Hoelderlin - Clouds & Clowns
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Music CD Cover
Artist: HoelderlinEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2009-01-01
Music Label: Emi Uk/Zoom
Free Music Notes for Clouds & Clowns
Free Music Review: Entry of the Teutonic Art Rockers Pt. II
Hit: 5 Stars
By 1976 HOELDERLIN had moved far away from the psychedelic folk music found on their first album HOELDERLINS TRAUM. CLOWNS AND CLOUDS was HOELDERLIN's third album, and the first album with their new bass player Hans. Much of their artrock sound owes less to the Krautrock movement, and more to the 1973 GENESIS sound, with a dose of David Cross (violin player)from the 1973 era of KING CRIMSON. The side one soundscape is contained on 3 extended composistions. (Its the "CLOWN" side, so expect Circus imagery, clowns, lions, audience sound effects, dancing bears, etc.) Their orchestration centers around lead guitar, cello and viola often trading "fours" with each other during the instrumental passages. The lead guitar and precise, fluid rock drumming, along with the keyboard/synth work, keeps the sound grounded in the "rock" element, just as the cello/viola instrumentalists keep the "ART" in their artrock concept.
HOELDERLIN's artrock aspires to high concept, with "side one" about "clowns", and side two about "Clouds". Side two's style moves closer to KOSMISCHE Krautrock. A bubbling stream of water(for the song titled STREAMING), flutes, sax solos, and synths, plus the string section, is contained on the two extended pieces. The album's last song, PHASING, is my favorite piece on the album. A delicate melody on the viola floats gracefully over an arpeggioed electric piano, gracefully building over time, as drums and bass fill out the sound , until the keyboards enter. They play tacit to the cello, and the whole effect, completely sans vocals, causes a joyful sonic hypnosis. It's totally beautiful. When the cellist and viola player both begin to jam against each other, while the bass ostenado holds the bottom together, towards the end of the song, it reminds one of CAN's "BEL AIR" from FUTURE DAYS. So, side one is UK artrock about CLOWNS, side two is KOSMIC KRAUTROCK about CLOUDS. Thus, "CLOUDS AND CLOWNS". Ah, artrock, pretention is thy name.
Some people might disaggree with a five star rating for this album. Well, there are reasons for that stance. First, the singer doesnt own a very disciplined instrument, ie, his timbre can be harsh, shaky, and even a little bit off color. But what really makes up for this, are outstanding album covers painted by the Lead Guitar player, who's the keyboardist/vocalist's brother, both being the core of the band. Second, the english lyrics could be more poetic, especially for a band named after a famous german romantic poet.
What really gives me reason to raise my estimation of this album, is a 16 minute live jam from 1974, of the song TRAUM. (From the band's first album.) It's pure artrock bliss. Their previous album (self titled) has another song from that same show, DEATHWATCHBEETLE. This would have been a fantastic band to have experienced live. So, HOELDERLIN gives you band produced cover art, a constantly changing musical direction, from psychedelic folk with sitars, into artrock and Kosmische Krautrock. Also, I give them a lot of credit for being able to work out a band sound out of a tight rythym section, ancoring a fluid intermingling of cello, viola, lead guitar, and vocals (plus guest artists on flute, sax, etc.) Bottom line, if you already enjoy this band, it's a worthwild album to purchase. Also, if you want to explore some artrock/ krautrock soundscapes you wont hear elsewhere, I'd believe people would enjoy the band as well. ALLES AUSGEZEICHNET!
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