Uve Schikora Gruppe

An obscure DDR band, who took a step on from pop music, blending in psychedelia and Krautrock, to make something quite unique. Beyond Die Puhdys, quaintly dated, yet with the raw edge of invention, and hints of Nosferatu and Xhol in the instrumentals. It shows that, had history been different, bands like this may have blossomed like their Western counterparts.

Uve Schikora (vocals, soprano sax, piano, organ), Michael Schubert (vocals, 12-string guitar), Bernd Müller (organ), Jürgen Matkiowitz (guitar), Jurgen Diessner (bass), Reiner Miehatsch (drums), + Frank Schöbel (vocals)

DAS GEWITTER
LP Amiga 855 290 (DDR, 1972)

Julius Schittenhelm

An important figure as a producer for the Ohr label and an aid in establishing April Records. He also had a mobile studio and specialised in recording festivals. He engineered the L.S. Bearforce album too! As a soloist, however, Julius amounted to little more than a protest singer with no appeal whatsoever to non-German ears. Okay, his lyrics may be poignant and scathing, they sound so, but musically (despite the impressive guest list on ARISTOTELES) his solo work is very dull!

Julius Schittenhelm (vocals, guitars), + Christian Burchard (drums, marimba, organ, percussion, pianett), Uwe Müllrich (bass, percussion), Friedemann Josch (flute, soprano sax), Burkard Schmidl (synthesizer, piano), Jofrey P.R. Ramos (percussion)

ARISTOTELES (8-9/9/76)
LP April 0004 (1976)

featured on: UMSONST UND DRAUSSEN VLOTHO 1977

MULLMUTANTEN
LP Schneeball 0021 (1979)

featured on: UMSONST UND DRAUSSEN PORTA WESTVLOTHICA 1978

RUNDSCHLAG
LP Schneeball 0031 (1982)

featured on: UMSONST UND DRAUSSEN PAPENBURG 1983

Wolfgang Schlüter

A jazz fusion vibes player, in the vein of Dave Pike. His Wolfgang Schlüter Combo album HANGOVER is notable for the Brave New World connections of Lucas Lindholm and John O'Brien-Docker (as producer), yet is rather easy listening moody jazz-fusion with Leszek Zadlo's saxes as the main solo instruments and Schlüter's cool vibes a close second.

Rob Franken (keyboards), Lucas Lindholm (basses), Axel Riel (drums), Wolfgang Schlüter (vibes), Jan Tolf (guitar), Leszek Zadlo (soprano/tenor saxes, flute)

HANGOVER
LP Peer International PIL 9038 (1977)

Schmetterlinge

An Austrian band, who started as folk but later evolved into a complex theatrical progressive, with Sparifankal and Floh De Cologne touches, moving onto progressive rock-opera.

Beatrix Neundlinger (flutes, vocals), Erich Meixner (bass, accordion, sax, piano, vocals), Georg Herrnstadt (piano, synthesizer, organ, vocals), Willi Resetarits (drums, percussion, harmonica, vocals), Herbert Tampier (guitars, mandolin, bass, vocals)

LIEDER FÜRS LEBEN
LP Antagon ALP 3205 (1975)

BESCHWICHTIGUNGSSHOW
LP Antagon ALP 3208 (1977)

PROLETENPASSION

3LP Antagon ALP 3213/1-3 (1977)

HERBSTREISE
LP Antagon ALP 3230 (1978)

VERDRÄNGTE JAHRE
LP Eigelstein 2012/Extraplatte 18 (1981)

DIE LETZTE WELT (1982)
2LP Eigelstein 6.28612 (1982)

Wolfgang Schmid

Wolfgang was Passport's bassist/guitarist during the early to mid-70's. As with most musicians in Passport, he yearned to push further, and thus went on to front his own version of the band (sans Doldinger). Wolfgang, however, never had that leadership quality to make a really strong musical statement, and although his music was pleasant jazz-rock, typical of the Munich scene, it was hardly distinctive or memorable. Wolfhound later became the name of Wolfgang Schmid's band, however their style was light soul-rock-jazz stepping on from the lighter parts of his debut, and thus are of even less interest!

Wolfgang Schmid (guitars, bass, vocals), + Kristian Schultze (organ, piano, clavinet, synthesizer), Peter Ponger (electric piano), Leszek Zadlo (flute), Curt Cress (drums, percussion)

WOLFHOUND
LP Atlantic ATL 50132 (1975)

Irmin Schmidt

Formerly an academically trained musician, experienced in the worlds of classical and ethnic musics, and also studies with the likes of John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, Irmin Schmidt has proven to be a creative and very talented musician. A long-standing bastion of Can, as keyboard player and occasional multi-instrumentalist, Irmin's solo career started with a series of soundtrack commissions documented on two FILMMUSIK LP's, which combined fiery Can style instrumental rock music, as well as unusual counterpoints between synthesizers and saxophone, folky diversions, and also venturing into unusual classical spiced realms. On later albums Irmin also took up vocals, and much of his later output depends on whether you like Irmin's vocals or song-style. On such albums, he can be found creating a peculiar concoction of Can-like music mixed with pop, weird jazz, and all sorts of other musics. All such albums (including various soundtracks) are most certainly an acquired taste. Collaborator, Swiss multi-instrumentalist Bruno Spoerri, involved in some of this soundtrack work, also worked with Irmin on the highly influential electronic space-music and ethnic disco concoction, presented as by the duo Toy Planet (see entry elsewhere).

Irmin Schmidt (synthesizers, keyboards), + Max Lässer (guitars), Peter Keiser (bass), Walter Keiser (drums, cymbals), Bruno Spoerri (tenor sax), Michael Karoli (guitar)

FILMMUSIK
LP Spoon 003 (1980)

FILMMUSIK, VOL. 2 (1980-81)
LP Spoon 013 (1982)

ROTE ERDE
LP Teldec 6.25687 (1983)

FILMMUSIK, VOL. 3 & 4 (1982-83)
2LP Spoon 018/19 (1984)

Herr Schmidt
12" Virgin 602 047 (1985)

MUSK AT DUSK (1986)
LP WEA 242 010-1 (1987)

FILMMUSIK, VOL. 5: REPORTER
LP Virgin 209 919 (1989)

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1456