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Epidermis — Genius of Original Force
(Garden of Delights CD 191, 1977/2021, CD / LP)

Epidermis — June 1975
(Garden of Delights CD 188, 1975/2020, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2025-06-07

Genius of Original Force Cover artJune 1975 Cover art

Epidermis is a band with a long history (over two decades) and not a lot of product to show for all that time. The group was founded in Hesse, Germany in 1971 by Rolf Lonz (guitar, flute, vocals), Michael Kurz (keyboards, vocals), and Reiner Neeb (drums, vocals), all previously members of beat group The Ancestors. But these three had higher ambitions, hoping to produce a more complex sound not unlike some of the progressive rock across the channel in England at the same time, with multi-part vocal harmonies and precise instrumental work, inspired by bands like Gentle Giant and Yes. Wolfgang Wünsche was added on bass and backing vocals early in the band’s career. Initially their goal was to compose all their own material, and one of the first pieces to emerge was the twenty-plus minute epic “A Speck, a Dream,” an impressive feat for the young band. Epidermis was pretty much operating on their own wavelength, unlike most of the other German bands of the day who tended to be outwardly psychedelic or in the style of American blues-rock. Epidermis eventually got a chance to record ten tracks for  what was hoped to be their debut album, June 1975, and although the recordings were a success, there were no record labels willing to take a chance on them at the time. The material, finally released here in 2020 — five tracks selected for the LP plus five additional tracks recorded at the same sessions — are quite impressive: the lead-off track “Social Tragedy,” “Listeners,” and all the others displaying the complexity and multi-part vocals that set the band apart. Even the five additional cuts that are included here as bonus tracks are quite strong: “Moments” and “Look Out” would have made strong singles. But it wasn’t to be, at least not yet, and the band went right back to work writing material for another album. The epic “A Speck, a Dream” would eventually be re-recorded for their 1991 album Feel Me.

More composing, more gigging, more discussions, and endless rehearsals, and Epidermis was ready to give it another try, this time opting for a concept album featuring four long tracks, a journey backward in time to the beginning of all things, titled Genius of Original Force. This time, the record would be released by Kerston records, the owner of the studio where June 1975 was recorded, except this time the band decided to finance all of  the recordings on their own. The CD at hand is taken from the original master tapes (unlike the WMMS reissue from ‘92 which was done from a vinyl copy); it features the four cuts from the original LP plus four additional bonus tracks recorded during the same period from ‘75 to ‘77. The opener is the ten-minute “The Non-Existent Surroundings of God,” rising out of darkness and moving forward with a vengeance. The popular comparisons to Gentle Giant become evident within the first few minutes, with multi-part vocal arrangements alternating with solo vocal sections, long sections of complex instrumental rock — completely impressive along its entire trajectory. “A Riddle to Myself’ is a shorter tune at six-plus minutes, particularly interesting due to its use of recorder and glockenspiel in lieu of flute and piano. The title track is an even longer epic than the opener, approaching twelve minutes, and again, many sections with numerous changes in meter and vocal acrobatics, cross chanting and chorales along that extended path. Never a dull moment here. The original album closer “Prime Origin” begins with a wild cacophonous noise (I suspect to represent the big bang) followed by a long section of instrumental riffing before the vocals come in and take shape. The four bonus tracks are a mixed bag, some sounding like efforts at creating singles in the years leading up to the album, and although “Time” and “Fashion Girl” are quite good as such, none measure up to power of anything on Genius of Original Force. “Feelings” was a bonus track on June 1975, though here in a reworked form two years later it sounds far more powerful. So here you have it, two essential slabs of early German progressive rock.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases, 1977 recordings, 2020 releases, 1975 recordings

Related artist(s): Epidermis

More info
http://diregarden.com/god188.html
http://diregarden.com/god191.html

 

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