reminded us of, right? I would say that this song in particular, aside from the obvious Marillion, Radiohead and even Pink Floyd comparisons, it reminds me of both the post-rock band Spaces and irish alt-rock band Bell X1, both on their most psychedelic moments.
Edited by Littlecarrots - February 28 2015 at 19:07
Yes it's quite mellow and minimal for the first half. But it really capitalizes on the subtle additions of other instruments and blurbs as it approaches the climax.
Joined: June 20 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 7946
Posted: February 28 2015 at 13:36
Hmm... I liked it to an extent, and I'd say your description of it was pretty apt. It starts off with an interesting but limited palette, as a lot of alternative rock does, and stays that way for quite awhile. For awhile I'm thinking there are probably a frustrating number unplayed notes in the scale (no one ever accused Alt Rock of having excessive noodling!), but then the palette of sound thickens and more note variety gets introduced about half way through. I'll have to listen again.
Glad to hear mate. Yea they're fantastic. Like i said, i would start with Night.
One of my favorite moments of the song is the quick, more quiet chunks at the guitar in the beginning. For some reason i feel anyone else would turn up the guitars, but here it is an example of less is more. Plus it makes the "drop" much more effective.
The vocals are top notch and really just sits on the pocket.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
This page was generated in 0.133 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
Prog Song Pit
Topic Options
Horizons wrote:
I don't think we added it, perhaps it was one the bands we had to investigate and parcel out among the new subs when we broke up the old Art Rock subgenre. We did 100's of bands that way, this is one of them I remember.
And round 2 for the Mars Volta!
