WELTRAUMSTAUNEN

— First review of this album —

I was thinking the other day if I could put together a dream Space Rock band I think I'd start with Germany's own Dave Schmidt a multi-instrumentalist and amazing composer, he does it all. I have so many albums with him on them including this project he did with GROWING SEEDS Andi Heinrich while living in Berlin in the late 90's. GROWING SEEDS is on the site here releasing one studio album in 1997 and an EP in 1999 that Dave Schmidt drummed on. Later in 1999 Schmidt and Andi along with his wife Silk(who also was in GROWING SEEDS playing bass and singing) got together to create the first WELTRAUMSTAUNEN album.

Andi by the way is a singer/guitarist but also a multi- instrumentalist and on this the second and perhaps final release from WELTRAUMSTAUNEN released in 2004 he sings, plays guitar, drums, organ and effects plus he wrote the lyrics while Schmidt composed the music adding guitar, effects, synths, piano, drums and organ. I was just remembering the other day the two albums Schmidt did with Manni and Ax from GURU GURU and how honouring it must have been to be chosen to work with two Krautrock legends.

Top five includes the opener and closer "Black Dove Part I" and "Black Dove Part II" respectively and my favourites. Both vocal tracks although less of them on the shorter closer. Catchy with some great contrasts between the outbursts and trippy sections on the opener. Vocals get aggressive briefly around 5 minutes while he whispers to end it. Man I like all the tunes but another top five is "Floating In Space" a spacey and innovative soundscape that becomes haunting 2 minutes in.

"Wizard Vs.Time" is such a great track. Vocals and strummed guitar from Andi, drums and bass follows. A brighter more upbeat track and check out the guitar, especially after 3 minutes as he lights it up. The title track is my fifth favourite with that catchy beat with gorgeous sounding guitar over top to start. Strummed guitar later with some cool guitar expressions from Schmidt. "Introfernale" is outside my top five but a really good instrumental that I had to mention.

I've become a pretty big fan of this one, just enjoy the variety and the one track I didn't mention is by far the longest one called "Farfisadelic" and what a great song title! A long soundscape that has it's moments but it's not a favourite overall. A solid 4 stars for this release.