(Progressive Rock) Flaming Bess - Finstere Sonne/Black Sun - 2005, (image+.cue), lossless

Flaming Bess biography
Flaming Bess is not your typical band. The oringinal band was formed in 1969, in Dьsseldorf. There was the usual club gigs, and personnel changes, before finally recording an album. It just took them ten years. This was 1979's "Tanz Der Gцtter." A highly regarded album, and very much influenced by other symphonic music of it's time.

The second release, 1980's "Verlorene Welt," had a more rock-oriented approach, and featured Marlene Krьkel on vocals. This would be the last recording from the band for 15 years.

In 1995, they resurfaced with "Fata Morgana." Apparently, this was not just an attempt at recapturing past glory. They had kept up with changes in the music scene, and produced a progressive album to fit the times.

Seemingly a pattern now, the next album was not recorded for another ten years. "Finestere Sonne / Black Sun" was released in 2005. It is a double CD, with one in German and one in English.

Though adversity, changing trends, and music industry woes, this band has kept going. They remain true to their vision, without becoming antiquated. A truly admirable group, that shows no signs of giving up (ever).

H.T. Riekels (bhikkhu)

http://www.flaming-bess.de/

Review Thomas Hayes für Gnosis / USA Homepage
Flaming Bess – Finstere Sonne / Black Sun 2005

Flaming Bess are one of the more obscure groups to have toiled in the underground for these last 25+ years. Despite coming from Germany, a country who in the 1970s had perhaps the most albums operating in creative territory, “Tanz der Gotter”, their privately released 1979 debut, still managed to find a niche. Every other track was a narrative in their native tongue, followed by a lengthy instrumental with atmospheric keyboards and some fantastic guitar work. The 1980 followup, “Verlorene Welt”, continued with this recipe to great success. A year later, the more well-known Anyone’s Daughter would copy this unique blend of instrumental rock and narration on “Piktors Verwandlungen”. As for Flaming Bess, I assumed they were long dead and gone. Until we received an e-mail from the band asking us to review their latest CD that is! And apparently there’s one more entitled “Fata Morgana” (1996) which I’ve yet to hear. To be honest, my expectations were a bit low. I was afraid they may have gone the route of say, Epidaurus, and release an Adult Contemporary album of the lowest common denominator. But perhaps they would still use their unique take on progressive rock, and employ modern instrumentation?

And, you know what, that’s exactly what they did! ‘Black Sun’ opens the album with a two minute narration which leads to the fantastic instrumental ‘Journey Into Light’. Now the beats have a techno feel… and the whole song has that retro hip feel that all the cool DJ’s are striving to create for their lounge/club acts. ‘Source of Light’ sounds like a play for radio, with female vocals (yes, a real song with vocals). It’s not bad by any means, but definitely not necessary. ‘Endless River’ and ‘The Last Resort’ finish ‘Chapter 1’ in fine fashion with some great lounge-like modern instrumentals.

‘Chapter 2’ starts with ‘Kingdom of Gods’ which, no surprise, opens with narration which again leads into a fine instrumental. I should state here that these instrumentals are not keyboard/studio/DJ concoctions but rather full band efforts that include guitar, bass, drums and plenty of modern synthesizers. And the guitar work can be downright outstanding, just as on their early albums, with plenty of biting fuzz. Things gets tribal and brassy on ‘Battle of Dig Dagg’, reminding me in parts of latter day Eat Static. ‘The Challenge’ is a considerably heavier piece with guitar leads blasting away on top of the thudding beats. Closing out ‘Chapter 2’ is ‘Endless Void’, a lounge rocker with sultry female vocals. This kind of pop rock is far more palatable and fits closer to what Flaming Bess seem to be striving for.

‘Chapter 3’’s narrative cum instrumental piece ‘Cursed Land’ has a high energy tech beat and plenty of great atmospheric keyboard sounds and lead guitar work. ‘The Key of Life’ gets a little too close to new age muzak for comfort. This chapter’s female pop song, ‘Shelter From the Storm’, had potential, but played it safe with the American-Idol style vocals and gospel like chorus. The instrumental sections of the song are indeed quite cool however. ‘Silent Melodies’ features a fascinating Moog-like keyboard sound and another that I imagine would be called the “harmonica patch”. ‘A New Dawn’ breaks pattern by closing with a narrative track. ‘Iganu’ is a “bonus track” (how does a new album have a bonus track anyway?). I guess because it breaks from the storyline. It’s a modern pop shlock track along the lines of late 80’s Swing Out Sister. Apparently there are two versions of this album. I wish the group had sent me the German version, as I appreciate the native tongue much more (plus the German language adds an air of mystery to non-speakers).

In conclusion, Chapter’s 1 & 2 are quite good while Chapter 3 gets perhaps a little too commercial and self-conscious. Still, this tres hip, very modern album comes recommended to all but the most fuddy-duddy of prog rock fans.

Thomas Hayes
March 12 2005

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=10433

- Dieter Joswig / keyboards, percussion, vocals
- Claas Reimer / keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Achim Wierschem / guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, percussion & vocals
- Peter Figge / keyboards
- Hans Wende / bass

Guest musicians:
- Tatsuya Nishiwaki / V-Synt keyboards
- Jenny K / vocals (3)
- Mel Halbauer / vocals (9 & 15)
- Lucy Wende / vocals (12)
- Andreas Lange / narrator (Deutsch)
- Martin Richard / narrator (English)