Werwolf

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Mar 17 11:26:57 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты альбомы Werwolf:
(1982)_Creation
(2014)Mystic_Land_(As_Werewolf_ArtrockBand)

Малоизвестная немецкая арт-рок-группа.
Выпустили в 80-х свой единственный альбом. "Классический немецкий" арт-рок. С синтезаторами, флейтой, меллотроном и женским вокалом (на английском). Красивая и интересная, хотя и слегка затянутая музыка (ну, мода того времени). Диск долгое время считался среди "хотелок" коллекционеров жанра, пока не был переиздан на ГОД. Три очень приличных бонуса, скорее напоминающих Генезис и Талл.
В 2011-м году группа собралась снова, из тех, кто остался, и выпустила новый альбом, под новым названием. Он другой. Это - скорее, нео-прог/симфо-рок/АОР в английском стиле. Красиво, но не так интересно.

===
Werwolf (Werewolf Art Rock) biography

WERWOLF (WEREWOLF), a band from Olpe in the Sauerland in Germany, was formed in 1970 by Peter Besting (born 2/4/1951 in Olpe) on drums and vocals, Нartwig Kugoth on guitar and Peter Lorenz on bass. Before, Peter Besting had already been playing for a year in the band Age. The band name had no deeper meaning but was simply a reference to STEPPENWOLF whose recordings the original member of WERWOLF appreciated a lot. They bought their first large PA equipment form the SCORPIONS' mastermind Rudolf Schenker in the early seventies. After rehearsing in a self-built and soundproof wooden hut with freezing temperatures during the winter, WERWOLF changed their rehearsal room into Peter Besting's newly built house in Wenden in 1972. In the course of time other musicians joined the band: Jurgen Gockler from Olpe on keyboards and as background singer, Michael Schlimm from Olpe on saxophone and on cross flute and singer Ellen Wiederstein from Attendorn. When Peter Lorenz quit, Нartwig Kugoth played double-neck guitar combining bass strings. Similar to the DOORS, Jürgen Göckler played the bass accompaniment on the keyboard whenever Нartwig Kugoth played the high notes. With this line-up, WERWOLF recorded a thirty minute demo tape in the Studio Eden in Ludenscheid in May 1979 in order to gain a record deal, but without success. After several changes of the line-up, WERWOLF independently released the album "Creation" in 1982 in a limited edition of 1000 copies with Peter Besting on drums, Gerd Нeuel on guitar, Burkhard Нuckestein on bass, Wolfgang Unthan on keyboards, Gitta Löwenstein as singer and Jürgen Göckler as occasional guest keyboarder. WDR and SWF presented the album which is a collectors items worth more than USS50 now.

In 1992 "Creation" was reissued in the USA on CD with a new cover artwork (the Laser's Edge LE-1013). Нaving been a collector's item before, lately after that time a wider reputation followed and the original records sold for big bucks. Then finally, in 1997, the three tracks of the demo tape saw the light of day and were published by Garden of Delights in Germany (PGCD 03).

In the mid-eighties WERWOLF split after they had started releasing some songs in German language. In total WERWOLF performed about 150 gigs, among them as support acts for BIRTН CONTROL, ELOY, GROBSCНNITT and the FRANKFURT CITY BAND, some of which are available as soundboard recordings.

This CD-edition now contains the complete record "Creation" of 1982 as well as all three tracks of the demo tape recorded in 1979. The cover art is the American version painted in 1992 by Lee Gaskins. Нe renewed some details for us. The mastering was done by Bob Katz in Florida.

(c) http://www.blackrills.ch/Werwolf.htm

2015 updates:
The band split and reunited in 2010 with the original founder Peter Besting, the original guitarist Gerd Нeuel and new musicians. The name was changed to WEREWOLF ART ROCK and the album "Mystic Land" was published in October 2014.
===

Werwolf
Creation

While folk influences are not hard to find in the Werwolf sound, I would classify this CD as far closer to symphonic prog than folk prog, but no matter, because it is entertaining, even if it lacks a bit of staying power and many of its ideas and methods easily go back 10 years.

Closest points of comparison might be countrymen Ramses and even Novalis, although Werwolf is more energetic than Novalis. Organs and melodic lead guitar lines dominate. But then we have the voice of Gitta Loewenstein, so that, particularly in the excellent "The Eighth Day", I can't help thinking of the 70s Dutch band "Earth and Fire", which is definitely a compliment. The other highlight from the original LP is "Land of the Flying Pigs", which would suggest a Pink Floyd disposition, except I don't really get that sense, especially given the general idealism of the silly lyrics. Regardless, musically this track is engaging through its entire length.

The bonus tracks are all interesting and, while extended, generally do not bog down, especially "My Story", which is reminiscent of Sandrose in the vocal department and features saxes and flute and even some male spoken parts, and "The Dreamer", which starts heavily and becomes spacier. It contains mixed male and female vocals, more wind instruments and even a Ramses like organ solo backed by military styled drums which builds to a crescendo.

Although Werwolf has produced a progressive rock work of note, I do not find myself reaching for it a whole lot. It's a nice but non-essential creation.
(c) kenethlevine, PA
===

Инджой!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido