BALLERMANN

GROBSCHNITT's transitional album. "Ballermann" features very good tracks representative of the Krautrock movement, especially the masterpiece epic "Solar-Music", as well as weaker symphonic progressive moments.

The first record opens with the humorous speech announcing the song Sahara. "Isn't it nice ? Yes it is !". The tune sounds like a mixture of Russian melody and middle-oriental feel. Despite strange vocals, the track is quite pretty and epic, in the vein of CAMEL and early ELOY. "You'll find Ali Baba". The second song is the most achieved piece of the disc. It features top-notch space rock in a jazzy way, worthy of RUSH's great instrumental moments. With many changes of rhythms and musical themes, the tune calms down with the apparition of crying vocals. Beautiful melancholic passage. It ends with a catchy melody which could have well escaped from a YES song. But then, the disc shows its weak part. "Drummer's Dream" contains enjoyable moments, but sounds sometimes too light. The next track, "Morning Song" intends to resemble GENESIS but is a bit repetitive and irritating. The first disc ends with "Magic Train", which alternates good passages and cheesiness. The song is difficult to enter in and hard to follow.

Mostly instrumental, the second record features the 32 minutes space rock epic "Solar- Music", which will later be the center of the best live performance from the band and a great progressive act of the late 70s'! The introduction is very energetic and rocky, a genuine collision between asteroids! The rest of the song will feature great variations and improvisations on a beautiful delicate spatial theme reminiscent of PINK FLOYD's "Careful With That Axe, Eugene". Very psychedelic, a journey in the universe between stars exploding ! Powerful and mindblowing ! The ending section is very smooth and melancholic... If you like it, I highly recommend you to listen to "Solar-Music Live", where the piece is extended to more than 50 minutes with new variations in it !

"Ballermann" is an unequal album showing both GROBSCHNITT's space and symphonic sides. A cross-over between their debut album and "Rockpommel's Land". Recommended to fans of Krautrock and Space Rock, especially for the superb "Solar-Music" suite.