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Novalis - Novalis CD (album) cover

NOVALIS

Novalis

 

Symphonic Prog

3.81 | 199 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
4 stars Last days this legendary German progrock band is HOT on the Prog Archives site! This fine album showcases their tasteful and creative ideas and is also my contribution to the 'Novalis-hype'!

1 - Sonnengeflecht (4:06)

This is a short but very varied piece featuring flashy synthesizer flights, halfway a surprising break with jazzy guitar and delicate piano and finally a swinging sound inlcuding the distinctive clavinet.

2 - Wer Schmetterlinge lachen Hört (9:16)

In this composition the climates change from a slow rhythm with mellow organ to propulsive rhythm-section with biting electric guitar and powerful organ waves. Halfway the music slows down and goes into a great build-up: mellow organ and high-pitched vocals, then a swelling rhythm-section with Mellotron, culminating in a sensational bombastic outburst featuring fiery electric guitar. Then a staccato rhythm, lush organ and senstitive electric guitar play, followed by a kind of prog 'n' roll like URIAH HEEP on "Live", very dynamic with powerful organ and electric guitar. The final part contains militairy drums and bombastic church organ chords, impressive!

3 - Dronsz (4:53)

Another short track, the climate is based upon atmospheric keyboard work and sounds a bit hypnotizing. Halfway slow synthesizer flights enter and it all becomes more bombastic featuring wonderful organ waves, the end is very sudden.

4 - Impressionen (8:55)

This composition is based upon a theme from ANTON BRUCKNER'S "Fifth Symphonie". It starts with a soaring Hammond organ sound and slow drum beats, then the climates change from mellow to more bombastic featuring a lush keyoard sound and a howling electric guitar (with some spectacular wah-wah), very compelling! The final part contains again impressive church organ-like waves.

5 - Es färbte sich die Wiese grün (Originaltext von Novalis um 1798) (8:16)

The first part contains a dreamy climate with romantic vocals, mellow organ waves and slow, very sensitive electric guitar runs and some fat sounding synthesizer flights. Then a break with bluesy electric guitar play, swinging clavinet and a short but spectacular distorted organ solo. The climates shift from shortly more bombastic with fiery electric guitar runs and dynamic drums into dreamy like the first part featuring wonderful strings and a biting wah-wah drenched guitar solo, what an exciting blend of symphonic and rock!

WUNDERBAR!

erik neuteboom | 4/5 |

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