Reviews Archives 77

Question: what has Teccnosound and heavy metal in common? It's simple: "The Krupps". Or should I say it the other way round? However, fact is, and I'm very pleased once again, - nothing is more satisfying than the prove, that it doesn't matter, what kind of music is asked for, - it has to be good, that's it. And it is indeed. The music of the Krupps is a mixture between industrial tunes, teccno and hardcore metal, whereby I'm still not quite sure, what people really mean by that. The rhythm leads the beat. And the beat - again - is teccno. Oh I really hate this fuzzing around with various musical styles and the ignorance of many people, who don't accept any step beside the straight line.

You can't put the Krupps in any clichee for the past 25 years, and you can't put them in any draw, as we say so. They were off the shore for quite a while, nobody really knows why. Never mind, because since march 2005, where the celebrated their anniversary, the band is back again, freshly inspired, with a fresh spirit and a more sophisticated look. We all don't get younger, do we?! And again, this project here, is dominated by only one man - Jürgen Engler. With his new look, spiky hair he seems more youthful than 10 years ago. Only this stinging eyes, which seem to fix everybody in the audiance, hasn't changed. Noone moves more selfconfident, elegant and, - yes even sexy than him, even most of his admirers are male. But don't get me wrong, he ain't, what you might think he is. He's a real man.You understand what I mean?!

The Krupps play most of their spectrum of the past. Yep, there is a new promotion single out, but no more new material so far. Not yet! Because there are plans already for a Best of... Album first of all. Probably to refresh our memory about their so far work. Later on the band will record a brand new studioalbum, hopefully this year.
That's what I#ve been told after the show.

But back again to here and now, which is, like I said before, dominated by the presence of the frontman, but also from the bass, which is played by Rüdiger Esch, who is from the original line up as well as Synthy-Man Ralf Dörper.
Two new guys are introduced - Marcel Zürcher (git) and Oliver Röhl on drums. But it's the aura of the centerpoint which dominates the focus of the eyes of the aprox. 250 fans. And they are the only weak point tonight. It would have been nice, if there had been a few more people here. But better - just some enthusiastic lads, than a lot of none moving frozen idiots, showing no reaction at all.
Everybody is moving along with the Krupps, caused by the rhythm and the show. Most of all this group here is the living prove that it doesn't matter what kind of metal, or beat or music rules the scenery. Everybody in here luvs what they are doing up there on stage. And that's last but not least the most important fact. Music is only music, as long as it's good. - I said that before - didn't I?!

PS.: my favorite tune „Fire“ ( a Coverversion of and also with Arthur Brown & the Krupps) was dismissed.... what a shame....

Diary Shot & some more Live Pics here

Holy shit! We're not getting together that young again, like right now. And I think about this, everytime I see this rock fossil of the early seventies playing live. They truly haven't bought youth, like none of us either. On the other hand, let's be happy, that at least their music are not depended on age matters. But just to go back to the visual thing for a second, strangely the last remaining original member of the band Andy Powell looks like he's the youngest guy within this lot. Okay to get it straight, when Wishbone Ash was founded in 1969 in England he even wasn't with the other two guys Martin Turner and Steve Upton. But at the time they recorded their first record in 71, he already took part. So musically, Powell actually is an original. Then there were two more Turner's in the group, whereby none of them was related to the other familywise. Other musicians came and went over the following years.

And now, here and today, there is only one left, keeping the tradition and the name ahead, as it is in many of these old times bands who are still going. Often I have asked myself, why Wishbone Ash were always and still is going, because they had only one Chartsingle named "The King Will Come" from the - again - only successful album "Argus" from 1973.

And they keep coming back every two years or so with their nostalgic seventies progressive rockmusic, which let's time stand still for a couple of hours. About 200 Fans are here, visually touched by the signs of time - like the band. (I mentioned this before)
In this case, Wishbone Ash is mainly Andy Powell, and Andy Powell is 99 percent Wishbone Ash. The performance stands and falls with him. He holds up the wheel savely, and drives the wagon through the complete back catalogue of the almost cult group. (see setlist) Not quite so, as they don't play my favorite tune 'Strange Affair' from the same titled album. but who cares about my personal requests.
Powell's guitarriffs are brilliant and go hand in hand with each other. Jesus wept, he's a huge talent. He really is one of the best rock guitarists ever, honestly. Just the fact, that the band pulls only about 200 people anymore at shows in Germany is sad.

Personally for myself, the music doesn't stick well enough in my ear and gets lost somewhere between this guitar techniques. But don't get me wrong, this in not a negative aspect. Over all, Wishbone Ash have served us once again a solid prog rock dish, with lots of side dishes nicely spiced. Only now and then - like when you cook, - sometimes less is more.

Though I think, it has tasted delicious.

see also Diary for Aftershow Pics.