CHARLINE

The space, dynamic, fast symphonic rock of the band totally disappears in this very controversial album. Since their previous "No More Love" many members of the original formation have left the team. We can really regret the absence of Barone's prodigious guitar playing. The differences in the composition and style are too evident. The band failed to rebirth with a new line up, deviating in a common, melodic, modern sounded like rock album with almost none guitar/ synth duets. The only interesting parts are the instrumental passages and the energic mood that give to the album an optimistic atmosphere. A light, rather commercial effort that you need to avoid unless you are a true fan of the band.

Wallenstein were never really 'up there' with their contemporaries, in terms of 'staying power' anyway, although their first 3 releases are highly recommended. Led by keyboardist/composer Jurgen Dollase (nowadays a food critic writing for a popular German magazine), the music was mainly centered around keys, with liberal doses of shredding guitars and a competent (but basic) rhythm section. Their vocals were never a strong point but they 'did the job'. Toward the mid-70's they seemed to have undergone a few line-up changes, and their style of music becoming ever more mainstream. The album before this release, (No More Love), whilst still containing 2 or 3 decent prog tunes, was clearly displaying a lack of direction, and that entire line- up was sacked by Dollase. Recruiting a bunch of new musicians, it seemed that Dollase's ambitions got the better of him, as the nature of this new direction may have convinced him of taking the world by storm - stream-lined little pop-songs with standard verse-chorus-verse-solo structure, a lead singer who looks like he sounds (or vice-versa), and the musicianship being tight but not so flashy - sure, as a pop album it may be fairly credible, but there are NO prog elements whatsoever (not even Dollase's varied keyboards add much), hence, it's of little interest unless you have to have it all. It's a pleasant listen (in an FM Rock kind of way), with catchy melodies and all - the better tracks for my tastes being 'Life is True in London Town' and 'Red Wine for the Judge'.

The album must've been partially successful, as they carried on in this format for a few years more, and supported the successful hard-rocking German group 'The Scorpions' on several occasions. I wouldn't get rid of my vinyl of 'Charline', but I have not gone any further than this. 2 stars.

Charline is the first record by great Symphonic Prog band Wallenstein that isn't really progressive, it is pop-rock, but hold on, it should not really be condemned because of that, as it is one of the best pop-rock records to be released by any group in the whole seventies decade.

While many progressive groups were starting to record some pretty cringe-worthy pop by this point in the seventies (1978), there is nothing to cringe at with Charline. The title song made it to 17 in the German charts at the time, though really should have been a hit, worldwide, as it is both very pretty and catchy .

I think one of the main reasons that this record is seventies pop-rock at it's best is the presence of German singer Kim Merz, who does such a fabulous job of singing on all the tracks on Charline, his first record with Wallenstein. He has a truly great voice, with a strong delivery, though never loosing a melodious, naturally musical phrasing. (Mr. Merz turned 60 years old just recently, Happy Birthday, Kim!)

The whole band at this point were still a live act to be reckoned with, as judging by the videos where they are doing the title track of Charline that exist. No, this is not the Wallenstein of the past, but Charline is much better than the following album Blue Eyed Boys, which i am sorry to say is a bit cringe-worthy in places.

The tasteful singing and playing all the way through Charine is quite a pleasing thing to hear, and when i want something a bit lighter, this album is a nice experience. I am giving it three stars, because this is prog archives, but judged as a quality pop rock effort, which it is, it deserves five stars. "Charline is on my mind"