2002/02/16

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Embryo Live at Universum, Bünde

Lineup

Chris Karrer
Stephan Daskalos
Jens Pollheide
Lothar Stahl
Mik Quantius
Petja Hofmann
Christian Burchard

Embryo Live at Universum, Bünde 16.2.2002 - Pychodelic Ethno-Jazz

Klaus Unland, May 2002

Embryo were guests at the beautifully restored old Universum cinema in Bünde. The organizers had done a lot of work and promotion to make the concert of the “world travelers” a highlight. Anyone who knows Embryo knows that every concert will take its own special direction. And so it was.  As usual, it began with a quiet ethno-acoustic session by “Amon Düül” mastermind Chris Karrer on his lute, in which all the other musicians gradually found their place and a dense dialog developed. The Bulgarian gadulka player Stephan Daskalos and bassist Jens Pollheide on various flutes at the beginning had free space to conjure up beautiful melodies. Drummer Lothar Stahl, formerly of “Checkpoint Charly”, skillfully and calmly provided the rhythmic background. Bandleader Christian Burchard was still very reserved and quiet. But there was a reason for this. Chris Karrer switched to the violin and the sessions became audibly harder and louder. I already suspected something - .... who knew Embryo from before, now knew that everything had remained the same here, because everything is always completely different from what you expect from the band. Embryo's new singer Mik Quantius, who Christian had only recently brought on board in Cologne, came on stage and gave a first glimpse of his skills. Using his voice over several octaves and his whole body as an instrument, he produced sounds and rhythms that I wouldn't have thought possible. And then it started. It got rockier and rockier, fat Hammond sounds from the keyboard, slap bass interludes, totally “crazy” fat guitar solos from Chris Karrer, plus the all-pervading vocals. But it was to get even better. Christian switched from keyboards to the “hammered dulcimer”. This normally somewhat staid instrument with a fat “distortion sound” is a must-hear. Christian Burchard “goes Jimi Hendrix”. And then the show took off. I suddenly thought I was at the wrong concert. The mixer's very good sound with great effects created total psychedelic impulses like at “Can” concerts in the best of times. At the end, a veteran of the German Krautrock scene joined them on stage: “Petja Hofman”, bassist of the “Ur-Missus Beastly” line-up, played the last session. The only thing left to say was: if you missed this unusual concert event, it was your own fault.

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20030426200425fw_/http://www.spacelook.de/embryo/embryonews16.htm#ur