2 more mega-masterpieces

I would like to repost these 2 that have been available before because they are of very high quality...

In the late seventies, after the demise of UK prog, there was an efflorescence of incredible, advanced german music, exemplified by bands like Nanu Urwerk, Gebarverterli, Tau, and the greatest of them all, Odyssee's White Swan. In this later 'generation' of progressive it seems the earlier harsh organ and guitar style krautprog had been supplanted by more refined musicians who were eager to construct a really elaborate music on a rock basis. Very much a part of this really professionally played music are these two bands, Firma 33, whose punk like cover really belies the contents, and Messengers Children of Tomorrow (there is an earlier album that is not as good), whose cover is equally ridiculous. Both of these from the great german private pressings list are complicated in composition and a shock when first heard.

Firma 33 is very much in pop or rock basis, with a lot of progressive elements, a bit of jazzy or funkish styles thrown in. Check out the quote of christmas song, silent night, in one song--who has ever heard such a thing, a christmas prog song. A lot of the tracks are almost singable, they are that well written.

Messengers is rooted in funk-fusion territory. The first and last songs, be aware, are throwaway songs, go past them. The first is an odd flamenco style 2-chord piece, the last a pure pop radio song. I often talk about how educated these musicians in prog are, well here we have a direct quotation from Rite of Spring, in "Sacrewinsky". A gorgeous minor chord progression leads to some really beautiful flights of fusion-prog fancy, going all over the map, the music changes every 1-2 minutes guaranteed. No long boring jazz solos here, not even a drum solo. Just constant inventiveness, incredible how many musical ideas and keys they put into one composition. Same is true for the masterpiece of the album "Colony suite" which has a hilarious story about conquistadors, crusaders, and the sad tendency for men to conquer other men. The lyrics are so much a part of the seventies, you don't know whether to cry or laugh. A couple of other tracks show the progressive mood of the composers, Funky chick really shows off some elaborate riffs and chords.

These albums definitely should be released to CD soon, in the meantime please enjoy them as much as I have over the years I've listened-- hearing them again yesterday I fell in love all over again.

Stille Nacht...
Colony - Suite...