LIVE BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR

This is a reduced core trio acting here. When it comes to the development and presentation of progressive music in general, the band EMBRYO must be filed under the term 'big players' for sure, having a huge lifeline. One of the pioneers who were successfully adapting ethno folk influences from Middle East, Africa and Asia to their sound very early for example. Fairly different stuff has been recorded under this moniker during many decades up to now, while they are juggling with styles like krautrock, psychedelic, fusion, jazz rock, ethno folk and world music. Depends on general contemporary trends, and is of course also influenced by the respective musicians involved. Since some time Marja Burchard has taken EMBRYO's spirtual and musical lead, the daughter of Christian, who has been band co-founder in 1969. She could develop into a versatile multi-instrumentalist (who wonders?), and aims to continue the band's story, based on her own varianted approach.

Experiencing the band live has been and still is something special. Do not repeat yourself is one motto. I could attend and follow a lot of band appearances in the 1970's, mostly featuring sprawling jazz rock attitude, including lead guitarist Roman Bunka for example. Last year then I saw them playing in a local church, a completely different, more intimate, ethno and avantgarde tinged gig with Marja and Marcel 'Maasl' Maier, the second musician in the line up concerning this recordings. He's predominantly providing the electric bass, also known as a member of the related band Karaba, coming from Munich too. The third member then is drummer Sebastian Wolfgruber, who has substituted Jakob Thun some time ago. The instrumentation gives a little clue, what kind of music we can expect. This would mainly be jazz rock on this occasion, garnered with proper kraut and psychedelic appeal.

It was a livestream session which should develop in such an inspired manner that they decided to publish some best-of excerpts put together on vinyl length via Permakultur Schallplatten. The session is streamable on youtube in full length by the way (roundabout 100 minutes). Maybe the cherry on the cake would be a comfortable electric guitar accompaniment. But I don't want to complain, there's no need really. Never have noted Marja playing the electric piano and organ that much and that engaged. Awesome! And then she also takes the trombone, vibraphone or santur in between, if appropriate. Generally speaking bass and drums are the lively backbone for Marja's wizzardness. Side B, which practically is Three Tongues On Iron, turns out to be a real trendsetter, when it comes to this recommended band snapshot.