MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND - 50 years between heaven and earth
Although the group around the Moog wizard Manfred Mann was not able to sail permanently on the big international wave of success like Pink Floyd or Genesis, they have found a loyal audience with their perfect balancing act between spherical progressive rock and good mood classic rock, especially in Germany over five decades. In view of the anniversary, we take a look back at the Earth Band's eventful history together with bandleader Mann, long-term guitarist Mick Rogers and former vocal figurehead Chris Thomp-son. We also spoke with current singer Robert Hart. In addition, we put their most important albums and video documents in perspective.
KRAUTROCK Part 6 - The records of Krautrock - the silverware, underestimated pearls, border crossers and successors
Our six-part journey into the world of Krautrock concludes here with a multitude of record tips, first and foremost the TOP 50 albums of the genre. In addition to the internationally renowned acts such as Can, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Tangerine Dream or Amon Düül II, some outstanding bands from the "second row" have also made it into the top list, which have significantly enriched the development of Krautrock, at least for one album. With the pearls off the hypes and also with stylistic as well as geographical border crossers, some works invite you to listen in (for the first time) or to complete the collection...
BILLY F. GIBBONS - Women, Cars and Politically Incorrect Humor
Actually, there should be a big birthday bash with a new album and world tour for ZZ Top's 50th anniversary. But Corona threw a spanner in the works of Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill and their drummer Frank Beard. Guitarist Gibbons used the unexpected free time to screw around on cars and guitars, to perform wedding ceremonies and to record his third solo album. eclipsed caught him in the US state Nevada.
VOLA - The future of prog?
Asger Mygind's personal playlist ranges from Modeselektor to Meshuggah - and thus sums up the bandwidth of his band VOLA well. On their third album "Witness", the Danes push stylistic boundaries at will, elevate their sound into new spheres and solidify their status as young hopefuls of progressive metal.
SOUTHERN ROCK HOTSPOT GEORGIA - Between lumberjack types, Coca-Cola and "The Walking Dead."
Georgia's musical spectrum ranges from Southern rock and country to alternative and mainstream rock, cowpunk and metal, rap and soul. The Black Crowes, Blackberry Smoke, James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, R.E.M., OutKast or Mastodon are just a few associated names that have made it into the global music memory. Approximately 10.7 million people currently live in Georgia, just over half of whom identify themselves as "non-Hispanic white"; nearly one-third are in the "black" demographic. The cowboy-wearing stereotype Southerner therefore has plenty of competition, and not just musically
BLACKBERRY SMOKE - "Playing live is our purpose"
When Blackberry Smoke toured Germany in 2019 together with the mega-successful Lynyrd Skynyrd, it was a dream combination for the Southern rock community and at the same time a summit meeting of two bands from two hotspots of the genre - after all, the Skynyrds' home is the Floridian Jacksonville, while Blackberry Smoke were founded in Georgia's capital Atlanta in 2000. About Southern rock in general, Blackberry Smoke's new album "You Hear Georgia" in particular and twenty years of band history eclipsed spoke via Zoom with frontman Charlie Starr.
FROST* - "Eat or Die!"
Dark and sarcastic greetings from the island: The British prog band FROST* is back - with a new album and three drummers. In an interview with eclipsed, keyboardist Jem Godfrey and guitarist John Mitchell talk about the recording process, the line-up change in the band and their anger about the current British government
SYLVAN - The Dilemma of Artificial Intelligence
Hamburg art rockers Sylvan have become experts in concept albums: With "Posthumous Silence" they set standards in this discipline 15 years ago, and their last album to date, "Home" (2015), also followed a consistent basic idea. Now they have once again presented a work in which a story is told: "One To Zero", with which they musically tread somewhat different paths than on the predecessor, describes the development process of an artificial intelligence from the initialization to the self-determined reset from their own perspective...
SPHERIC MUSIC has been rolling out a carpet for dreaming for 30 years now
Classical electronic music in the spirit of the psychedelic-experimental seventies, abbreviated EM, leads a rather exclusive shadowy existence despite some great successes, mainly of the Berlin School or international pioneers like Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Listeners who are open to a mental journey into other spheres - the really big (and usually long!) instrumental head cinema - are all the more infatuated with their music
HELLOWEEN - The Magnificent Seven
"It's a typical winter day today," says Andi Deris when we meet in a bar in Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife. Nevertheless, we sit outside and enjoy the view of the city. He points in the direction of some houses a bit away: "Weik lives over there" he explains. Meant is of course Michael Weikath, guitarist of Helloween. But even apart from facts about the band, the musician from Karlsruhe always pulls interesting stories about the city and the island out of his hat. And of course about the new album of the pumpkinheads.
After 18 years JUSTIN SULLIVAN finally releases his second solo album
As usual in these times, we meet Justin Sullivan via video link at his home in Bradford, UK. Sirens are blaring in the background, Sullivan is relaxed, if slightly annoyed by the forced break his band has been given due to the pandemic. At least he has used the time creatively and recorded a quiet, very personal album.
CLIVE NOLAN shows a wide musical range solo and with Oliver Wakeman
Clive Nolan is not only the keyboard player for Arena and Pendragon. He also writes musicals and works on very different projects. With his solo album "Song Of The Wildlands" and "Dark Fables", another collaboration with Oliver Wakeman, the Viking fan now has two new releases on the go. eclipsed met him for a Skype interview.
After 16 years MATT SWEENEY and BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY cooperate one more time
Also a peculiarity in times of Zoom interviews: Before we can start our conversation, Will Oldham, as the "Prince" is called in real life, and Matt Sweeney have to go to the toilet one after the other, but listen to each other's answers from there. Partly because of this bizarre opening, a relaxed chat with the two indie icons unfolds.
Old master DANIEL LANOIS leads us to a treasure island of sound ideas
At just under 70 years of age, Daniel Lanois meets all the criteria for the much too inflationarily used term legend. The celebrated producer of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, U2 or Jon Hassell, however, does not want to rest on his reputation, but always breaks new ground with his own albums. So also with his new CD "Heavy Sun", on which he succeeds in squaring the gospel circle with dub
...and much more!
