SCHIZOPHRENIA

Shamall is the project of German music producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Norbert Krueler. The album 'Schizophrenia' offers what amount to two double LP's of music that indeed is prog-related, but only by reference in my opinion. The music of Shamall aims to create dark electronic music in de vain of the Blade Runner soundtrack, but less condensed to its most pivotal moments. In stead this record sounds like a long electronic jam with some interwoven 'songy' parts. The pallet is that of modern electronic music (including movie soundtrack electronics), lot's of mid-paced drumming (also electronic) and some echoey rock guitars. The link to the neo-progressive genre - that I can't separate from its emotive songwriting - is than a bit of stretch in my opinion. The male vocals by Krueler are competent and often mixed like Queen's Innuendo album. The three vocal performances of Anke Ullrich are a welcome change, also a gifted singer with her own style. The album's main defining attribute seems to be its running time and uninterrupted flow, which allows for full immersion in the music. The album would also do a fine job as background noise. The production by Norber Krueler is flawless, with a full-bodied sound and a pleasant mix.

Whilst everything on this record is just fine, I fail to see how such an amount of tracks that more or less sound the same (sound pallet, rhythm, tempo, minor key, lyrical theme) could impress listeners of the progressive all that much. To me this music sounds like a very well made copy of a copy of a copy of something. Furthermore, he lyrical themes of schizophrenia and inconvenient truths do become a bit of a drag. Now, there's no need to rate anything less then a three star rating for a professional album that obviously people here are enjoying - but I would definitively not recommend this to listeners of neo-prog.

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Posted Thursday, January 16, 2020 | Review this album | Report (Review #2307129)

1986 --- 2019. No, no don't worry, it's nobody's epitaph!!! These are just the dates of the present musical career of Norbert KRUELER alias SHAMALL as a creator of so-called "progressive" music. Thirty-three years that the guy has been composing his music, and brilliantly! I had already commente ... (read more)

Report this review (#2934824) | Posted by KansasForEver | Wednesday, June 21, 2023 | Review Permanlink

Quite a difficult album to judge. Although the craftsmanship is clearly very good, to me its pretty much the same base, tempo, song repeated over and over again for two and a half hours, with some minor variations in vocals and guitar/piano. It's a programmed album, and I suspect there's been an ... (read more)

Report this review (#2497748) | Posted by bartymj | Thursday, January 28, 2021 | Review Permanlink

Norbert Krueler has been known in Germany as a DJ since the 1980s. I stumbled upon his latest baby just recently and I found myself candid, young and dazed it must be said in front of such a successful album. This double album concept and very long, more than 150 minutes can be heard in 2 parts s ... (read more)

Report this review (#2352308) | Posted by alainPP | Saturday, April 18, 2020 | Review Permanlink

It just needs only a few words to explain what I like so much about the new Shamall "Schizophrenia". First of all, it is a high-quality production, in which the musical and technical realization of the theme as well as the cover design and content is more than excellent. The exceptionally good soun ... (read more)

Report this review (#2314531) | Posted by Dark Edge | Monday, February 10, 2020 | Review Permanlink

The name Shamall is not new to me. But whenever I was told that it is electronic music, my interest to continue working with them felt asleep. I am really not a fan of electronic music. Everything is too similar to me, not enough power in it. But with Shamall I was wrong. And I have no problem admi ... (read more)

Report this review (#2306679) | Posted by JohnnyBGoody | Tuesday, January 14, 2020 | Review Permanlink

In my passion as a fan of progressive music, I have rarely seen a band surprising me with a new album that could compete with one of their earlier releases, even after decades. Indeed! Pink Floyd was one of those bands. Of course also Porcupine Tree and later Steven Wilson as soloist. As well as Ana ... (read more)

Report this review (#2303105) | Posted by Finn73 | Wednesday, January 1, 2020 | Review Permanlink

Shamall is the project of Norbert Krüler, a German musician who has been producing and releasing progressive music of various styles under this name for more than 30 years. Indeed Shamall has experienced different emphases in his music until today. Starting with two disco productions in the earl ... (read more)

Report this review (#2299607) | Posted by SylvieK | Wednesday, December 25, 2019 | Review Permanlink

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