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IBLISSYet another one of those jazz-rock progressive acts hearing a distinct German flavour. The band really had a passion for percussion. "Margah", the opening track on Supernova, sounds like some African tribal ritual. "Drops" was a more common fusion piece (still much percussion!), 14 minutes of instrumental work with soprano sax to the lore. "High Life" was a 13 minute showcase for flute (sounds more like a recorder to me). "Athir" was arguably the best track, more floating and relaxing music with soprano sax and guitar. The album was recorded at Windrose studios (April- May 1972) with Konrad Plank. A general impression of the album is that the four tracks are a bit monotonous, not changing very much from start to finish. The same bass riff just goes on and on. There are plenty of better progressive fusion albums, in my humble opinion. Supernova was an early Spiegelei release that could be hard to acquire today. For years it was disregarded and/or unknown among progressive fans, but lately the demand is getting stronger. Perhaps it is of interest for Kraftwerk collectors as Basil Hammoudi previously played in the pre-Kraftwerk group Organisation (also on the Tone Float-album).
ID COMPANYThis was a short-lived duo of Inga Rumpf and Dagmar Krause, previously members of the Irish-German folk group City Preachers. On their one-sided album an Eastern-influenced, jazzy folk music was offered. This curiosity is extremely rare nowadays.
IHRE KINDERGerman & English version of 2 are both available on one CD (re-issued by Ohrwaschl in 1991).
Nuremberg's most valuable contribution to the polit rock scene was the group Ihre Kinder. In the mid-sixties the pop band Jonah & The Whales was assembled, consisting of Jonas Porst (drums), Sonny Hennig (vocals), Thommy Roder (bass), Ernst Schultz (guitar) and Georgie Meyer (violin). In 1966 they recorded a cover version of "It Ain't Me Babe" for a single on Vogue (DVS 14511). This proved to be an ill-fated one-off attempt, and the group disbanded. However, in 1968 Jonas Porst and Sonny Hennig decided to form a new group. Ihre Kinder was to be a politically aware band using German lyrics. Porst's dad was a quite rich man, able to support the forthcoming activities. Porst himself soon gave up the drumming and became Ihre Kinder's producer and manager. Several demo tapes were recorded but no record companies were interested. In July-August 1969 an album was recorded in the Clerks Studio at the band's own risk; and was eventually released by Phillips. Mack had now been replaced with Walti Schneider. A female vocalist, Judith Brigger, also took part in this project. The album admittedly sounds quite dated today, featuring 12 short and easy-going folk-pop songs. Still it must be honoured as it is one of the first records (of Deutschrock!) with German lyrics.
Leere Hande (1970) was a great improvement, their first true folk-rock album. The arrangements here were more varied with more use of organ, flute and electric guitars. The band had also absorbed some progressive touches from groups like Traffic and Jethro Tull. The 11 songs themselves were more memorable than those on the previous album. Some of them were written by Ernst Schultz, now added as Ihre Kinder's sixth member, the rest came from Sonny Hennig. Leere Hande was recorded during January and February 1970 in Union Studio, Munich, with Thomas Klemt engineering. It was the first release on the Kuckuck label, generously enclosing a lyrics insert and a large poster.
2375 004 went even a step further, as it was released in a denim jeans cover, even featuring washing instructions! It was recorded at the same venue as its predecessor in August 1970. Tommi Roeder had now replaced Walti Schneider. This album, entitled after its own catalogue number, was a further development towards varied progressive folk-rock and some would say that it is their best one musically. Some of the compositions of Ernst Schultz were even slightly experimental ("Toter Soldat"). In 1971 Ihre Kinder released their first single: "Die Graue Stadt" coupled with "Komm Zu Dir". After this, Sonny Hennig quit the group to realize his solo ambitions. Ernst Schultz broke with the management and took over the leadership of Ihre Kinder.
Hennig contributed as guest on Werdohl, named after a small German town in Sauerland. The group now produced themselves, in Bavaria Studio (July-Sept. 1971). The technical quality had improved, but musically the band had passed their creative zenith. In Autumn 1971 Schultz set off to record his first solo album, resulting in the end for Ihre Kinder. In January 1972 Sonny Hennig put the band into new life. (F) line-up recorded the rather superfluous Anfang Ohne Ende. Another incarnation gave concerts in 1974. Hennig and Grun then founded a horrible soul pop-rock band named Powerful Tramps before regaining some musical sense for Meistersinger & Ihre Kinder, a quintet that recorded two albums in the late seventies. Guitarist Muck Groh founded Aera after his years with Ihre Kinder and recorded his solo album Muckefuck in 1979.
IKARUSIkarus were one of the first German progressive jazz-rock fusion bands and had a very varied sound. The band was led by Jochen Petersen, who later produced many a Brain album. Their album comprised complex arrangements and melancholic melodies inspired by early King Crimson. Ikarus also adapted that group's talent for building up long tracks from several individually subtitled themes. Their lyrics critically scrutinised the behaviour of mankind with a particular focus on our darker sides. Nowadays this album is very hard to get hold of, but is still the cheapest of the three albums on the Plus label.
IMPROVED SOUND LIMITEDThis Nuremberg group began to play together as early as 1961 under the name Blizzards. They used the name Improved Sound Limited from 1966. In the late sixties they specialised in delivering soundtracks for German television and movies by Michael Verhoeven. Engelchen Macht Weiter, Hoppe, Hoppe Reiter (1969) was the soundtrack from a Verhoeven film, released on the same label as the first Gomorrah album. I don't know this one (presumably a late beat rock effort), but their self-titled double album for Liberty was very inspired by the American folk-rock of Bob Dylan and The Band. Dylan was mentioned several times in the clever lyrics (from now on written by Axel's brother Bernd), for example In "Doctor Bob Dylan". Improved Sound Limited also merged in some more European elements into their folky rock style, such as some fine flute phrases. Regrettably their passion for American music led them closer to country music on Catch A Singin' Bird (1973). Quite good compositions and lyrics ("The Dark Lord" was about Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings"!), but not exactly performed in idle way most of us like, I'm afraid. Pedal steel guitar was played by Frank Baum and Ralph Nowy guested on trumpet and sax. Improved Sound Limited changed their name to Condor in 1976 and released a much worse album: Rathbone Hotel (1976).