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Topic ClosedIllusions On A Double Dimple Turns 40!

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presdoug View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Illusions On A Double Dimple Turns 40!
    Posted: March 01 2014 at 12:52
  Triumvirat's second album, Illusions On A Double Dimple, was released exactly 40 years ago, in March of 1974. Initially, it created interest in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but later that same year became the first record of their's to be released in North America, reaching #55 in the US album charts. Interest was fueled with radio airplay on both sides of the Atlantic,
              Following the North American release, the band went on a successfull 40 date tour of the USA opening for Fleetwood Mac.They would play the complete two long suites of music from this album.
                    Illusions On A Double Dimple opened doors for the band, and rightly so, as it is a brilliant record that they laboured on for a long time to get just right, and most correctly displays the group's instrumental prowess, and wonderfull vocals. For the first time on this recording was the lineup of Jurgen Fritz on keys, Hans Bathelt on drums, and more recently joined Helmut Koellen, who was a cousin of Mr. Fritz, on bass and six-string guitar and lead vocals. Former bassist Hans Pape left in the middle of recording the album, and most of the bass parts on side one are his.
                       An elaborate undertaking, Illusions also sports background female vocals, and a String, and Brass section.
                         This record is the reason I developed an interest in progressive rock, and remains my favorite recording of the genre, along with Triumvirat's subsequent release, Spartacus.
                           
                     
                


Edited by presdoug - March 02 2014 at 20:36
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dr prog View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2014 at 16:55
This album needs a good remix. This is the main reason I haven't played it often. Songs sound decent but recording isn't great. I quite like Spartacus though.
All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2014 at 19:06
^Illusions On A Double Dimple recording isn't great ??  Then what you would you have to say about Mediterranean Tales, maybe my favourite Triumvirat album ????
Anyway, my favourite albums never needed to have better recordings to keep being my favourites... btw a dts system is always welcome, but NOT essential for me.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2014 at 20:16
Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Former bassist Hans Pape left in the middle of recording the album, and most of the bass parts on side one are his.                                                           


What was the reason for his departure?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2014 at 22:27
Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Former bassist Hans Pape left in the middle of recording the album, and most of the bass parts on side one are his.                                                           


What was the reason for his departure?
He was getting married, and his wife to be did not want him to have to face the rigors of touring.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 00:37
Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Former bassist Hans Pape left in the middle of recording the album, and most of the bass parts on side one are his.                                                           


What was the reason for his departure?
He was getting married, and his wife to be did not want him to have to face the rigors of touring.

Yeah, I don't think MY wife would approve of the "rigors of touring" either! 

I didn't know that Helmut didn't play most of the bass parts....when I saw them tour with Fleetwood Mac, he had a real command of the instrument!  He reminded me a bit of Greg Lake, very fluent in playing either bass or guitar, while singing.  Very impressive band, and "Illusions" was very popular in our college dormitory! 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 07:30
^Pape played most of the bass parts on the first suite only, side two's Mister Ten Percent suite's bass and  six-string guitar is totally Helmut's.Thumbs Up

Edited by presdoug - March 02 2014 at 10:12
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 10:09
^Had he lived, today would have been Helmut's 64th birthday. RIP!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 14:49
I think I'd like a double dimple please sir Big smile

I was released in March of 1965 LOL

This is the album that hooked me on the band.


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 02 2014 at 14:51
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 15:35
In a good way, it sounds like they are using compression on the drums around
the 7:45 to 8:15 minute mark.  Very unique little bit for 1974.  

Any thoughts on what the title is supposed to mean?   Maybe it's one of those things that can't really be put into words that well, except for a short line of a poetic title. 
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presdoug View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 02 2014 at 19:50
Originally posted by brainstormer brainstormer wrote:

In a good way, it sounds like they are using compression on the drums around
the 7:45 to 8:15 minute mark.  Very unique little bit for 1974.  

Any thoughts on what the title is supposed to mean?   Maybe it's one of those things that can't really be put into words that well, except for a short line of a poetic title. 
A "Double Dimple" refers to a drink of Scotch. I think "Illusions" refers to what you get when you've had too many Double Dimples.LOL It is a concept album about a guy who loses his job and wants to drink "til I can't stand on my feet". Thus, Illusions On A Double Dimple.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2014 at 01:35
I think its fairly unusual in that it features two side long peices ,something that was surprisingly rare at the time. Triumvirat were sort of a less pompous version of ELP (but not a clone) not relying on sci -fi concepts and using less synths compared to ELP. The quality is in the writing and playing which is beautifully fluid. If you like keyboard based rock music this is almost as good as it gets album wise.

Edited by richardh - March 03 2014 at 01:38
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2014 at 07:22
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

I think its fairly unusual in that it features two side long peices ,something that was surprisingly rare at the time. Triumvirat were sort of a less pompous version of ELP (but not a clone) not relying on sci -fi concepts and using less synths compared to ELP. The quality is in the writing and playing which is beautifully fluid. If you like keyboard based rock music this is almost as good as it gets album wise.
Hi, Richard, your comments are spot on, thanks.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2014 at 15:58
That is one hell of an album. I gave it a spin today and my judgement hasn't changed. Great musicianship (the paradise of keys) and strong melodies all through both sides. ELP weren't as melodic were they
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2014 at 20:37
I share your love for this album, Doug. It's one of my favorites, has been since The Great Decade. I had it on vinyl but it's gone. My CD sounds excellent though. I love the gated drum sound throughout the album - I've never heard that effect anywhere else. I like the bonus tracks too - Timothy and Dancer's Delight. The latter sounds like something completely else, like Bowie and Spiders from Mars or something.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2014 at 20:54
Thanks, guys. Great to see the love.Thumbs Up

Edited by presdoug - March 03 2014 at 20:55
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2014 at 05:49
I checked on the internet... very scarce info on the band.

The wikipedia pages on Triumvirat and Jurgen Fritz are really poor (how embarassing!).

Not to mention the band's official website that is not even updated!

Given the quality of the music and the international success int he mid seventies, how come the net's so darn cold to them?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2014 at 05:58
You've made some important points
        The Helmut Koellen page on wiki was just a stub of about 4 short sentences several years ago, but I expanded it to what it is now, with a tiny bit of help from another editor. About 90 percent of Helmut's current page is from me.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2014 at 06:04
I've got two copies on CD and may still have my original vinyl. The older CD doesn't split up the sides into tracks.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 04 2014 at 18:41
God I love that album!
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