Germany
Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog, Art Rock
In the process that started towards the end of the 60s, the alternative segment outside of popular music was pioneered by Psychedelic in America, Progressive in England and Krautrock in Germany. Naturally, it didn't take long for the species to get to know and discover each other. Novalis, one of the bands that discovered the British Progressive at the very beginning of the 70s, provided the emergence of the German progressive and symphonic rock, without straying too far from the heavy, melodic Krautrock, but especially by staying outside.
Of course, the genre was more British in the first album. But Novalis music, which turned into a symphonic rock nourished by German folk culture with successive albums, had a structure of its own. This first album, which is our subject, has great differences with Sommerabend, which can be considered as a Novalis masterpiece, which we plan to add later. While the British attitude and style that we have just mentioned is hardly felt in other albums, you can make people who do not know Banished Bridge pass it off as "the British made it".
In this first album of the group consisting of 4 people, especially the first track, Banished Bridge, carries some forced tones of vocalist Jürgen Wenzel, but is very satisfying in terms of instruments. Lutz Rahn's Hammond timbres, reminiscent of Emerson, Lake & Palmer from time to time, carry the album upwards in many places.
The second piece has a variable structure, as if to salute the meaning called High Evolution. It is a very interesting structure with its ups and downs, enthusiasm and the stagnation that follows. With its style reminiscent of The Strawbs influences, it is a candidate to be the favorite of many people in the album.
Laughing, which moves along with the delicious percussions of Biereichel and differentiates with the keys of Rahn, deserves attention with its melodic structure. Although it slips in many different directions, the piece manages to return to the main theme every time and turns into an aesthetic work that is very pleasing to listen to.
The last track of the album, Inside of Me, is the most important track that Rahn took control of by stepping forward from Wenzel. The piece is also the predecessor of the future Novalis style. It allows us to have more or less an idea of what awaits us in the future.
Members
Lutz Rahn (organ), Hartwig Biereichel (drums), Heino Schünzel (bass, vocals, 1971-80), Jürgen Wenzel (vocals, 1971-73), Carlo Karges (guitar, 1971-75), Detlef Job (guitar, 1973-85), Fred Mühlböck (vocals, 1976-84), Hinrich Schneider (bass, 1983-85), Ernst Herzner (vocals, 1984-85)
Track Listing
1. Banished Bridge (17:06)
2. High Evolution (4:27)
3. Laughing (9:10)
4. Inside of Me (Inside of You) (6:40)
