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Reviews

Novalis — Novalis
(Revisited Records SPV 49522 CD, 1975/2004, CD)

Novalis Cover art

For several years Novalis’ third album Somerabend has been out on CD, as well as some of their way-later titles of limited interest. Finally, the remaining three of the first four studio albums have found their way into Repertoire’s catalog. While the debut Banished Bridge has some nice moments (albeit marred by awful English lyrics), and the fourth Brandung has its great moments as well, it’s their eponymous second album that (at least for this writer) was the prized gem of their catalog. Here the band is in a five-piece dual guitar configuration with a stronger emphasis on keyboards (second guitarist Karlo Karges (ex-Tomorrow’s Gift) doubling as a second keyboardist when the need calls). The band’s sound is more symphonic and overtly spacy at this point, but probably not as typically ‘proggy’ as it would become on their third. While bassist Heino Schunzel provides some German vocals here and there, this is for the most part an instrumental outing, with loads of keyboard power, tasty guitar work, and outstanding compositions with plenty of dynamics and room for the members to stretch out. In all, a classic slice of German symphonic rock and perhaps Novalis’ finest moment.

by Peter Thelen, Published 1998-07-01

Novalis was a Krautrock band from Hamburg, Germany and their self-titled second album is part of Revisited Records’ reissuance of the Brain back catalog. This album is an amazing mixture of folk rock, classical music, and progressive rock. There are enough Hammond organ runs to please everyone. One of this album’s highlights is keyboardist Lutz Rahn’s “Impressionen” based on musical themes from Anton Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony. The guitars and organ take you on a wonderful musical journey. As bonus material on this reissue, Novalis included an 11 minute version of “Impressionen” recorded live in Hagen in 1975, where the band really played their hearts out. This reissue comes with the original artwork in a gatefold digipack with band photos and extensive liner notes in German and English as well as the German lyrics to “Wer schmetterlinge lichen hört” and “Es färbte sich die wiese grün”. Overall a wonderful release for the diehard Krautrock fan.

by Henry Schneider, Published 2008-01-01

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 15, 2004 releases, 1975 recordings

Related artist(s): Novalis

 

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