TRAUM ODER WIRKLICHKEIT

Two years passed and Schwarzarbeit produced their second album ''Traum oder wirklichkeit'' with a couple of line-up changes.Dieter Exter and Nina Schulte had left the group, which was now joined by singer Wolfgang Borgmann and bassist Ralph Hubert.Yes, the same Ralph Hubert, who formed the legendary Thrash Metal band Mekong Delta three years later, part of its really incarnation was Wolfgang Borgmann as well.The new album was recorded during the 82' autumn at the Tonstudio Copperative Studiowahn in Bochum and released privately at the end of year.Three guest vocalists appear also in this album.

''Traum oder wirklichkeit'' finds Schwarzarbeit still walking on Progressive Rock grounds in a more consistent way, but actually the new tracks do not top the highlights of the previous release.The style is emphatic Symphonic Teutonic Rock with strong Space Rock overtones, coming as a mix of a melodic ANYONE'S DAUGHTER with GROBSCHNITT and late-70's ELOY.The compositions are well-crafted, although performed in a quite safe mode, with a combination of grandiose, spacey synthesizers and more Classical-drenched parts on organ and harsichord, featuring also a good amount of melodious guitar lines next to heavier, rhythmic excursions.The atmosphere depends on every track, ranging from dramatic and cosmic passages with a spacey mood to keyboard-driven arrangements with good and sometimes even stunning melodies and a more dreamy feeling overall.The comparisons with ELOY are moreover strengthened by the fair dose of spoken narrations throughout the release.The second side contains extended instrumental runs, among them a couple of excellent guitar-led themes with a FLOYD-ian/CAMEL-esque vibe, a bit similar to compatriots ROUSSEAU, if you add the ethereal synth moves around.

A group that deserves some praise for being dedicated to non-commercial, polished and delicate Progressive Rock during the 80's, despite the few flaws in some keyboard tunes.Good German Symphonic Rock with a typical late-70's/early-80's sound with musicianship rooted in the recent past.Warmly recommended.