Arktis - 1976 - On The Rocks

Arktis
1976
On the Rocks

01. Dangerous Love (4:31)
02. Since You've Been Gone (5:35)
03. Never Come Back (5:00)
04. Please, Call Me (5:26)
05. Loneliness (20:01)

Bonus track:
06. Y.T.T. (5:57)

Karin Toppig / vocals
Harry Kottek / drums
Manni Dick / guitar
Axel Maurer / keyboards
Bernd Kolf / bass

This was ARKTIS' third attempt at a self-released album in order to get a record deal. Unfortunately the third time wasn't the charm. Actually after the last album two important members being the lead guitarist and bass player left the band feeling disillusioned with everything. The female singer and drummer decided to keep the band going and recruited not only a new guitarist and bass player but a keyboardist. They decided to make this album similar to the debut with shorter songs on side one of the LP and a side long suite on side two. As usual Conny Plank gave some assistance in the studio. After this was released they were actually working on album number four but when the news came out that this was their worst selling album to date they folded up the tent and called it a day. I feel that this is the worst of the first three albums. Funny thing though is that the bonus tracks on each of the first three albums are in most cases better than one they decided to release on the actual albums. And this is proved by the following release called "More Arktis Tapes" which is a compilation of songs they didn't use on their albums. It's their best release by far !

"Dangerous Love" is an up-tempo track with vocals. A guitar solo comes in after 2 minutes and again late to end it. "Since You've Been Gone" is another up-tempo track with vocals similar to the first one really. The organ floats in the background again. Nice guitar solo 3 minutes in.

"Never Come Back" is where they slow it down with vocals and soaring guitar. Not a fan of this one at all. Way too long. "Please, Call Me" is up-tempo like the first two with vocals. The guitar cries out to end it. Not a fan of this one either.

"Loneliness" is the side long 20 minute suite. The weird thing about this one is that it reminds me of THE CHURCH with those reserved vocals and that repetitive melancholic sound. I like the bonus song better than the album tracks.

I would have sworn with this album and the previous one that it was a guy singing. She doesn't sound at all like she did on the debut but she's the only one listed as the singer so...I guess she decided to sing in a deeper more reserved manner which was too bad really.