Freedom to Music
Posts tagged Emtidi
Emtidi – Saat (1972) (@256)
29 Mar 2010
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
The album “Saat” has some vintage synths along with the basic folk instruments unlike it’s predecessor, and there are two longer suites here too, so Emtidi has evolved to a more progressive direction.
Much of the instrumental work here is soothing and relaxed, a sun-drenched counterpart to groups like Tangerine Dream. The drone at the start of “Touch the Sun” is reminiscent of that band’s Alpha Centauri, although it features moments of wistful release rather than perpetually building an anxious, hopeless tension. Some wilder Krautish moments show up on tracks like “Die Reise”, but for the most part chaos is minimal.
The duo sometimes eschews lyrics in favour of vocalisations, which work pretty well within the framework of the music. One good argument with sticking to vocalisations is “Walking in the Park”, featuring the incredible line, “Don’t sit on the grass, it’s too cold for your ass”. Holmes’ voice is somewhat reminiscent of Annie Haslam’s, although somewhat thinner. Hirschfeldt grabs lead vocals on the final track, in German, although he tends to speak them more than anything.
The idea of crossing Renaissance with Tangerine Dream and having them add some psychedelic acoustic material can be appealing.
Line-up:
- Maik Hirschfeldt / vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizer, flute, cymbals, vibraphone, Muzzle drums
- Dolly Holmes / vocals, organs, electric piano, piano, Mellotron, electric spinet
with
- Dieter Dierks / percussions, bass, Mellotron
Track List:
01. Walkin’ In The Park – 6:38
02. Traume – 3:25
03. Touch The Sun – 12:04
04. Love Time Rain – 2:54
05. Saat – 4:16
06. Die Reise – 10:16
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Emtidi – Emtidi (1971) (@256)
28 Mar 2010
(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
Emtidi was a German duo stuck somewhere between the cosmic and psychedelic movements stylistically. Despite having only two members a full sound is provided, as Maik Hirschfeldt provides guitars, flute, some keyboards and vocals while Dolly Holmes is charged with lead vocals and most of the keyboard work.
Their music can best be described as folk music with a progressive tinge. Hirschfeldt provided twelve-string guitar tapestries often times reminiscent of Anthony Phillips. Holmes’ keyboard arsenal included acoustic and electric piano, spinet, Hammond, and mellotron, and her passages on these are laced with delicate Baroque-era stylings. The two both shared vocal duties, with Dolly usually taking lead. No drums, bass or electric instruments.
Their selftitled debut album’s first side contains fragile naive acid folk. This Teutonic pastoral music contains a certain dose of emotional, introspect, delicate expressions.
The flip side of the record is also mostly instrumental, including a very pleasant acoustic guitar solo on “Birds on a Graveyard”, and a sort of folk freak-out bouzouki-and-flute extended play called “Flutepiece” that makes it clearly apparent these two were tripping and recording at the same time. It was 1970 after all.
Line-up:
- Maik Hirschfeldt / 7 & 12-string acoustic guitar, flute, vocals
- Dolly Holmes / 6-string acoustic guitar, bouzouki, kazoo, vocals
Track List:
01. Lookin’ For People – 3:58
02. Shadow On Your Face – 3:59
03. Long Long Journey – 2:31
04. No Turn Back – 2:01
05. Space Age – 4:18
06. Let The Joint Go Round – 5:00
07. Yvonne’s Dream – 2:39
08. Birds On Agraveyard – 3:30
09. Flutepiece – 7:19
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