(Progressive rock, Krautrock) GÄA (GAA) 1974 - Auf der Bahn zum Uranus - FLAC (tracks), lossless

Gäa stands for Gaia in English, the Greek goddess of earth. This band from Saarland (Germany) chose it as their name. Gäa was founded at 1973 by Helmut Heisel (guitar), Peter Bell (bass) and Stefan Dіrr (drums). They were friends from school times, and they had learned to play in a band called "The Phantoms", which played only cover songs. Later the Gäa had more personnel, as Gќnther Lackes joined for playing keyboards, Werner Frey on guitar and singing and Werner Jungmann playing on congas. Helmut Heisel left the band at this time.
They had lots of gigs, and got a recording deal from the Kerston label. Gäa recorded 1973 their first album in Alfred Kersten's studio having very bad recording conditions, and the material was released on small vinyl edition called "Auf Der Bahn Zum Uranus" (On the track to Uranus) at the year 1974. It was a rare collectors item for a long time, but it was re-released on CD in 1992. The band members weren't very happy for the quality of the record at the time it was released.
Gäa continued doing gigs, and they had some personnel changes again. Both Werner Jungman and Peter Bell left the group, and the first guitarist Helmut Heisel rejoined them and played the bass. They recorded three new songs in Leico studios at 1975, but for reason or another, they didn't do more material, and the band was quitted in year 1978. Those who were at the band when it split, have all stayed in making music. They did some playing with the same Gäa personnel during the 80's and some their music were recorded on tape in their training room. Those tracks surviving from that time have been released along with the tracks from 1975 sessions as a CD called "Alraunes Alptraum" (Alruna's nighmare). Alruna is the earth-spirit of german mythology. Album covers for both of these releases were done by Peter Bell's brother Eduard, and they are about these earth goddesses.
A very recommendable band for those who like psychedelia influenced 70's hippie rock!

One of the most spacey-psychey German album you'll find, this album was one of the most expensive and sought-after vinyl until its first Cd reissue in the Ohrwalsch label in the early 90's. I believe the Garden Of Delights label reissued this recently most likely with bonus material. This qintet emerged from Saarland (between Luxembourg and Alsace) and presented themselves as the standard prog quartet plus a percussionist. Their first album is graced with a strange floral erotic artwork and was relatively long for the time (easily over 50-mins).
On The Way To Uranus (the English translation of the album's title) is a very fitting name to describe the music on the record. Indeed the rock developed is plenty cosmic- spacey-psychey, but not overly complex, a bit amateurish but with high dramatics. By the time this album came out, it must've been a bit of an anachronism, which might explain why so few albums sold (the rest of the stock was destroyed), even if most progheads will find plenty of most everything he loves. The album is hardly flawless either as it holds too many fade outs (and not just at the end of songs), but also naяve songwriting (not always a minus as is the case here) and weaker production.
Right from the opening title track, you are plunged into deep space rituals, prayers and masses, multi-voiced choirs, wild searing guitars, haunting and languid organ layers and the whole shebang, completed by full-Flamenco drama (Bossa Rustical) weird German lyrics (one tracks is called Dance With His Mouth, I gather) ans for an apotheosis, the splendid eponymous track Gaa, which was deformed from Gaia, the ancient Greek goddess of Earth. Only one track sticks out like a sore thumb: Mutter Erde, which is more of a standard song with strong Moody Blues accents.
This is definitely not for everyone, but it holds some of the most delicious psych-space ambiances around and it should please most progheads.

This album is a great example of a good German underground music of the 70's. Their music is trippy and euphoric, being not extremely surrealistic or abstract, but more blues oriented with good rhythmic drives. The guitar melodies are quite free, though they obey the blues scales, they do not repeat basic blues passages.
The first track of this album is "Uranus", which begins with quiet sounds, leading to a sermon spoken in German. I must admit hat I didn't get the message, as my German is too rusty... Then the music suddenly turns into euphoric space blues with neat JIMI HENDRIX like guitars! In the verse is also presented a great trademark of this band: good vocal choruses! Then there's more preaching and some voyaging between Uranus and Earth, but sadly the end of the song reveals the only feature that annoys me in this album: Many of their songs don't end properly, but they are faded out.
Well, after that small disappointment comes "Bossa Rustical", which is an instrumental tune and it starts with little Spanish folk style acoustic guitar, which drums and bass soon accompanies. Then a second guitar emerges, and the song begins to grow, but suddenly disappears back to the void! This was the weakest number on this album.
Luckily, now the album begins to get a better grip, "Tanz Mit Dem Mond" begins with dramatic acoustic pianos and guitars with the amplified band blowing behind them. This makes a very pleasant sound field, which is enriched with beautiful melodies done by several echoed vocal layers. This track even has a proper ending as a bonus!
Then comes "Mutter Erde" which has very good singing again in it, and the melodies change neatly from minor to major and vice-versa. There's a great psychedelic groove in the rhythm, and the track ends wonderfully!
Fifth track is a mystic and calm trance like song, called "Welt Im Dunkel". There's some kind of "worshipping" going on, remotely resembling the masses of BLACK WIDOW's early works. This track is a good one, but sadly the fade outs start again.
The last track "Gäa" (Gaia) has a wonderful start! The bluesy strikes from the rhythm section are accompanied with CREAM sounding guitars, and they open up a great hippie jam! There's some funny wordless singing and flutes added, which paint the hazy summer fields where the hippies go jumping, running and loving without barriers! This track resembles a bit of "Weiss Der Teufel" by RUFUS ZUPHALL, as they share same kind of melodies, blues influences and the date of production. The guitarist of GФA is a very good player indeed! I think this is the best track along with "Mutter Erde", but you may already guess how the song ends after the thing have evolved long enough...
I'm a bit confused how to rate this. Four stars are my sincere own feelings about it, but maybe it's not a great addition to ANY prog collection. The album is little unbalanced, but also original and pure. It also has nice underground stylish covers. If you like kraut rock, psychedelia and blues based hippie jamming, you should hunt this to your collection! If you are not into these subgenres, you should take one star away from my rating. Those who are allergic to fade-outs have to forget this album. Those who want that the records are more or less produced, should maybe listen this carefully through before buying it. Though this may be a bit difficult, as this is a bit rare album. You should find it still from a specialized music dealers and auctions.