Grobschnitt is for me personally, my all time favourite progressive rock band from Germany. The Hagen Krautrock legends made many real masterpieces such as Rockpommel's Land (1977) and Illegal (1981). But also their first live album Solar Music - Live (1978) can be considered as a true masterpiece. This excellent live album is now again released as Solar Music Live Remix 2024 with some additional material. The three Grobschnitt members Eroc, Lupo and Willi Wildschwein (who are at the moment also touring with an acoustic set of Grobschnitt music) have personally put their hands on the original tapes and used modern technology to conjure up a sound image that leaves nothing to be desired. Even the regular stereo mix lets you hear details that are likely to surprise even die-hard fans. But the quality of the remix goes beyond technical gimmicks. Solar Music Live remains a musical work of art that captivates once again with its hypnotic arc of tension, virtuoso instrumental passages and the band's incomparable interplay. This version brings the epic energy of the 1978 concerts straight into the living room without any doubt. The excellent designed artwork and the extensive booklet also contribute to the rediscovery of this masterpiece. The band played Solar Music live well over 1000 times. The song became later on Powerplay and Sonnentanz. It is not just a song. Always played differently in terms of length and interpretation. All versions are united by the great atmosphere that this brilliant masterpiece exudes. The song has always been a fascinating live experience, no matter in which phase of the band's history one was able to experience it live. Over the years the band has undergone various line-up changes. But the formation heard here can be safely considered as the Grobschnitt classic line-up. Featuring Volker Kahrs alias Mist on keyboards and Wolfgang "Hunter" Jäger alias Popo, guitarist Gerd Otto Kühn alias Lupo, Joachim Ehrig alias Eroc on drums and Stefan Danielak alias Willi Wildschwein on vocals and guitar. The piece was born in 1968 in the form of a "D minor guitar theme" by lead guitarist Lupo. This guitar theme first appeared on the debut album Grobschnitt (1972), as you can hear on the composition Sun Trip. Solar Music was first released as a studio version in 1974 on the second disc of their Ballermann album. Their second studio album. The live version was always much more alive as the studio version and always much longer than the original studio version (33 minutes long). The recorded version for the live album Solar Music Live lasts 54 minutes and shows in an impressive way how Eroc, Lupo, Mist, Popo and Wildschwein not only play their music, but actually live it. I will not go into detail of what happens along the way while listening to this amazing live experience. But it is obvious that all musicians are at the top of their game while playing this big musical jam. A progressive rock jam which is most of the time an instrumental piece. The first part is more focused on the incredible guitar parts on which the rhythm section has a major role in it. It doesn't mean the keyboards are left out. But during the second half they are more up front with several solo parts. Most of all Golden Mist is a must hear for that fact. The musicians had always a lot of humour in their live set as you can hear on this live recording as well. When the "fog police" enters the stage for a special announcement saying: "We would like to point out to you that the artificial fog that you have been breathing in for 10 minutes is an extremely poisonous substance that can lead to unconsciousness and death after just a few moments. We thank you for the trust you have placed in us." In the seventies when the original album was released on vinyl the playing time was limited. In those days 12 inch records were generally manufactured for full-length (LP) albums. At the time 33 rpm was the most common speed for 12 inch records. At 33 rpm they could hold up to 25 minutes per side. With a total time of 50 minutes. Therefore an encore or extra track was not possible when they released the album for the first time. Nowadays when the CD is standard more music can be added. Because for audio CDs, the maximum length is 79 minutes and 59 seconds. To make this release even more interesting the encore, the 13-minute Tschüss Mülheim (Goodby Mülheim) was added. The title indicates the town they were performing on stage when the audio was recorded. It is a long instrumental with lots of improvisations. The introduction of the band members and other participants on and off stage are included. People such as Toni Moff Mollo (lights) and Geheimrat Günstig (audiomix). If you speak the German language there is a lot to read in the great booklet. Featuring many pictures from those days but also from nowadays, including the three veterans mentioned earlier. Of course with the typical Grobschnitt humour and all sorts of anecdotes. The album is available in the following formats: As a limited single CD in a digibook with a 24-page booklet (the one I reviewed), as a double LP in transparent and orange vinyl, and as an all-round feel-good package in the box with 2LP+CD+BluRay Audio+signed ArtCard. On hindsight we should thank Eroc, Popo, Lupo, Mist and Willi Wildschwein for creating this insane musical spectacle that we can hear on Solar Music Live. This is a must have for people who enjoyed the progressive rock from the seventies with bands such as Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd. But also for progressive rock lovers in general who love bands such as Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings and early Marillion. Because in a way this German band might have inspired all of them. Who knows! Solar Music Live is a contemporary testimony to German rock history. A true masterpiece that never gets boring playing. Always shows new musical parts and details you didn't hear when you played it for the first time. Even more with this amazing new remix! A must have which only deserves the highest rating possible!! ***** Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
