***Pell Mell -Only a Star (1978)***

1. Count Down
2. Daydreamer
3. Only A Star
4. Across The Universe
5. Disillusion
6. Trailors In Movie Halls
7. Phoebius Is Dead

Wolfgang Claus - drums, vocals
Gotz Draeger - bass
Cherry Hochdorfer - keyboards
Ralph Lipmann - guitar, keyboards, vocals
Thomas Schmitt - flute, violin, keyboards, vocals
Rudolph Schon - percussion, vocals

Only a Star

****Pell Mell -Rhapsody (1975) MORE FAB STUFF FROM THIS GREAT KRAUT BAND!****

Few countries took the idea of “classical rock” more seriously than Germany in the 1970s, as anyone will tell you who was exposed at the time to the music of WALLENSTEIN, TRIUMVIRAT, or this all but forgotten outfit. PELL MELL was one of many groups following in the well-trod footsteps of Keith Emerson, updating the classics in a modern rock format, in this case the work of Rachmaninoff and Franz Liszt (both duly credited: these guys weren’t grave robbers).
Unlike ELP however, the instrumentation was more traditional (for the ‘70s, at any rate), with a big ensemble sound divided between the sextet of musicians. Keyboards were dominant, of course: the grand piano, crunchy Hammond organ, lush string synths (no Mellotrons here) and ubiquitous clavinet were shared between three featured keyboard players, one of them also doubling on flutes and violin. Guitars are less evident, and are mostly in the classical/acoustic vein, although there’s some funky electric stuff happening on the final tracks. The highlight of this 1975 album is the 16-minute title track, a retooling of Liszt’s popular "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2", with interpolated material written by the band and, like a lot of Continental Prog acts sung in what sounds like phonetic English. There’s certainly a lot of variety here: a quiet acoustic ballad with recorder accompaniment (recalling the "Stairway to Heaven" intro), a burning organ solo in a honky-tonk blues mood, and lots of playful violin, straight from a gypsy café in post- war Vienna. The finale is a hoot: a Loony Tune Saturday morning cartoon soundtrack with everything but Daffy and Bugs, including a brief nod to the local Bavarian beer hall. So why is it called "Can Can"? There’s no relation to the familiar Offenbach Folies Bergere thing, memorably covered a few years later by (of course) the crafty Krautrockers of CAN. The original compositions that round out the rest of the disc are a little less fun and therefore less immediately attractive, but still show a flair for romantic melodies and memorable hooks. It’s not surprising that the band fell into obscurity: they were very much a product of their age, and need to be heard as such. Less forgiving listeners might dismiss the album as a time-capsule of mid ‘70s clichés, but in retrospect there’s a genuine innocence to such lofty middle-brow ambitions toward the rarified strata of high art. Look at the cover, with its cheesy proscenium arch framing laughably amateur pencil- sketch portraits of each band member. You can’t find such disarming naiveté in today’s corporate controlled, mass-produced entertainment industry. The music is still worth a listen too, and not only for nostalgia value. It’s a very minor slice of unjustly forgotten pop culture, but my guess is that the album might even surprise a few jaded Progheads who think they’ve heard it all. - Review by Neu!mann (Michael Neumann)

1. Rhapsody Frost of an alien darkness (9:24)
2. Rhapsody Wanderer (2:31)
3. Rhapsody Can Can (3:38)
4. Prelude (3:18)
5. Desert in your mind (6:18)
6. The riot (6:06)
7. Paris the past (8:10)
Total Time: 39:25

Line-up/Musicians-
Gotz Draeger / bass-
Cherry Hochdorfer / keyboards-
Bruno Kniesmeijer / percussion, drums-
Ralph Lipmann / guitar, keyboards, vocals-
Thomas Schmitt / flute, violin, guitar (electric), keyboards, vocals-
Rudolph Schon / percussion, vocals

Releases information LP Venus 761PMAB (1976) / CD Spalax 97689 (1998)

RAPTUROUS!

****Pell Mell -From the New World (1973) -MORE BRILLIANT KRAUTROCK PROG FROM THIS BAND WITH CLASSICAL ELEMENTS****

Tracks:
1. From The New World - 16:10
2. Toccata - 4:05
3. Suite I - 8:03
4. Suite II - 11:33

BRILLIANT KRAUT PROG!!

Pell Mell -Marburg (1972)

Not to be confused with a 1980s American band of the same name, Pell Mell was a symphonic band from Marburg, Germany(Marburg is also the name of the debut album). The band was formed in 1971 by keyboard player Otto Pusch, bass player Jorg Gotzfried, Rudolf Schon on vocals, recorder, and guitar, drummer Mitch Kniesmeijer, and Thomas Schmitt on violin, guitar, and vocals. The first album is characterized by a rough edge, especially in the vocals. Subsequent albums would smooth out the edges. However, there are aspects reminiscent of Hawkwind, HP Lovecraft, The Nice, and even ELP. Mellotron and classical themes are abundant. It also should be pleasing to fans Krautrock Over the next releases they would explore the realm of Mike Oldfield, and then settle into keyboard dominated symphonic The old psychedelic sounds completely gone. Much of the music is considered some of the best German symphonic ever recorded The usual lineup changes occurred over time, and the band began to disintegrate after 1978's "Only a Star." Thomas Schmitt formed the '80s style rock band Skyrider, with former band mate Otto Pusch. They released one self-titled album, and then took back the name Pell Mell. This incarnation released "Moldau" in 1981 However, the old magic was gone, and that is where the Pell Mell story ends. H.T. Riekels (bhikkhu) - http:// www.progarchives.com/artist.asp

pm-Marburg.rar