HIRSCHBRUNNEN

Not solely due to the cover artwork here we have a colourful instrumental album. Spreading it's beauty around just like a waterspout fountain, the 'Hirschbrunnen' in this case. I'm quite sure pointing to the one situated in Berlin-Schöneberg. Probably already known for playing guitar with US/German heavy psych rock hybrid outfit named Elder, Nick DiSalvo is responsible for the recorded music ('... I'm an almost obsessive songwriter ...'). And this quasi single-handed, only with minor guitar support coming from Mike Risberg. Nick offers well-crafted compositions all the way through. The instrumentation includes standard rock, and diverse keyboard stuff on top. This sounds overly homogenous, as if, just like Elder, a complete crew of experienced musicians is playing.

But the sound is not very close to this band. Yep, generally speaking the keyboards respectively electronics are making it pretty different. Just to highlight Wait And Sea for example, rather dominated by piano, synthesizer, and melancholic Mellotron. And then you can notice that former Samsara Blues Experiment buddy Richard Behrens is involved here as one producer. Sometimes it occurs as if he's playing the bass instead. The title track comes with looping piano lines. Yet, initiated by Einstürzende Plattenbauten the closing extended Vast develops to a fountain on fire. Great album! Less heavy in comparisn to Elder, in return more kraut and art rock tinged. That means 'Hirschbrunnen' delivers the proggiest stuff ever recorded by Nick DiSalvo, at least what I'm aware of.