(Symphonic-Rock) [LP] [24/96] Triumvirat - 4 LP's - 1972 - 1976, FLAC (tracks+.cue)

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Analyzed folder: /Triumvirat - Mediterranean Tales (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.08 dB -16.05 dB 01 Triumvirat - LADO 1- Across The Waters (6 Parts).wav
DR14 -0.32 dB -16.59 dB 02 Triumvirat - LADO 2- Eleven Kids.wav
DR13 -0.37 dB -16.77 dB 03 Triumvirat - E Minor 5-9 Minor -9.wav
DR13 -0.19 dB -15.07 dB 04 Triumvirat - Broken Mirror.wav
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Number of files: 4
Official DR value: DR13
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Bass, Vocals – Hans Pape
Drums, Percussion – Hans Bathelt
Engineer – Horst Dieter Krohn
Music By – Bathelt* (tracks: A.b, A.d, B1), Fritz* (tracks: A.b to A.e, B1 to B3)
Organ, Electric Piano, Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion, Vocals – Hans Jurgen Fritz*
Producer – Rainer Pietsch

Company – Electrola Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Recorded at "Electrola Studios", Koln, Cologne during January 1972

ONE OF THOSE HIDDEN PROG GEMS!!
I sometimes wonder how would sound the music of classical masters such as BACH or BEETHOVEN would they be living nowadays with our modern technology! I think TRIUMVIRAT would be the closest thing BACH for example would come up with. I am not saying that because JURGEN FRITZ, the keyboards wizard from TRIUMVIRAT and BACH are both German, but the affinities are here. I cannot think of another band as baroque as TRIUMVIRAT. I can tell you JURGEN FRITZ has listened a lot of BACH in his youth.
Another reference associated with TRIUMVIRAT is EMERSON, LAKE and PALMER. Not that it is wrong, but it is not fair to consider TRIUMVIRAT as an ELP clone. They're not. KEITH EMERSON can play everything , not only classical but ballroom jazz as well as honky tonk music (remember!) . He is as good sampling BEETHOVEN as contemporary americana composers. JURGEN FRITZ is German and play German, at least with a more classic european feel.
Of course, the fact that TRIUMiVRAT is also a keyboards/bass-vocalist/drums trio always fueled comparisons between the 2 bands.However, all the vocalists used by TRIUMVIRAT (3 in the first 4 albums!!!!) never sounded quite like GREG LAKE,especially the first 2 HANS PAPE, then the late HELMUT KOLLEN. First of all, they sing with a not that discreet German accent and with a rather harsh tone that can be surprising at first listen.
But this not a vocal band in the first place; this is the band of magnificent keyboard virtuoso JURGEN FRITZ, as good as K.EMERSON or R. WAKEMAN, believe me! And he showcases his huge talent throughout the album with hammond organ, piano, electric piano, harpsichord and all different kind of synthetisers.But what makes him great, is that he is not only a great player, (yes, he can play fast and shows it), but he is more interested in the beauty of the music than in any technical show off . He is really looking for this beautiful moment where only 3 or 4 piano notes nicely put after each other, do the trick and bring you to a higher ground. Virtuosity is nice to hear, but that's emotion which brings to musical ecstasy! And JURGEN FRITZ plays with emotion. This is beauty, a beautiful symphonic prog odyssey only a few albums can do for me so well.
I reviewed recently the NOVALIS self titled album , one CD that can make me take off mentally by the power of their beautiful music, i tell you ,this album MEDITERRANEAN TALES is not far behind.
The album starts with a side 1 suite ''ACROSS THE WATERS'' with overture, underture and all that, a lot of MOZART references (yes, it's acknowledged in the writing credits) but don't think one moment it is slow paced and peaceful music. On the contrary, it's very energetic, full of time changes, the rythm section is no slouch either and know how to pull fast. Real symphonic prog at it's best; you just have to get used to the voice of HANS PAPE which is not in the romantic canon and the backing voices sometimes don't sound angelic either. But after a while you will see, they go very well with tha fast paced rythm and give TRIUMVIRAT their own personality. Definitely, not GREGLAKISH!!!!
The ex-second side is just a wonderful trip ; just listen to E MINOR 5/9 MINOR and its beautiful haunting synth part with accompanying dreamy piano; Heaven on earth!!! The fast, then slow, very fast again BROKEN MIRROR with so many rythm changes going from crazy to beautiful then back is as good as anything ELP produced in their heydays!
On my CD, i have also 4 bonus tracks; 2 excerpts from the album made for a single and 2 nice --pop--- songs which are very good anyway and are a nice addition , albeit quite different than the rest , to the album.
One of my treasure albums that i will enjoy until my last day; this is not an excellent addition, it is ESSENTIAL!!
5 STARS!
progarchives.com

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Analyzed folder: /Triumvirat ?- Illusions On A Double Dimple (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR10 -2.97 dB -16.69 dB 01 Triumvirat - LADO 1- Illusions On A Double Dimple - I) Flashback.wav
DR11 -0.06 dB -12.81 dB 02 Triumvirat - II) Schooldays.wav
DR12 -0.02 dB -13.09 dB 03 Triumvirat - III) Triangle.wav
DR12 -0.00 dB -13.32 dB 04 Triumvirat - IV) Illusions.wav
DR12 -0.08 dB -12.57 dB 05 Triumvirat - V) Dimplicity.wav
DR12 -0.09 dB -13.79 dB 06 Triumvirat - VI) Last Dance.wav
DR12 -0.03 dB -12.83 dB 07 Triumvirat - LADO 2- Mister Ten Percent - I) Maze.wav
DR10 -2.02 dB -13.78 dB 08 Triumvirat - II) Dawning.wav
DR12 -0.07 dB -12.94 dB 09 Triumvirat - III) Bad Deal.wav
DR12 -0.01 dB -13.43 dB 10 Triumvirat - IV) Roundabout.wav
DR11 -0.15 dB -12.28 dB 11 Triumvirat - V) Lucky Girl.wav
DR12 -0.01 dB -13.26 dB 12 Triumvirat - VI) Million Dollars.wav
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Number of files: 12
Official DR value: DR11
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Arranged By – Triumvirat
Backing Vocals – Brigitte Thomas, Hanna Dolitzsch*, Ulla Wiesner
Bass – Hans Pape
Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals – Helmut Kollen
Brass – Kurt Edelhagen Brass Section
Composed By – Helmut Kollen (tracks: B5), Jurgen Fritz
Engineer [Assistant] – H. Russmann*
Engineer [Mixing] – W. Thierbach*
Engineer [Recording] – K. Lorbach*, W. Thierbach*
Grand Piano [Steinway] – Jurgen Fritz
Lyrics By – Hans Bathelt
Orchestra – Cologne Opera House Orchestra, The
Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Moog], Electric Piano – Jurgen Fritz
Other [Equipment] – Peter Cadera, Werner Breitkopf
Percussion – Hans Bathelt
Producer – Jurgen Fritz
Voice – Peter Cadera

Essential: A masterpiece of progressive rock music.
When I ask my friends about "Illusions on a Double Dimple", most of them seem to like the music, but almost everyone believes TRIUMVIRAT is some kind of "B" class band that cloned ELP music, IMHO they are all wrong, the band's music and specially their wonderful arrangements are so unique and well designed that "Illusions a Double Dimple" is at least as strong as the best ELP album, but totally different. They may sound similar because both bands work as a power trio The Rat uses some ELP influences but for nothing more, and it's totally unfair to call them clones or copyists. Lets try to kill the myth man by man:
Jurgen Fritz is an excellent keyboardist and multi instrumentalist plus a talented composer, his style has an obvious influence of Keith Emerson, but his style is absolutely different, while Keith is worried about creating a bombastic or epic sounds, Jurgen tries to be less spectacular but much more solid, probably less classical oriented (by choice not for lack of skills or training), Fritz music flows in a gentler way even when the song's structure forces him to do dramatic changes.
Helmut Kollen was a very talented guitars and bass player (As Greg Lake), but in this case I believe Hans has a much smaller ego, he never tries to shine over the band, he played for TRIUMVIRAT and not for his glory, something Greg forgets some times. He also had a great voice but a terrible German accent. When he left the bad tried to make a solo career but in 1977 sadly died while listening his unreleased tracks in the car poisoned by carbon monoxide.
Hans Bathelt style at drums is the opposite of Carl Palmer; even though he's very strong his roots are obviously in Jazz more than in classical (which is Carl's main influence), he's less solid in the bass drums but his work with metals is amazing.
"Illusions on a Double Dimple" is a perfect band work where personal ambitions are left aside for the wealth of the band, they even called Hans Pape (an ex-member) to help them with the bass in almost all side A, the arrangements for the Cologne House Symphony Orchestra and the Kurt Edelhagen brass section are simply delightful and imaginative, similar to nothing ELP had ever done before 1973.
As not many people know it's a conceptual album about the personal views of life that the band had in the early 70's. The album is divided in two multi-song epics.
"ILLUSIONS ON A DOUBLE DIMPLE" is IMHO the stronger of both epics, the radical changes are amazing and the entire band is perfect, being of course Jurgen Fritz absolutely spectacular. This first side of the album is divided in six songs and begins with "Flashback", a melancholic piano and vocals introduction that resumes the spirit of the side, expressing their fears about life and death. The change between this song and the second one "Schooldays" is amazing, they turn from sadness to a bright and happy sound but keeping the melancholic atmosphere, the guitar work is amazing.
Song three "Triangle" starts with a soft piano and rhythmic triangle sound that's soon followed by the rest of the band, taking gently the music towards a short but beautiful chorus (by Ulla Wiesner, Brigitte Thomas & Hanna Dolitzsch), but then the song changes to a more aggressive synth based sound, that at the end changes to a very complex section where the members of the band really rock, specially Hans Pape in the bass. This hard section is constantly interrupted by choral fragments,. pure prog' rock!!! After a couple more changes more, the song ends with a beautiful keyboards and vocal section that leads to the fourth song.
"Illusions" is probably the one of the most beautiful songs of the whole album despite it's short duration, starts with a spoken section by Peter Cadera, a bit mysterious and would be sad if it wasn't for his strong accent which is a bit shocking, this short intro is followed by a vocal and piano passage very dramatic and again melancholic, with the chorus that adds a bit of drama, if anyone still believed TRIUMVIRAT sounded like ELP, should have changed his mind by this point, the Manticore band never did something remotely similar to this song.
The next song "Dimplicity" starts with a fast and light drumming, followed by the voice of Kollen, and supported by the same chorus that smoothes at least a bit his hard accent. The changes are also dramatic with complex polyphonic sound and crossed rhythms, another wonderful track, the epic has reached the climax with the chorus acting as an additional instrument that replaces the absence of mellotron, great apotheosis!!!
The last song of the first epic "Last Dance" starts with a jazzy drum that leads to a change where the keyboards take the lead, at this point I find more reminiscences of ELP, a short complex passage constantly interrupted by keyboard sections lead to the end with a strong rock & roll passage, 23:11 minutes of great progressive Rock.
Side B (original LP format) presents the second epic "MISTER TEN PERCENT" also divided in 6 songs, the introduction "Maze" starts stronger than side A, with a jazzy piano supported by horns, shocking chorals but when the whole band enters they reach a more aggressive sound, almost violent specially for the solid drumming. Ends with a section that reminds me a bit of Peter Gunn especially for the strong bass, this time played by Helmut Kollen.
Without any interruption starts the second song "Dawning", softer than the previous and more like side A, with a extremely beautiful piano track that is dramatically stopped by the famous Mister Ten Percent lyrics which announce the next song "Bad Deal", that sounds as a threaten against an abusive landlord, supported by a beautiful keyboard section the song ends with a jazzy section with the peculiar style of Triumvirat, a band that can change style in a matter of fraction of seconds. Hans Bathelt does his stronger job with the drums and Kollen's bass is stronger than ever.
The next song "Roundabout" is the first point where ELP and TRIUMVIRAT meet in an obvious way, a song that carries the spirit of Tarkus, but again the arrangements are so unique that never turns into a cheap copy, they work the influence in a very professional style.
"Lucky Girl" is the softer song of the album and the only one composed by Helmut Kollen, in this case the acoustic guitar and the name are a clear reference to Lucky Man, but even when the song is almost a ballad (or power ballad), has no relation with the ELP hit, except maybe for the keyboard section that sounds very familiar to ELP fans even when the track ends totally different and join immediately with the closer song "Million Dollars", which works as a nostalgic summary of the atmosphere of the album, the ending section is again extremely beautiful and a bit sad, great song.
I don't usually justify my ratings, but in this case I will make an exception, the album is one of the most clearly progressive ones I ever heard, the music, production, arrangements and skills of the musicians are wonderful, probably TRIUMVIRAT is the best German band and IMHO Illusions on a Double Dimple is their best album, there are some obvious influences but every band must be influenced by somebody, so I will go with 5 stars.
progarchives.com

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Analyzed folder: Triumvirat - Spartacus (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.95 dB -16.68 dB 01 Triumvirat - LADO 1- The Capital Of Power.wav
DR13 -0.56 dB -15.27 dB 02 Triumvirat - The School Of Instant Pain (3 Parts).wav
DR14 -1.26 dB -16.81 dB 03 Triumvirat - The Walls Of Doom.wav
DR11 -5.27 dB -19.26 dB 04 Triumvirat - The Deadly Dream Of Freedom.wav
DR13 -2.34 dB -17.02 dB 05 Triumvirat - The Hazy Shades Of Dawn.wav
DR12 -4.13 dB -17.93 dB 06 Triumvirat - LADO 2- The Burning Sword Of Capua.wav
DR15 -0.46 dB -17.16 dB 07 Triumvirat - The Sweetest Sound Of Liberty.wav
DR13 -1.50 dB -18.22 dB 08 Triumvirat - The March To The Eternal City (3 Parts).wav
DR13 -1.20 dB -16.43 dB 09 Triumvirat - Spartacus (3 Parts).wav
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Number of files: 9
Official DR value: DR13
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Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals – Helmut Kollen
Drums, Percussion – Hans Bathelt
Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Moog, String Ensemble], Grand Piano, Electric Piano, Producer – Jurgen Fritz

Are we going to a symphonic-rock gem? and to this day I move to Germany with the legendary "Triumvirat". They have called the 'ELP' clones... hmm, well, but not be so exhaustive as to call them 'clones', some influence each other, nothing else. Triumvirat use their imagery to create his symphonic court music, however ELP takes the classic straight to their creations. Attention! I'm a fan of both groups. Triumvirat I've still this album along with "Illusions on a double dimple' is their finest works in my opinion, unfortunately after the death of Helmut Koller, Triumvirat was no longer the same. In 'Spartacus' is displayed all his creative energy, good keyboards, good melodies. The sound recordings Triumvirat, it seems remarkable, excellent sound engineer.
Cover Artwork
Ah! The covers are cut quite simple, but effective. The mouse inside the bulb, I've always liked the plot of Triumvirat.
Fran Solo, Sept. 2011

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Analyzed folder: Triumvirat ‎– Old Loves Die Hard (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.48 dB -16.89 dB 01 Triumvirat - LADO 1- I Believe.wav
DR13 -0.81 dB -18.79 dB 02 Triumvirat - A Day In A Life (3 Parts).wav
DR13 -0.40 dB -16.40 dB 03 Triumvirat - The History Of Mystery (Part I).wav
DR13 -2.16 dB -16.92 dB 04 Triumvirat - LADO 2- The History Of Mystery (Part II).wav
DR13 -3.81 dB -21.65 dB 05 Triumvirat - A Cold Old Worried Lady.wav
DR12 -3.09 dB -16.84 dB 06 Triumvirat - Panic On 5th Avenue.wav
DR13 -0.98 dB -17.35 dB 07 Triumvirat - Old Loves Die Hard.wav
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Number of files: 7
Official DR value: DR13
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Bass – Dick Frangenberg
Percussion – Hans Bathelt
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Arranged By [Strings], Strings [String Ensemble] – Jurgen Fritz
Producer – Jurgen Fritz
Vocals – Barry Palmer

WOW! This record is just a bit less good than Spartacus: mostly, it sounds very similar to Spartacus. The weak point on this album is Barry Palmer's lead vocals, although bearable. "I believe", sounding a bit pop, has good rhythmic piano, Fender Rodes, choir parts and some floating keyboards. The first part of the marvelous "Day in a life" has Fender Rhodes and background floating keyboards sounding like the Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" track; the second part has a very progressive & melodic piano a la Rick Wakeman: absolutely GRAND; finally, the third part sounds like on the Spartacus album: rhythmic piano, VERY spacy moog, fast drums and bass. The epic "History of mystery part 1" starts with another excellent piano part, followed by heroic & catchy keyboards like on the Spartacus album: Hammond organ and moog; so, this tracks sounds like the best ELP of the early 70's! The excellent "History of mystery part 2", containing a killer moog solo in the beginning, is a variation on the theme present on the "History of mystery part 1" track. The simple and not very progressive "A cold old worried lady" is a good but not catchy piano oriented song, with some background orchestral arrangements: no synthesizers, no drums and no bass. The next track "Panic on 5th Avenue", sounding again like on the Spartacus album, is a pompous keyboards exploration a la ELP: TONS of Hammond organ, ultra floating moogs a bit like the Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" track again, police sirens emulation, hammering drums, elastic bass, the track is maybe a bit repetitive, but it is very well made; the killer long & melodic moog solo at the end is absolutely OUTSTANDING! The more ordinary last track, "Old loves die hard", has a bit the same style as "A cold old worried lady", except there are drums and bass plus some discrete organ notes.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by greenback, progarchives.com

Recorded & Mixed at EMI Electrola Studio 1, Cologne, W. Germany
Between Jan. 5th and April 6th, 1976
Vocals on "The History Of Mystery" were recorded at Studio N, Cologne, W. Germany
? 1978 EMI Electrola GmbH
Made in Germany
Comes in a single sleeve, with printed poly/paper inner sleeve.
Early pressings also came with an EMI Electrola "German Rock Paradise" catalogue insert.
Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): 1C 062-29 622 A
Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): 1C 062-29 622 B

#777#777#777#777#777#777#777[img=right][/img]

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Analyzed folder: /Triumvirat - Old Loves Die Hard (LP-DVD)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.15 dB -15.70 dB 01 Triumvirat - LADO 1- I Believe.wav
DR13 -0.22 dB -17.52 dB 02 Triumvirat - A Day In A Life (3 Parts).wav
DR13 -0.39 dB -15.32 dB 03 Triumvirat - The History Of Mystery (Part I).wav
DR12 -1.61 dB -15.39 dB 04 Triumvirat - LADO 2- The History Of Mystery (Part II).wav
DR13 -2.44 dB -19.96 dB 05 Triumvirat - A Cold Old Worried Lady.wav
DR12 -2.28 dB -16.10 dB 06 Triumvirat - Panic On 5th Avenue.wav
DR12 -2.03 dB -17.60 dB 07 Triumvirat - Old Loves Die Hard.wav
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Number of files: 7
Official DR value: DR13
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Art Direction – Roy Kohara
Bass – Dick Frangenberg*
Engineer – Wolfgang Thierbach
Other [Assisted By] – Werner "Tallihoh" Kopal
Percussion – Hans Bathelt
Photography [Cover & Liner] – Don Peterson
Photography [Inner Sleeve] – H.J. Filz, Rainer Kosseda
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Arranged By [Strings], Strings [String Ensemble] – Jurgen Fritz
Producer – Jurgen Fritz
Vocals – Barry Palmer

WOW! This record is just a bit less good than Spartacus: mostly, it sounds very similar to Spartacus. The weak point on this album is Barry Palmer's lead vocals, although bearable. "I believe", sounding a bit pop, has good rhythmic piano, Fender Rodes, choir parts and some floating keyboards. The first part of the marvelous "Day in a life" has Fender Rhodes and background floating keyboards sounding like the Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" track; the second part has a very progressive & melodic piano a la Rick Wakeman: absolutely GRAND; finally, the third part sounds like on the Spartacus album: rhythmic piano, VERY spacy moog, fast drums and bass. The epic "History of mystery part 1" starts with another excellent piano part, followed by heroic & catchy keyboards like on the Spartacus album: Hammond organ and moog; so, this tracks sounds like the best ELP of the early 70's! The excellent "History of mystery part 2", containing a killer moog solo in the beginning, is a variation on the theme present on the "History of mystery part 1" track. The simple and not very progressive "A cold old worried lady" is a good but not catchy piano oriented song, with some background orchestral arrangements: no synthesizers, no drums and no bass. The next track "Panic on 5th Avenue", sounding again like on the Spartacus album, is a pompous keyboards exploration a la ELP: TONS of Hammond organ, ultra floating moogs a bit like the Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" track again, police sirens emulation, hammering drums, elastic bass, the track is maybe a bit repetitive, but it is very well made; the killer long & melodic moog solo at the end is absolutely OUTSTANDING! The more ordinary last track, "Old loves die hard", has a bit the same style as "A cold old worried lady", except there are drums and bass plus some discrete organ notes.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by greenback, progarchives.com

Recorded At – EMI-Electrola Studios, Cologne, W. Germany
Mixed At – EMI-Electrola Studios, Cologne, W. Germany
Published By – Beechwood Music Corp.
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
Between Jan. 5th and April 6th, 1976
Vocals on "The History Of Mystery" were recorded at Studio N, Cologne, W. Germany
All Selections Published by Beechwood Music Corporation/BMI
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A): ST-1-11551-F2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOL
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B): ST-2-11551-F2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOL