Novalis - Banished Bridge vinyl lp (due to size and weight, this price for the USA only. Outside of the USA, the price will be adjusted as needed)
SKU
23-MIG 03311
“Banished Bridge is dominated by keyboard-driven symphonic prog and features an instrumental palette that sounds straight out of 1971. This means lots of ELP-inspired Hammond organ and a relatively "organic" production style, with little of the atmospheric synth work that would dominate the band's subsequent work. There's also a vaguely Krautish vibe in the rhythm section that isn't horribly dissimilar from Floating-era Eloy, even if the overall style here is miles away from Krautrock or Eloy-esque space rock. Further emphasizing the album's relative eclecticism are a handful of forays into folky territory ("Laughing", parts of "High Evolution").
All of this being said, the most obvious difference between Banished Bridge and later Novalis releases is the presence of vocalist Jürgen Wenzel. Wenzel's strained delivery and decision to sing in (a heavily-accented) English runs directly counter to the smoother German-language elocution of Heino Schunzel, and he's limited enough that his singing may be a deal-breaker for some listeners. Luckily for those who can get by Wenzel's voice, keyboardist/composer Lutz Rahn emerges fully formed and fully indulges his talents on tracks like "High Evolution" and "Inside of Me (Inside of You)"”
- LabelMade In Germany
- UPC885513033116