Missing Link: Nevergreen! (1972) {2005 Reissue + Bonus Track} [APE]
• PORTUGUÊS:
Aê putada,
Mais outro chucrute fodástico e obscuro. Essa banda aqui de Munique teve a sorte - pelo menos no início - de cruzar os batentes com Gerhard Augustin, que cuidava dos negócios do Amon Düül II e que estava em busca de novos talentos para a United Artists, cuja matriz era na Inglaterra. A prova da capacidade do Missing Link foi mesmo no palco e logo eles assinaram um contrato pra gravar três álbuns - ainda que somente um (em 1972) e mais um single (em 1973) tenham sido lançados.
Apesar da capa tosca, esse disco é fodástico. Eles tocavam uma mistura de heavy prog com jazz-fusion e mais pequenos elementos psicodélicos, como era o comum naquela época. Infelizmente eles foram tapeados pela United Artists alemã que enfrentava uma série crise financeira e a banda se desfez já em 1973.
• ENGLISH:
Hello freaks,
Here's another amazing and obscure krauty. This band from Munich were lucky enough - at least in the beginning - to come across Gerhard Augustin's sight, who managed Amon Düül II and who was looking for new talents for United Artists, whose headquarters were in England. Missing Link's proof of talent was on stage and they quickly got a contract with the label to record three albums - even if only one (in 1972) plus a single (in 1973) were ever released.
In despite of a horrible artwork, this album is freaking amusing. They played a blend of heavy prog with jazz-fusion and some slight psychedelic elements, as it was normal in those times. Sadly they were striked by German United Artists which was going bankrupt and they were disbanded already in 1973.
• Tracklist:
01 Spoiled Love (5:19)
02 Song For Ann (2:49)
03 Time Will Change (5:31)
04 Only Me (5:07)
05 Sorcery (5:23)
06 Filled Up (6:26)
07 Kids Hunting (6:11)
Bonus Track:
08 Friday On My Mind (3:04)
• Line-up:
Markus Sing - guitar
Gunther Latuschik - saxophone
Gabriel Dominik Mueller - vocal
Dieter Miekautsch - keyboard
Dave Schratzenstaller - bass
Holger Brandt - drums
Download:
http://minhateca.com.br/nelwizard/Missing+Link+-+Nevergreen_APE,444775308.rar(archive)
Missing Link played typical 70's German progressive jazz rock in the vein of Thirsty Moon, early 70's Embryo, and Kraan. The album has seven tracks of medium length. Emphasis is mostly on vivid interplay between guitar, saxophone, and piano/organ. For example, "Sorcery" and "Kids Hunting" have some great saxophone riffing. "Song for Ann" is a short, quiet, and beautiful track for solo piano. If you like Thirsty Moon, you should definitely try this album as well.
ResponderExcluirMissing Link from Munich were lucky enough to run into Gerhard Augustin who then managed also Amon Düül II and was looking for new young talents for United Artists. Thus, they got a contract and, at the end of 1972, released their one and only LP "Nevergreen!", and their only single at the beginning of 1973. Unfortunately, they did not really manage to transfer the fire of their live shows on to the grooves. At any rate, Missing Link produced a very versatile, clearly jazz-dominated, work. Dieter Miekautsch - who later joined the band Embryo - gives a brilliant piano solo in "Song for Ann". There has been a bootleg CD of "Nevergreen!" since 2000 (Living in the Past LITP 1972-003)From Munich, with jazz touch. There already was an illegal release on LITP. The legitimate release now with bonus track (from their 7"). On keyboards: Dieter Miekautsch from Embryo. Munich's Missing Link released their sole album, Nevergreen!, in 1972, apparently utilising Embryo's Dieter Miekautsch on keys. The album is a slightly odd mixture of styles, sounding very slightly how Uriah Heep may have sounded had they tried to play jazz-rock; since we've been spared that particular delight, the possibly more competent Missing Link can show us how it might have sounded. The material is rather less memorable than Heep's best, though closer Kids Hunting is a good, rocking track, with touches of fusion and prog thrown into the mix.
ResponderExcluirAlmost each of their album’s seven tracks seems to explore a different genre, at times centering around some jazzy sax riffs, at times surprising the listener with a quiet piano solo; or else venturing into loud, heavy rock outbursts mixed with acoustic guitar. The overall feel is quite jazzy and what stands out most is the interplay between guitar, sax and keyboards (including mellotron and Hammond) and guitar – all in unison, or as soloists. The quintessential track would have to be their cover of Charles Lloyd’s ‘Sorcery’ with lively clavinet, a hopping rhythm section, and great wah wah sax and guitar work. Most of the tracks rock hard, with the typical rough vocal that seems to follow the style.
Miekautsch's highlight here is instrumental piano piece Song For Ann, although there's some nice ripping Hammond in places, particularly on Kids Hunting. Can't say there's much happening on the Mellotron front, unfortunately, with naught but an atmospheric string part towards the end of opener Spoiled Love. Overall, then, not a bad album, but nowhere near 'outstanding', although parts of it may grow on the listener with repeated plays.
They got a contract for three album but unfortunately disbanded already one year after the release of their debut. But apparently the German wing of the United Artists label was close to bankruptcy, and coupled with scant concert bookings, sent the band over the edge.
Although this album is not considered a classic by many experts of the German 70's progressive scene I'd say it's absolutely on par with releases by EMBRYO, KRAAN or THIRSTY MOON and I'd highly recommend it to fans of those or mentioned British counterparts, for me, a very cool album with a slightly jazzującym climate. Outweigh long, "catchy" record, in the style of Os Mundi, and Kraan Subject Esq.
Be sure to pick up the Garden of Delights version which is the only authorized version from the band, and contains an additional 3 minute bonus track from a rare single.