Golem (Germany) - Orion Awakes (1973 ?, Krautrock)
Tylko cztery kwestie są oczywiste :
- taka płyta faktycznie została wydana,
- producentem nagrań był Toby Robinson (urodzony w South Africa brytyjski producent, kompozytor
i inżynier dźwięku, znany także jako : Toby Hrycek - Robinson, Genius P. Orridge, The Mad Twiddler, w latach 70-tych nagrywał i współpracował z wieloma niemieckimi grupami spod znaku
krautrocka, a także z producentem Dieter Dierks i Karlheinz Stockhausen w Westdeutscher Rundfunk
w Koeln),
- formalnie grupa o nazwie Golem nie istniała (był to raczej projekt muzyczny Toby Robinson'a),
- muzycy firmujący ten projekt muzyczny używali pseudonimów.
Cała reszta to znaki zapytania, poczynając od tajemniczej wytwórni Pyramid Records (która
podobno wydała ten album w roku 1973 za nr katalogowym - PYR 015, w ilości około 20 sztuk,
podobna sytuacja jest z innym wydawnictwem - projekt o nazwie "Pyramid" - LP "Pyramid",
muzycy nieznani, rok 1976 - na etykiecie Pyramid Records, w ilości około 20 sztuk), poprzez
faktyczny czas realizacji tych nagrań (nie można wykluczyć, iż zostały one dokonane dopiero
w latach 90 - tych, a cała reszta to jedna wielka hochsztaplerka).
Aby nie wdawać się w dalsze rozważania na tematy które na chwilę obecną nie jesteśmy w stanie
rozstrzygnąć należy przejść do muzyki, bo to ona w tym wszystkim jest najważniejsza.
W tym przypadku mamy do czynienia z czymś wyjątkowym. Najlepsze wzorce krautrocka są tutaj
jak najbardziej na miejscu. Pięć długich, rozbudowanych (hipnotycznych) utworów z partiami
gitary a'la Jimi H. (wystarczy posłuchać - "Godhead Dance").
Golem (Germany) - "Orion Awakes" (1973 ? / 2011, Pyramid Records, nr PYR 015, UK)
1A Orion Awakes
2A Stellar Launch
3A Godhead Dance
1B Jupiter & Beyond :
a/ Signal
b/ Noise
c/ Rebirth
2B The Returning
Mungo - bass
Joachim Bohne - drums
Willi Berghoff - guitar
Manfred Hof - organ, mellotron, synthesizer
oraz :
Rolf Föller - guitar
Producer - Genius P. Orridge
Faktycznie,dużo niejasności co do tego albumu,jakiś czas temu opisywałem go również na blogu:http://bordeldorock.blogspot.com/2013/01/golem-orion-awakes-1976-2009-reissue-ape.html
OdpowiedzUsuńThese recordings were made between 1972 and 1974 using studios in and around Cologne. They were originally produced for the Pyramid label and some were released in tiny quantities and mostly sold in art galleries and the like - this is probably why they have remained so obscure, even among 'experts'..... until this release. The 'Mad Twiddler' responsible for their existence also worked with Stockhausen, Can, The Cosmic Jokers and many more. Although memories from that time are beyond repair in many cases the tapes remain to bear witness to this creative and anarchic scene." Much more likely, however, that this music was only in the 90s, to meet the increased demand for obscure Krautrock slices under the local Krautrock boom of the mid-nineties. At least there is no evidence that on "Orion Awakes" find material was actually recorded in the '70s. Little is known about the instrumental Krautrock band from the 70s. totally forgotten enigmatic, German, progressive formation of well-known musicians in the recording studio in around Köln after hours - under a pseudonym. As for the music, it's thrilling, intense and jamming guitars and Hammond organ: in short, and amazing improvised free-form trip of impressive magnitude, on par with the music of Krautrock heavyweights like Neu! and Gila. playing a synthesis of style psychedelic Pink Floyd, Hendrix, Hawkwind, and so loved by many, krautrock formation, Ash RaTempel. Only five, completely instrumental recordings and also the lack of any, weak moments! Ecclectic, psychedelic epic rock with lot of Hammond organs, heavy drums and jamming guitars. This should be a classic of the genre, but that no one had a chance to find that out! The original vinyl was released exclusively for allegedly ... art galleries and is mega rare and simply unknown. Although memories from that time are beyond repair in many cases the tapes remain to bear witness to this creative and anarchic scene space-rock, which certainly deserves to be called a classic of the genre. It is a pity that it is a little forgotten.
There's also this welcome reissue of the Golem album, via excellent archival imprint Lion Productions (and their UK associates Acme Records). This one has a mysterious backstory indeed. We'll briefly try to give you the basics here, though there's lots more info in the liner notes that come with this release... During the mid '90s there was a resurgence of interest in krautrock, when all kinds of long lost kraut classics were being reissued on cd (many via the grey area Germanofon label), and Julian Cope came out with his infamous Krautrocksampler book. Virgin UK got into the act with a series of compilations called Unknown Deutschland. They featured tracks by some totally unknown bands, The Nazgul, Golem, Temple, Galactic Explorers, and others, supposedly originally released as limited edition lps (100 copies? 25?!) by an art gallery associated label called Pyramid, circa '72-'74, amazing archival stuff indeed. But were they fakes? Perhaps '90s recordings, cashing in on the krautrock boom? Some thought so, on account of how nobody had ever seen or heard of these records before. Definitely it seemed likely that all were the work of the same bunch of musicians, recording under different names. Eventually a label called Psi-Fi came out with reissues (?) of some of the individual albums, which hardly settled the question. This, one, by Golem, even deepened the mystery, as someone named "Genius P. Orridge" was CREDITED as producer... Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV fans will find that rather curious. Who knows, maybe a coincidence.
OdpowiedzUsuńThe controversy has never been definitively settled. But the general consensus is that these recordings do date from Germany in the '70s, maybe more like the late '70s. In any case it's the music that matters, and yeah by that measure there's no doubting that Golem is prime krautrock indeed, sure sounds like it to us! Freeform, all-instrumental, organ and synth heavy space rock for fans of Gila, Guru Guru, Ash Ra Tempel, etc. Five long tracks (including a 14 minute 3 part suite) of superbly spaced out jamming, loose and lysergic, with an edgy, throbbing pulse throughout, and blasts of fuzzed out guitar. Title track "Orion Awakes" starts the trip off right, dark and heavy, "Stellar Launch" also builds up from nervous atmospheres and propulsive motorik rhythms to sheer ecstatic chaos, "Godhead Dance" wah's it up a la Hendrix, "Jupiter & Beyond" (the suite) is suitably far out and freaky, and the repetitive riff rock finale of "The Returning" is a catchy fuzz buzz, almost pop, yet ultra distorted, that reminds us a heck of a lot of AQ garage psych faves The Heads!! Spacemen 3, too. Also could almost be something from one of J. Cope's Braindonor discs too. Booklet essay examines the controversy surrounding this and other recordings first made known to the world via Virgin Records' three disc Unknown Deutschland series of compilations from the 1990’s, including the fact that one "Genius P Orridge is named as producer of the Golem album. It’s clear enough to all that Genius P Orridge is strangely similar to the name Genesis P Orridge of Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV fame. The fact that the other names on the
Golem album jacket lead nowhere only adds to the confusion. In any case, a deep and fascinating record, still fresh despite the years... and meant to be played loud. Packaged with copious liner notes, this edition far superior to the long out of print one on Psi-Fi, though that did have nice silver metallic cover that this doesn't replicate. Here's hoping that Lion next reissues.
So, so ... or why not? But could have been. Why would someone bother to invent something and make fake music on the market. Fake music? Well, the music is of course true. Only history to not is true.... in mid-90s, appeared - after all, at Virgin Records - a three-part compilation titled "Unknown Germany: The Krautrock Archive". When these discs accompanying the text quoted above was added. The participating bands mentioned there is inter alia Cozmic Corridors, Galactic Travellers, Golem, Temple, Pyramid, The Nazgûl For Red, Baal, Chronos, spirulina and Astral Army. Were a little later (1996 and 1997) on a label called psi-fi all six of these bands released albums (see also "The Nazgûl"). Originally these were the in mid-70s was released in limited edition of a small record label based in Köln called Pyramid, it said, and was taken at art exhibitions under the people (though usually friends of the musicians). Had been included in the music Dieter Dierks' studio, etc. of known Krautrock sizes and studio musicians, secretly of course, not to offend existing recording contracts. The bands have of course never existed as such. There were unique studio projects that were only subsequently missed a name. So it could well have been yet!
OdpowiedzUsuńHowever, there is still no evidence that this story is some truth. Hardly any of the booklets to place names resulted in a real existing person. To date, not a time-based or near Cologne musician, producer and sound engineer has stepped forward and his involvement in one of the approved projects (not to mention Dieter Dierks). An original LP of Pyramid was never spotted. However, there are rumors that say that the music is only the beginning came to the mid-90s, and that a certain Toby Robinson (presumably the 'Mad Twiddler') and a certain British Neopsychedelik-and space-rock band had something to do with it. But these are of course just rumors.
In the CD booklet of Lion Productions, a comprehensive text about the authenticity of the music is to be found. The writer seems, however, like the majority of jobs in global Netzt deal with the disc (especially several CD-shipper), to assume that this is really about recordings from the Germany of the 70s is. In the end, he concludes with a quote from at least the Freeman brothers. "Golem comes across as a lost classic of Krautrock without a doubt" But I have serious doubts.
Dzięki za Twój wysiłek,publikowania tych "niszowych albumów"
Pozdrowienia z Bydzi!!! ;)
Bardzo fajna publikacja, zawierająca i przedstawiająca wszystkie wątpliwości jakie
OdpowiedzUsuńnarosły w związku z tym albumem . Mam nadzieję, że może kiedyś wszystko się
wyjaśni, a na razie jest w tym wszystkim więcej znaków zapytania niż pewnych
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