LATIN MASS

Disclaimer: First of all- If you haven't already, then you NEED TO HEAR THIS ALBUM ON VINYL. It is the best way to hear this type of music. CD's (and YouTube, especially) do not do it proper justice. Music-Lovers; there is no excuse, not even the moderately higher price, to justify not listening to this music the way it sounds best. An inexpensive turntable and vinyl reissue will blow you away. Trust me.

Os Mundi came from Berlin, and they only released two albums. Latin Mass is their masterpiece. Originally released (and still) on the Metronome label, it's literally a (flawlessly performed) Latin Mass of 1970. Unfortunately, I do not have an original pressing of Latin Mass, as of this date, but the reissues are exact replica's of the original vinyl.

First of all; if mass really sounded like this, then I would be in church every Sunday. Unlike the traditionally-ceremonial, and restrained chuch-mass- this Latin Mass is something from another dimension. Mostly heavy, with a few soft breaks here-and-there, and very, very, emotional vocals. From start-to-finish, you have heavily distorted guitar chords, and a garage-sounding-organ playing almost non-stop. There is even a little flute on both sides of the vinyl. But, wait! It gets better! There is also a good amount of psychedelia in the album-from the ironically ominous opening of Overtüre/Kyrie/Gloria-to the brooding, heavy breathing/huffing in Credo1 (lay off the frankincense inhalation, fellas), all the way to the finale of Agnus Dei. This is terrific music.

For what it is, the album is flawless. You can tell that a lot of time, effort and feeling were put into this album. The instruments and the singing/vocals are perfect. Hey-after-all, these are the words of a Latin Mass, so you can't deny the emotional presence here. I'm not saying everyone will like it, but fans of heavy-prog/psych will love this album. If you like this kind of music, and don't have some hangup about the Mass-lyrics, then I can't recommend this album enough. 110% Krautrock, and a Latin Mass has never rocked so hard. Five stars.

Even though there is no official, Vatican-authenticated translation of a Latin Mass in English, I put an accurate translation below, for those interested.

Latin Mass/Songs:

01. Ouvertüre 5:44

02. Kyrie 3:11 Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy

03. Gloria 4:39 Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi We worship thee. We glorify thee. Thanks we give to thee

propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, because of great glory thy. Lord God, King of heaven,

Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. God Father almighty. Lord Son only begotten, Jesus Christ.

Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of Father.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Who take away sins of world, have mercy on us.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Who take away sins of world, receive supplication our.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Who sit at right hand of Father, have mercy on us.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. For thou alone holy. Thou alone Lord.

Tu solus altisimus, Jesu Christe. Thou alone most high, Jesus Christ.

Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. With Holy Spirit in glory of God Father. Amen.

04. Credo I 7:26 05. Credo II 5:31 Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, I believe in one God, Father almighty,

factorem coeli et terrae, maker of heaven and of earth,

visibilium omnium, et invisibilium. visible of all things, and invisible.

Et in umum Dominum Jesum Christum, And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

Filium Dei unigenitum. Son of God only begotten.

Et ex Patre natum ante omni saecula. And of Father born before all ages.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. God from God, light from light, God true from God true.

Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri, Begotten, not made, of one substance with Father,

per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, by whom all things made were. Who for us men,

et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. and for our salvation descended from heavens.

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto And made flesh was of Spirit Holy

ex Maria Virgine. Et homo factus est. of Mary Virgin. And man made was.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate,

passus, et sepultus est. suffered, and buried was.

Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. And he rose third day, according to Scriptures.

Et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. And he ascended into heaven, he sits at right hand of Father.

Et interum venturus est cum gloria, And again going to come he is with glory,

judicare vivos et mortuos, to judge living and dead,

cujus regni non erit finis. of whose kingdom not will there be end.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum Dominum, et vivificantem, And in Spirit Holy Lord, and lifegiver,

qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. who from Father and Son proceeds.

Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur Who with Father, and Son together is adored

et conglorificatur, qui locutus est per Prophetas. and glorified, who spoke through Prophets.

Et unam, sanctam, catholicam, et apostolicam Ecclesiam. And one, holy, catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. I confess one baptism for remission of sins.

Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. And I expect resurrection of dead.

Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. And life to come of age. Amen.

06. Sanctus 9:05 Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Holy, Holy, Holy,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of Hosts.

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Full are heaven and earth of glory thy.

Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in highest.

07. Agnus Dei 5:57 Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,

dona nobis pacem. grant us peace.

Band:

Arndt, Udo Busse, Christoph(drums) Mandler, Buddy(percussion, vocals, bongos-was also in Siloah) Markgraf, Dietrich(sax, flute) Rilling, Mikro(cello-was also in Siloah) Villain, Andreas(bass)

Guest musicians: Kalkreuth, David V.(organ) Seidel, Hartmut(bass)