Hölderlin - 1972 - Hölderlins Traum

Hölderlin 

1972 

Hölderlins Traum

01. Waren Wir (4:53)

02. "Peter" (2:52)

03. Strohhalm (2:20)

04. Requiem Für Einen Wicht (6:32)

05. Erwachen (4:20)

06. Wetterbericht (6:34)

07. Traum (7:20)

Nanny DeRuig / vocals

Christian Grumbkow / guitars

Joachim Grumbkow / cello, acoustic guitar, transverse flute, piano, organ, Mellotron

Christoph Noppeney / violin, viola, flute, piano

Peter Käseberg / bass, acoustic guitar, vocals

Michael Bruchmann / drums, percussion

With:

- Peter Bursch / sitar (3)

- Mike Hellbach / tablas (3)

- Walter Westrupp / recorder (5)

This group started as one of those early 70's folk rock prog groups along with Barrock, Ougenweide, Wittheuser & Westrupp (a guest on this album) etc. and produced one of the best and most stunning folk prog album ever, then disappeared for a while due to their label bankruptcy, before resurfacing as a symphonic prog band and a slightly differently-spelled name. Named after the poet, (there is another German group who did this with Novalis), the least we can say is that this album is pure poetry

This absolutely delightful record is an incredibly successful mix of medieval ambiances, stunning 60's folk rock, slight Indian music influences, the whole thing sprinkled with a tad of hippy idealism and great progressive arrangements including the odd Mellotron. From the opening Waren Wir to the closing Traum (dream), the album is invitation fly out of our realm and head for Nirvana, paradise, Eden, Babylon, with flaunts of flutes, loads of Hamonds, Trons of Mello, guitars strings by the dozens and superb vocals both male and female. If you cannot find a suitable album to get comfy and shag the partner, try this one and do not forget to put the repeat (the album is fairly short), and the trick is half-done. To name a highlight would be quite difficult, as you'd be doing injustice to the other non-mentioned tracks. Not a weak note on this album. Nanny de Ruyg's voice is right up with the cannons of the genre and the German lyrics are simply heavenly music for the mind.