New Amon Düül II album "Bee as Such" out! - Progressive Rock Music Forum

3/3/2010 - Germany - Experimental music pioneers Amon Duul 2, whose music defined the German progressive rock scene of the 1970's, are back with a new album Bee As Such. Currently only available by download through the band's website, the CD marks the first new album by the legendary group in several years. Amon Duul 2 reveal on their website: "Recorded April 2009 at Dreamscape Studio, Amon Duul 2 celebrated a highly sensitive performance, of finding back to the roots - not in the past, but essentially - seeking the new sounds and contents at the same time. No 'kraut', no '70s', but the music of the new millenium. This sound painting is one more of our unique works, containing the spirit of our time."

"Amon Duul never used to present the same style on their albums," explains guitarist John Weinzierl "We like to develop our music into all kinds of directions and sometimes we don´t even know where it´s gonna lead us. We don't follow a pattern only because it is successful. Since 2000 we've used lots of elements of world music, we had eastern influences, ethnological sounds, and of course we never forgot 'sound painting'." When asked if there was a concept behind this new album? Weinzierl expounded, "Avoiding industry music, heading for new frontiers."

Formed in Munich in 1968, Amon Duul 2 rapidly excelled to the forefront of German avant garde music along side notable peers Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Amon Duul 2 quickly distinguished themselves from these other ensembles with their use of pop elements interspersed with eclectic songwriting and arrangements along with deft musicianship and the sweet voice of female vocalist Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz. The band's influences ranged from jazz and classical to Zappa and Syd's Pink Floyd, although the music has remained so original these past 30 years it's difficult to tell who the band's influences are! "That's because Germany culture-wise has no rhythm and blues influence," explains Renate. "We have classical music and traditional music, so we just experimented with what we had. To copy rhythm and blues or rock and roll would be silly because they are not our roots." By 1979 and many critically acclaimed, pioneering LPs later, Amon Duul 2 went their separate ways, only to reunite in the 1990s, and most recently in the mid-2000s. The current line-up includes original members: Chris Karrer (guitar, violin, vocals), John Weinzierl (guitars, synth, vocals), Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz (vocals), Danny Fichelscher (drums), Lother Meid (bass, vocals) and neo-Duul Jan Kahlert (percussion, vocals).

And where did the name Amon Duul 2 come from? "We didn't want to have an anglophonic name, because in those days everybody was called Rattles, or Beatles, or some other english name," explained John Weinzierl. "We didn't wanna have a German name either, that's why we went into a long period of finding an appropriate name. At some point the band had a different name with every other concert that was played. Finally it was AMON DUUL. Amon referres to the Egypt sun god Amon-Re. Duul (with the "Umlaut" dots, that your computer can't print out) comes from a Canadian group's album called Tanjet, that we used to listen to a lot. On this album there was a self-constructed mythology with a part called Dyyl. This eventually was transformed into Duul and the Umlauts gave it this slight German touch. Since then many groups started having fantasy names, or even using Umlaut dots like in Motorhead. Understand? (of course you have to imagine the Umlaut dots, cause your computer can´t...) And I shall never answer this question any more now."

Yet one question still remains; It has been 40 years since the incarnation of Amon Duul 2, what has kept the band together all these years? "As we are not just a band, but a music commune, a social experiment, and a work of art, it's just natural to stay together, and of course: it must be love, or something close enough...."

Amon Duul 2 - Bee As Such will be released on CD and DVD later this year. It is currently available for download at: www.amonduul.de

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, [email protected]

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Bj-1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 04 2005 Location: No(r)Way Status: Offline Points: 31157	Topic: New Amon Düül II album "Bee as Such" out! Posted: January 01 2010 at 17:31
	Titled "Bee as Such" The first official Amon Düül II studio release in 28 years, produced and mixed by the band. from their homepage: Recorded April 2009, at the Dreamscape studio, AMON DUUL celebrated a highly sensitive performance of finding back to the roots - not in the past, but essentially - seeking new sounds and contents at the same time. No "kraut", no "70's", but the music of new millennium. The soundpainting is one more of their unique works, containing the spirit of our time. http://www.amonduul.de/main.html you can buy it as mp3 here!
	RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway!

Ricochet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 27 2005 Location: Nauru Status: Offline Points: 46301	Posted: January 01 2010 at 17:43
	This is quite the news. (...not that I get my hopes high)


Bj-1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 04 2005 Location: No(r)Way Status: Offline Points: 31157	Posted: January 01 2010 at 17:44
	Check out the samples from it on their homepage, I think they sounded fairly good!
	RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway!

Easy Livin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585	Posted: January 02 2010 at 03:43
	Which "Amon Duul" is it by?

Rivertree Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 17571	Posted: January 02 2010 at 06:46
	Yeah, it's always puzzling ... AMON DÜÜL II


Ricochet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 27 2005 Location: Nauru Status: Offline Points: 46301	Posted: January 02 2010 at 06:58
	So the Tokyo concert and Flawless from the 90s were old stuff? I was under the impression, until now, that they were new.


davidsporle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: February 10 2009 Location: england Status: Offline Points: 49	Posted: January 24 2010 at 14:52
	is it going to be released on cd then,and i thought,nada moonshine and flawless,and live in tokyo,were like new in the 90s,nada moonshine was released as new stuff in 1995,so saying first studio release in 28 years is wrong.

davidsporle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: February 10 2009 Location: england Status: Offline Points: 49	Posted: January 24 2010 at 14:54
	its amon duul 2 band,like the band which released nada moonshine in 95,and wolf city like band.

Procol Harum Machine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: January 19 2010 Status: Offline Points: 36	Posted: January 24 2010 at 18:16
	Amon Duul 2 is one of my favorite krautrock bands. It's awesome to here they have a new album! I'll have to check it out.


glassonyonpr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 12 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2208	Posted: March 03 2010 at 13:19
	3/3/2010 - Germany - Experimental music pioneers Amon Duul 2, whose music defined the German progressive rock scene of the 1970's, are back with a new album Bee As Such. Currently only available by download through the band's website, the CD marks the first new album by the legendary group in several years. Amon Duul 2 reveal on their website: "Recorded April 2009 at Dreamscape Studio, Amon Duul 2 celebrated a highly sensitive performance, of finding back to the roots - not in the past, but essentially - seeking the new sounds and contents at the same time. No 'kraut', no '70s', but the music of the new millenium. This sound painting is one more of our unique works, containing the spirit of our time." "Amon Duul never used to present the same style on their albums," explains guitarist John Weinzierl "We like to develop our music into all kinds of directions and sometimes we don´t even know where it´s gonna lead us. We don't follow a pattern only because it is successful. Since 2000 we've used lots of elements of world music, we had eastern influences, ethnological sounds, and of course we never forgot 'sound painting'." When asked if there was a concept behind this new album? Weinzierl expounded, "Avoiding industry music, heading for new frontiers." Formed in Munich in 1968, Amon Duul 2 rapidly excelled to the forefront of German avant garde music along side notable peers Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Amon Duul 2 quickly distinguished themselves from these other ensembles with their use of pop elements interspersed with eclectic songwriting and arrangements along with deft musicianship and the sweet voice of female vocalist Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz. The band's influences ranged from jazz and classical to Zappa and Syd's Pink Floyd, although the music has remained so original these past 30 years it's difficult to tell who the band's influences are! "That's because Germany culture-wise has no rhythm and blues influence," explains Renate. "We have classical music and traditional music, so we just experimented with what we had. To copy rhythm and blues or rock and roll would be silly because they are not our roots." By 1979 and many critically acclaimed, pioneering LPs later, Amon Duul 2 went their separate ways, only to reunite in the 1990s, and most recently in the mid-2000s. The current line-up includes original members: Chris Karrer (guitar, violin, vocals), John Weinzierl (guitars, synth, vocals), Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz (vocals), Danny Fichelscher (drums), Lother Meid (bass, vocals) and neo-Duul Jan Kahlert (percussion, vocals). And where did the name Amon Duul 2 come from? "We didn't want to have an anglophonic name, because in those days everybody was called Rattles, or Beatles, or some other english name," explained John Weinzierl. "We didn't wanna have a German name either, that's why we went into a long period of finding an appropriate name. At some point the band had a different name with every other concert that was played. Finally it was AMON DUUL. Amon referres to the Egypt sun god Amon-Re. Duul (with the "Umlaut" dots, that your computer can't print out) comes from a Canadian group's album called Tanjet, that we used to listen to a lot. On this album there was a self-constructed mythology with a part called Dyyl. This eventually was transformed into Duul and the Umlauts gave it this slight German touch. Since then many groups started having fantasy names, or even using Umlaut dots like in Motorhead. Understand? (of course you have to imagine the Umlaut dots, cause your computer can´t...) And I shall never answer this question any more now." Yet one question still remains; It has been 40 years since the incarnation of Amon Duul 2, what has kept the band together all these years? "As we are not just a band, but a music commune, a social experiment, and a work of art, it's just natural to stay together, and of course: it must be love, or something close enough...." Amon Duul 2 - Bee As Such will be released on CD and DVD later this year. It is currently available for download at: www.amonduul.de Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, [email protected]

cstack3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6744	Posted: March 03 2010 at 16:50
	Hot Damn! Is Lothar Meid still with the band? Bring on the tablas and choir-organ (NOT Mellotron!!)! I'll check out the samples when I am somewhat removed from present humanity (e.g. office!)