(Kraut Rock, Art Rock, Prog Rock, Sympho rock) [LP] [24/96] Pell Mell - Marburg - 1972 (1974) Rhapsody - 1975, FLAC (tracks+.cue)

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Analyzed folder: /Pell Mell - Marburg (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR11 -0.12 dB -12.94 dB 01 Pell Mell - LADO 1- When The Earth Moves Again.wav
DR11 -3.26 dB -17.69 dB 02 Pell Mell - Moldau.wav
DR12 -3.57 dB -18.53 dB 03 Pell Mell - Friend.wav
DR12 -0.09 dB -14.95 dB 04 Pell Mell - LADO 2- City Monster.wav
DR12 -1.56 dB -15.93 dB 05 Pell Mell - Alone.wav
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Number of files: 5
Official DR value: DR11

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The debut album from this German band is an ode to the heavy sounds not alien to Atomic Rooster. While you discover the opener The Clown And The Queen, you should be blown away by the power of the Hammond organ and the wild vocals. Almost nine minutes of frenzy which have some ELP accents as well. It is already a highlight.
A much more symphonic (even pastoral) piece is following, maybe to cool down. The very melodic Moldau is a sweet instrumental track, full of mellotron and violin. It's melancholy is premonitory of the brilliant Swedish scene of the nineties. In a totally different register, this is the second highlight already.

Friend almost starts as Easy Livin from the Heep with high pitched vocals. An ocean of strong organ are surging but all of a sudden, the sweetest flute enters the scene and introduces a short and multi vocal part which is quite close to Gentle Giant. Then, the listener is brought into the crazy and grotesque world of Grobschnitt. To loop the loop, the closing section is just a furious and heavy organ party. Another very good song to tell the truth.

The long City Monster is only shining during the second half: the lovely violin solo has surely inspired some Kansas ones.ELP is on the rendezvous as well for the bombastic finale.

When I listened to Alone, after the chaotic intro, one comparison came to my mind (at least for about forty seconds): this doom metal sound was fully in line with the early Sabbath. Imposing, scary and heavy. The rest of this song is more traditional with the other pieces of this debut album (which is quite different from their later works). Again, the listener is passing through many theme changes: from heavy to subtle and passionate violin solo. This is quite a nice treat. Needless to say that Alone is another excellent track.

Fans of Jane, ELP and Atomic Rooster you should watch out: this album might well be very interesting for you. Four stars for this mostly heavy album.

progarchives.com

Bass – Jörg Götzfried
Drums – Mitch Kniesmeijer
Engineer – Dieter Dierks
Guitar [Thanks To ... For Playing Guitar] – Andy Kirnberger*
Lead Vocals, Percussion – Rudolf Schön (2)
Painting, Design – H. Wenske*
Piano, Organ – Otto Pusch
Producer – Peter Hauke
Vocals, Violin, Flute, Mellotron – Thomas Schmitt (3)
Written-By, Arranged By – Pell Mell (2)

Recorded 1972 at Studio Dierks, Stommeln
Distributed By – Bellaphon Germany
Manufactured By – Bellaphon Germany
Made By – Bellaphon Records
Published By – Bellver Music
Printed By – Johannes Alt GmbH
Recorded At – Dierks Studios
Slightly later german pressing.

Ulrich Klatte's "Cosmic Price Guide" says, it is the 2nd press from 1974
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side 1): BI 15158-A
Matrix / Runout (Side 1, Old Matrix Cancelled): BLPS 19090-A
Matrix / Runout (Side 2): BI 15158-B
Rights Society: GEMA

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Analyzed folder: /Pell Mell - Rhapsody (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR11 -0.31 dB -14.21 dB 01 Pell Mell - LADO 1- Frost Of An Alien Darkness.wav
DR11 -2.64 dB -16.02 dB 02 Pell Mell - Wanderer.wav
DR11 -1.31 dB -14.28 dB 03 Pell Mell - Can Can.wav
DR12 -1.34 dB -15.08 dB 04 Pell Mell - Prelude.wav
DR11 -1.26 dB -14.07 dB 05 Pell Mell - LADO 2- Desert In Your Mind.wav
DR12 -0.63 dB -14.59 dB 06 Pell Mell - The Riot.wav
DR12 -0.12 dB -13.40 dB 07 Pell Mell - Paris The Past.wav
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Number of files: 7
Official DR value: DR12

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With "Rhapsody", PELL MELL continued to pay homage to the classics, and followed the trend established by "From the New World" in which simple homage to composers turned into all out rocking affairs with plenty of jamming. Here there is a slight improvement in the sense that the group has smoothed out some of the painful edges from that predecessor. It is true that they lose direction and banish good taste when dealing with something that is already tacky like "Can Can", or original material like "Paris the Past", but "Frost of an Alien" and "Wanderer" are triumphs by any yardstick. Those who enjoy some of the more classically oriented British artists like Emerson, Wakeman, and John Tout-era Renaissance will be tickled by "Prelude". "Desert in Your Mind" hints at the ever lighter aspects that will be fully embraced on "Only a Star", and is highlighted by superb bass, melodic lead guitars and soaring harmonies along with a healthy dollop of strings. "The Riot" shows that their propensity to borrow from the likes of Rachmaninoff, Schmitt and Liszt is not a coverup for lack of songwriting inspiration. Another highly recommended effort by this relatively prolific symphonic outfit.

Review by kenethlevine, progarchives.com

Bass – Gotz Draeger
Design – animaschen workshop
Drums – Cornelius "Mitch" Kniesmijer*
Keyboards, Mellotron – Cherry Hochdorfer*
Mastered By – SST (8)
Producer – Cornelius Hudalla
Recorded By, Mixed By – Toby Robinson*
Violin, Keyboards, Electric Guitar, Flute, Vocals – Thomas Schmitt (3)
Vocals – Rudolf Schon (2)
Vocals, Keyboards, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Ralph "Flipper" Lippmann*

Produced For – Breeze Music
Published By – Breeze Music
Recorded At – Dierks Studios
Mixed At – Dierks Studios
Mastered At – SST Bruggemann GmbH

Recorded and mixed at Dierks Studios, West Germany, 1975.

All titles published by: Breeze Music Switzerland
Produced for Breeze Music Switzerland

Special thanks to Chico De Los Reyes, Kurt Koch, Joey Albrecht, and Tommy Goldschmidt for being a part of this album, in particular to our managers Cornelius and Marcellus Hudalla, and as well Corinna and Dieter Dierks. Without their help, all this would not have been possible.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A): ST B.R. 0001 / P.M. 76-A SST
Matrix / Runout (Side B): ST B.R. 0001 / P.M. 76-B SST
Rights Society: GEMA