STERN-COMBO MEISSEN

This was the MEISSEN's first album and was actually a live recording capturing IMHO them at their height of their career. This is classic German space prog with some grand interludes and otherworldly atmospheres. I love this album with their featured 2 analog keyboardists (Lothar Kramar and Thomas Kurzhals) who play a great array of 70's vintage keys. These guys play with a high degree of intuition and almost sound at times as if they are talking to each other. The other instrumentalists are equally solid (guitar, bass and percussion/drums) and an exceptional lead singer who sings in native German with great conviction. I would definitely put these guys in the "GROBSCHNITT" / "Ego On The Rocks" camp of progressive rock. A top notch album that I would highly recommend to all lovers of German Space progressive rock.

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Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | Review this album | Report (Review #29063)

In 1977 it was time for the first official release of Stern Combo Meissen.Their classic track ''Der Kampf um den Südpol'', already presented live by the group, started hitting the charts and remains actually a hit until today.Surprisingly the official debut of the band was another live recording, carrying the band's name as a title and released on Amiga in 1977.

Not the average keyboard-driven band,Stern Combo Meissen mix in their debut lots of different styles,remaining a band with a wide sound spectrum as in their early years.''Der Kampf um den Südpol'' sounds sort of psychedelic rock with nice organ and is led by the vocals of Reinhard Fißler,while on ''Der Alte auf der Müllkippe'' the funky rhythm section blends with the spacey moog synths of the keyboard duo.''Mütter gehn fort ohne Laut'' is the first track where the band shows of their symphonic tendencies with mellow classical-influenced synths and organs leading the way.''Eine Nacht af dem Kahlen Berge'' is nothing else than Stern Combo Meissen's adaption on the classic Mussorgsky piece ''Night on the Bald Mountain''.A 13 minute track,where the band capture all of the classic piece's dramatic atmosphere through the fiery organ and the closing section full of moog sounds and deep bass lines.''Licht das Dunkel'' closes the album in a rather soft way with hypnotic bass lines around moog solos and dreamy vocals,while its ending sounds like a familiar complex ELP jam.

Stern Combo Meissen were among the daring bands in DDR (East Germany) to produce some highly sophisticated music.Their debut is a nice delivery of classical-influenced prog rock and deserves a wider recognition...3.5 stars.

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Posted Tuesday, October 12, 2010 | Review this album | Report (Review #303640)

This is the first full album released by the East German band, Stern Combo Meissen. The bands name translates to "Star Combo Meissen" - Meissen being their home city, now famous for their porcelain production. The eponymous album title is sometimes listed as "No. 1" in compilation releases. The f ... (read more)

Report this review (#2269252) | Posted by wiz_d_kidd | Sunday, October 13, 2019 | Review Permanlink

I like this album very much. It's really German but how to describe that. Just great playing, live album, germal lyrics, just reminds you to Novalis, but much better I think. Highlight is the absolutely stunning opening track which has a fantastic melodic line AND great German lyrics about disco ... (read more)

Report this review (#165049) | Posted by eduur | Wednesday, March 26, 2008 | Review Permanlink

Stern Combo meissen's first LP is a gem of an LP in a field - East German Prog - not exactly bursting at the seams with masterpieces (unlike Italian Prog). But this great debut is worth checking out, blending Hawkwind-lie space-rock with prog dynamics. On "Der Kampf um den Sudpol" the first s ... (read more)

Report this review (#29064) | Posted by mandrake2 | Saturday, January 8, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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