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STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN)

Symphonic Prog • Germany


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Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) picture
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) biography
Much like the Moody Blues (and others), Stern-Combo Meissen (stern means star, and Meissen is their home town) started out as a rock band in the early '60s. The usual lineup and style changes occurred, until they settled into symphonic prog. This didn't happen until 1977, when they released their self-titled debut. SCM became one of the bigger East German bands of the seventies. They relied heavily on keyboards (ala Emerson and Wakeman), and classical influences.

By the release of 1980's "Reise Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen." They had dropped the 'Combo' from the band's name. The next two albums saw them following a familiar pattern, and pursuing more pop oriented music. In fact, 1985's "Taufrisch" was completely out of the realm of prog. After this album the band broke up.

In 1995 they reformed with most of the original members, and put the 'Combo' back in. The band still tours, and has released some live recordings. No new studio work has been done as of yet.

H.T. Riekels (bhikkhu)

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STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) discography


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STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.44 | 37 ratings
Weisses Gold
1978
2.42 | 21 ratings
Der weite Weg
1979
3.85 | 29 ratings
Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen
1980
2.25 | 13 ratings
Stern Meissen - Stundenschlag
1982
1.31 | 15 ratings
Stern Meissen - Taufrisch
1985
1.79 | 10 ratings
Stern Meissen - Nächte
1987
2.04 | 4 ratings
40 Jahre
2004
3.13 | 6 ratings
Lebensuhr
2011
2.05 | 3 ratings
Freiheit Ist
2020

STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.66 | 24 ratings
Stern-Combo Meissen
1977
3.33 | 8 ratings
Live
1996
2.80 | 5 ratings
Sachsendreier Live
1999
5.00 | 1 ratings
Sachsendreier Live. Die Zweite
2007
4.50 | 4 ratings
Bilder einer Ausstellung (Pictures at an Exhibition) - The Rock Version Live
2015

STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

5.00 | 2 ratings
Sachsendreier Live
2005
5.00 | 2 ratings
Stern Combo Meissen im Theater am Potsdamer Platz
2014
0.00 | 0 ratings
Stern Meißen im Konzert
2018

STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 3 ratings
Hits
1996
3.00 | 1 ratings
Leben möcht' ich
1999
2.00 | 1 ratings
Stern Meissen - Taufrisch / Nächte
2000
3.00 | 1 ratings
Hits und Raritäten
2009
4.07 | 5 ratings
Die Original Amiga Alben (1977 - 1987, 7 CD Set)
2011
4.00 | 1 ratings
Sternstunden
2011

STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

1.00 | 1 ratings
Söhnchen
1975
3.00 | 2 ratings
Der Alte / Jenny
1977
0.00 | 0 ratings
Der weite Weg / Du, komm her
1978
0.00 | 0 ratings
Wir sind die Sonne / Deine Augen
1984
0.00 | 0 ratings
Senftenberg 2013
2014

STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Freiheit Ist by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 2020
2.05 | 3 ratings

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Freiheit Ist
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by Lewian
Prog Reviewer

2 stars Although band founder and leader Martin Schreier is still on board, otherwise there has been a generation change, and Schreier is the only remaining member from times when the band still did progressive rock, the end seventies and early eighties that is. The recent version of the band plays smooth keyboard oriented pop music with not particularly remarkable German lyrics. This will not be of interest to most prog fans. I listen to this mainly because I have a historical interest in the band and so make sure I know what they are up to. I do admire their longevity though, and always like when they come out with something new. Their pop music is well produced and sophisticated at times with some nontrivial jazz-influenced harmonics in some tracks, and I do like some of the melodies. One may find some later 10cc influence in this (but with less fun lyrics). I'd say the album is good for what it is if you like this kind of thing - smooth well done pop with some sophistication, but it's not progressive and doesn't have the elements that most of us are looking for in music.

Oh, I should mention that the title track "Freiheit ist" is pretty good and complex and even has some keyboards that remind me of their old material with Thomas Kurzhals (who still appears on one track though deceased in 2014) if not even Keith Emerson.

 Stern Meissen - Nächte by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1987
1.79 | 10 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Nächte
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by exoticprog

2 stars Same as "Taufrisch" (Fresh One), the only reason I enjoy listening to this album is because I find it entertaining, but it is not prog at all and for that reason it gets a two star rating.

It seems Stern Meissen wanted to reach a bigger audience and as a result caved in to the popularity of Neue Deutsche Welle and probably lost a good chunk of their earlier fans in the process. Perhaps one could also call this album Taufrisch Teil 2 (Part 2).... Here they are basically doubling down on their popness so to speak. The song "Ich bin frei" (I Am Free), which became a temporary hit, is a great example of that. Besides the fact that the only person left from the early Stern (Combo) Meissen period is Martin Schreier who does not even write, play or sing anything on the album and is only credited as a producer alongside ex-keyboardist Lothar Kramer. It's almost as if it's a different band at this point.

After this, the band would split up a couple of years later and not put out another studio album full of original music until 2011's "Lebensuhr" (Clock of Life) when they added "Combo" back into their name and somewhat returned to their prog roots.

 Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1980
3.85 | 29 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by exoticprog

4 stars This album was the last proper prog album for the band in their early career even though it is the first album with the name shortened to "Stern Meissen". After this album, the band changed their musical direction and became more pop oriented, more so when Reinhard Fissler and Michael Behm left the group after the album "Stundenschlag" (Hour Strike). This is also their only other concept album thus far, the other one being "Weißes Gold" (White Gold) from 1978.

This album is extremely keyboard based, no guitar whatsoever, to me though that does not make this album any less brilliant. Thomas Kurzhals played a huge role in shaping the band's music in their early years and you can definitely hear that on this album. A brilliant showcase of Kurzhals not only as a keyboardist and pianist, but also as a composer. Very symphonic, great arrangements, great keyboard techniques and effects. Hugely experimental. All that combined with Reinhard Fissler's modest vocals is what makes this album what it is.

 Stern Meissen - Taufrisch by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1985
1.31 | 15 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Taufrisch
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by exoticprog

2 stars I personally find this album entertaining and enjoy listening to it even though it is typical 80's Neue Deutsche Welle pop. However it is not prog, not even close. If you listen to the previous album "Stundenschlag" (Hour Strike), even though the band had already changed their music direction by then, you may still find some prog elements. Once Reinhard Fissler left and Ralf Schmidt (IC Falkenberg) joined, they simply became a full fledged pop band and said goodbye to their prog roots, this album being proof of that.

This album is nothing more than typical 80's pop. If you are looking for prog, you will not find any of it on here.

 Stern Meissen - Taufrisch by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1985
1.31 | 15 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Taufrisch
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by Harry Bosch

1 stars "Taufrisch" has nothing to do with the early works of Stern Combo Meißen, no symphonic prog anywhere. Instead, bad zeitgeist pop-junk of the forgettable kind. One of the best examples why so many music listeners hate the 80s. Lousy songwriting that desperately wants to attach itself to the Neue Deutsche Welle, a sound like from a padded cell, pappy drums, flat guitars, that howl out terrible stereotypes. Sometimes creepy vocals to lyrics that a sixth-grader would have been better off hiding in the drawer. Even a children's choir can't save the "Harlekin". Pure Horror - or almost the worst music in the world.
 Die Original Amiga Alben (1977 - 1987, 7 CD Set) by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2011
4.07 | 5 ratings

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Die Original Amiga Alben (1977 - 1987, 7 CD Set)
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by wiz_d_kidd

4 stars Stern Combo Meissen, "Die Original Amiga Alben". This is a box-set of the first 7 CDs released by Stern Combo Meissen on Amiga, an East German sanctioned label. If you're new to Stern Combo Meissen, and you want a quick, easy, and cheap way of getting up to speed, you might consider this box set. Here's a run-down of all 7 albums and my ratings for each. More in-depth reviews for the first 5 albums can be found under each individual album's page.

1. Stern Combo Meissen (aka "No. 1") Their first full-length release, is a mixed bag of live tracks, some excellent, and all pleasant. 3 stars.

2. Weisses Gold. Their first studio concept album. Fans of The Psychedelic Ensemble, or any keyboard driven prog will revel in this album. 4 stars.

3. Der Weite Weg. Unfortunately, this is a disappointing departure from the trajectory established by their first two albums. 2 stars.

4. Reise Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen. Perhaps their best effort, and certainly the one exhibiting the most ELP influence. 4 stars.

5. Stundenschlag. A transition album bridging prog and commercial pop. Still enough proggy elements to keep you entertained. 3 stars.

6. Taufrisch. Fully entrenched in the 1980's synth pop, new wave, MTV, radio music. Nicely done, but not prog. 1 star.

7. Nachte. More 1980's pop. Think Thompson Twins, Thomas Dolby, INXS. Again it's well done, but not prog. 1 star.

Four good albums, one somewhat forgettable, and two that aren't prog but are acceptably good '80's pop. Overall, a good buy. Four stars.

 Stern Meissen - Stundenschlag by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1982
2.25 | 13 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Stundenschlag
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by wiz_d_kidd

3 stars "Stundenschlag" (translation: Hour Strike) represents the turning point that many prog bands faced in the 1980's -- a move away from the artistic (and sometimes bombastic) prog toward more commercial, radio-friendly rock. Think of Genesis "Abacab" or Yes "90215" or any of Asia's early albums.

Track 1 "So What Will Become of Me" has a striking bass motif throughout and a catchy vocal melody to boot. This track often appears in recent live performances by Stern Meissen and has become one of their signature tracks. Track 2 "The One and the Other" has a 1980's Moody Blues vocal vibe and some nice proggy interludes. Track 3 "The Couple" has clear classical influences, and for the first time in a Stern Meissen band, violin and guitar! Listen carefully to this track for its resemblance to UK's "Rendezvous" or "Nevermore" -- especially the Holdsworth-inspired guitar. Track 4 "Hour Strike" has some outstanding work on the bass guitar, and Eddie Jobson influenced violin, especially around the 3:50 mark. Track 5 "In the Same Lane" is somewhat sing-songy and forgettable. Track 6 "El Salvador" introduces a Caribbean vibe, including steel drums and conga beat, despite the fact that the country of El Salvador is on the Pacific, not the Caribbean Sea. Track 7 "I Want to Live" has some nice, engaging musical interludes, despite being a little sing-songy. Overall, it is nicely composed, balanced, arranged, and voiced.

For a transitional album, bridging the prog of old and the emerging pop sensibilities, I find this album as enjoyable as any of the aforementioned transitional albums by the great prog masters. Tracks 1, 3, and 4 are the best. If you've missed the resemblance to UK in tracks 3 and 4, give it another listen. Enjoy it for what it is, a transitional album, and not what you hoped it was. Three stars.

 Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1980
3.85 | 29 ratings

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Stern Meissen - Reise zum Mittelpunkt des Menschen
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by wiz_d_kidd

4 stars The band Stern Combo Meissen has, with this release, shortened their name to Stern Meissen. A good thing, too, as combos were a moniker of dance bands in the 1960's. "Reise Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen" (translation: "Journey to the Center of Man") is a concept album that tells the story of exploring ones fellow man by literally "driving into him as if into a mountain". Apparently, the lyrics on this album were much maligned in the German press, but fortunately for me, I don't speak German, and the vocal passages are minimal! On a positive note, the vocal performance in wonderfully melodic. Fans of keyboard-oriented prog will love the lush Moog, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Clavinet, and assorted polysynths (perhaps a Yamaha CS-80) on this album. The ELP influences really shine, here. Bass and percussion provide forward-leaning rhythms throughout and are brilliantly "in the pocket" with one another. One track segues directly to the next, without gaps. There were some personnel changes on this album. Martin Shreier, former drummer and bandleader, moved solely to the mixing board. Norbert Jäger who did vocals, percussion and lyrics was gone, as was drummer Werther Lohse. Michael Behm filled the drummers position, and Peger Rasym picked up the bass. This is a wonderful album which is the rightful successor to "Weisses Gold", ignoring the ignore-able "Der Weite Weg". If you're new to Stern Meissen, this (or "Weisses Gold") is a good place to start. Tracks 4 and 5 are the best. If you're a fan of ELP, this album should tickle your ossicles and fully engage your frontal lobe. Four stars.
 Der weite Weg by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1979
2.42 | 21 ratings

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Der weite Weg
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by wiz_d_kidd

2 stars After their wonderful eponymous debut album and the tremendous second album, "Weisses Gold", I had high hopes that their third album, "Der Weite Weg" would be another step forward in the bands development as a notable prog band. It wasn't. It was a step backwards, and a large one at that. "Der Weite Weg" translates to "The Long Way", and in any long journey, there will be an inevitable pothole in the road. This album represents the pothole in their prog journey.

The first track has some decent synth work, but the vocals are mixed way to far forward, and are a vast stylistic departure from the melodic vocals on their previous albums. Track 2 has elements of light jazz/rock reminiscent of Passport (sans saxophone). Track 3 reminds me of Gentle Giant's "Think of Me With Kindness", but a little too sappy for my tastes. Track 4 is synth pop -- almost Kraftwerk-like. One German reviewer (Holger Grützner) said it best... "Awk! The first strike under the gustatory waistline. No real composition, just a few sing-along chords in an endless loop." Tracks 5-7 are an adaptation of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" -- a classical melody ruined by cheesy, amateurish synth play that reminds me of Jean Michel Jarre's "Rarities". Track 8 has an interesting jungle beat on bass and percussion, with some Depeche Mode influences on synth and vocals. Pleasant enough rhythms and melodies, but not particularly prog. Overall, the album has a few interesting passages, but they are few and far between. I'm left to wonder how this mish-mash of an album filled with cheesy synth patches could have followed the beautiful "Weisses Gold". What happened? A pothole happened. Collect your despoiled senses and move on. Two stars.

 Weisses Gold by STERN-COMBO MEISSEN (STERN MEISSEN) album cover Studio Album, 1978
3.44 | 37 ratings

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Weisses Gold
Stern-Combo Meissen (Stern Meissen) Symphonic Prog

Review by wiz_d_kidd

4 stars "Weisses Gold" is a studio concept album that tells the story of the development of world-famous porcelain in Meissen by the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682-1719) who, in his attempt to produce gold in 1709, invented the first white porcelain in Europe, the so-called white gold. Listeners who really dig keyboard-centric productions, will undoubtedly love this album. Passages are rife with nods to Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and even a little Jean Michel Jarre, but most of all it reminds me of the work by The Psychedelic Ensemble on "Tale of the Golden King" -- layers of lush keyboards and synths to manifest complex compositions telling a unified story from the first note to the last. There are theatrical bits, dreamy parts, triumphant vocal lines, thunderous explosions, metal hammering, and a lot of musical imagery and drama. Track 5 "The Flight" and track 6 "Doubt" are the strongest. It would really be nice to have the lyrics for this album, as what is available on the internet does not correlate with what is recorded. Highly recommended, especially for fans of The Psychedelic Ensemble! Four stars.
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