Reviewing S/T: Gorp (Mas de Cade CADE 56000)
The last thing I expect to come from Germany is a group covering songs of Van Der Graaf Generator. And to be honest, I didn't expect an album of VDGG-covers at all. This music is so highly individual and idiosyncratic, that it is almost impossible to reinterpret these works. Just like in the case of Beefheart, Popol Vuh, etc. On the other hand, why not? Why exclude the possibility of successfully reworking highly idiosyncratic material. It all depends on the creative powers of artists. So let's look with open eyes to this album of interpretations of six VDGG compositions. Darkness (11/11) and Refugees, taken from the 1970 album The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other. Still Life and Gog come from Still Life (1976). Van Der Graaf Generator is still around as I discovered All that Before and Drop Dead come from their 2008 album Trisector. The job is done by S/T, a trio from Frankfurt, Germany, founded in 1993 by Martin Bauner and Joachim Gaertner, who present with Gorp their homage to this english progrock group. The musical careers of both men go back to the end of the 70s and that is about all I can trace about their earlier whereabouts. They are declared fans of Faust and Amon Duul 2, but also Pere Ubu, Cravats (remember?), and many other groups inspire them. Since 1997 they released several records. Gorp however is the first one meeting my ears. We hear Martin Brauner on guitar and vocals, Joachim Gaertner on organ and machines. Special guest Daniel Krieger is the drummer. The voice of Peter Hammill is of course not to be imitated. But they tackled this problem very cleverly. The voice is Bauner is manipulated, making it sound a bit distorted but penetrating, and it it not mixed on the forefront, so that making a comparison comes not to your mind. With guitars, keyboards and drums they create a full and massive sound of hybrid progrock. I do have several VDGG-albums, but not these three ones, so that I cannot make any comparison. But what I can say is that S/T deliver a very well executed album, with stripped down and a bit simplified arrangements and performance. The way they did it surely works. (DM)
Unknown, Vital Weekly, 2010-02-12
link: Vital Weekly