DIE NEUEN WELTEN

The band name seemingly evolved from a rather pragmatical solution. Nicky Garratt, co-founder of the British punk band UK Subs, once met Uve Müllrich, bass player of Embryo. This just happened at Hedersleben, a small village situated in Eastern Germany (former GDR). After celebrating some jams together and obviously being inspired Nicky decided to form a new band, where he could convince his ex-colleague and drummer Jason Willer to take part in the project as another constant. And finally keyboardist Kephera Moon also turns out to be one of a party with regularity.

While also including a few other like-minded musicians they have toured the US up and down, had collaborations with Nik Turner and made an important contribution to the recordings for the new Brainticket release. Two band albums were recorded so far, this one is the latter from 2014 which clearly shows them underway on kraut respectively space rock paths. The extended title track comes inspired by diverse bands - there is a ADII/Yeti adapted flow to state, or just taking the Doors alike psychedelic organ into account.

A wonderful relaxed listening experience featuring soaring guitars and synths as well as hypnotic bass lines contributed by Bryce Shelton. Kati Knox's ethereal voice appears here and there and finally it all turns into a nice, more classically flavoured piano sequence. The following four songs are building a range of shorter excerpts offering a more common song structure - though, basically also equipped with the aforementioned attributes further on, this is definitely appealing too. An astonishing affair when considering Nicky's musical origin. Spot on! Highly recommended!

Out of all of Hedersleben's releases so far, I'd say that their 2nd album is their strongest and my personal favorite. Unlike their first album with the title track in 2 parts, "Die Neuen Welten" is structured like a classic Amon Duul II or Kraftwerk record, title track side-long epic and a few shorter, yet no-less-epic tracks behind it. While their music certainly calls back to the glory days of progressive rock, krautrock and psychedelia, unlike most of the bands of the last 2 decades that have been mining that territory, Hedersleben FINALLY has something new to say in those respective genres. Guitarist Nicky Garratt might be the central creative force behind the band, but the overall sound is a showcase for the talents of master drummer Jason Willer and keyboard goddess Kephera Moon. And nowhere is that more apparent than on the side-long epic that opens the album, "Zu Den Neuen Welten". For me, as a piece of music, it's right up there with the side-long epics of yesteryear (read: Phallus Dei, Autobahn, Echoes) and in my opinion, Hedersleben's masterpiece (or meisterwerk?). Anchored by Moon's repeated D dorian Farfisa riff that just grabs you by the brain stem and never lets you go, even as the piece goes through different iterations of that theme, from the opening drones to the Magma-ish piano chords that gradually fade in with Willer's pulsating Latin-esque beats and bassist Bryce Shelton's contrapuntal, yet complementary basslines. As the piece comes to it's thrilling climax of orchestral percussion, Mellotron and cooing space whispers it all comes to screeching halt and just when you think it's all over, we're greeted with a nice epilogue of the main keyboard riff again, this time on a solitary grand piano buoyed by the ocean, which closes side 1 perfectly. By extension, the other 4 pieces on the album continue the space-faring theme of exploring new worlds, yet never losing the focus that side 1 has already established. Side 2 opener "On The Ground (Safe 'n' Sound)" is suggestive of the Hawkwind influence (and playing with Nik Turner doesn't hurt either), whereas "Nomad Worlds" reminds this listener more of Mike Oldfield, and then "Xo5B" has a distinctly desert rock meets Phantasm soundtrack feel. The album closer, "Tiny Flowers/Little Moon" brings in the first real noticeable use of lyrics in a Hedersleben song, which would be greatly expanded upon in their 3rd album, The Fall of Chronopolis and the addition of vocalist Ariana Jade (who joined the band right after the release of this album). On earlier pieces from "Upgoer" and this album, if there were any lyrics, they really only served the song as much as any instrument or texture and not as a central focus. Here the words, sung by singer/lyricist Kati Knox, are a tad basic to some listeners, but actually serve the song well, complimented by Garratt's unique & tasteful guitar arrangements and paired with Moon's breathtaking piano coda, this song closes the album on a great bit of respite as perfectly as the closing coda of side 1 did. In short, while it may suggest listeners of the past, this is by no means a nostalgic or derivative work. This is a new, fresh take on music for a higher purpose, but my words don't do it justice. Go give all 3 of their albums a listen and then go experience Hedersleben live.

I was eager to check out HEDERSLEBEN's second album after really enjoying their debut. I have to say there's not a lot to chose between the two as I think both are solid 4 star works. I like the way they set this one up like some of the classic Krautrock albums with that side long suite complimented with several songs on side two.

So lets start with the epic and title track "Die Neuen Welten" a 17 1/2 minute journey. Floating organ to begin as blips come and go. Bass comes in around 2 minutes and builds then the guitar starts to make some noise after 4 minutes but it's brief. Pulsating organ a minute later. Catchy stuff after 6 minutes as spacey synths come and go. A PINK FLOYD vibe before 9 minutes as the guitar joins in. Drums to the fore 10 1/2 minutes and there's a real Krautrock impression here. Some nice guitar expressions 13 1/2 minutes in including some angular lines after 15 minutes. This is followed by 2 minutes of calm with piano melodies and electronics to the end.

"(On The Ground) Safe And Sound" reminds me so much of HAWKWIND with that catchy chorus. It opens with pulsating sounds along with mellotron waves then bass and more as it builds. Check out the guitar before 2 minutes playing over top. That chorus comes in before 3 minutes and lasts about a minute. "Nomad World(Dreamstate)" is the only "Dreamstate" song this time as we had two of them on the debut. Picked guitar and atmosphere to start and I really like the guitar expressions and female vocal melodies that come and go. A beauty.

"Xo5B" is slower paced with vocal melodies, a beat and piano early on. Spacey synths join in followed by the guitar and bass. Nice. The vocal melodies stop before the guitar starts to grind it out a minute later. The organ starts to lead then the vocal melodies return, then spacey synths. "Tiny Flowers/ Little Moon" sounds so good to start, love that bass. Female vocals join in quickly and again the bass and drums sound really good here. A calm after 2 1/2 minutes with piano to the end.

These guys have released a new album in 2015 so I'm really looking forward hearing that one. Krautrock fans need to check this band out.