Alcatraz - Vampire State Building 1971 ~ software for linux

A quite obscure band coming from Hamburg in the early 70s and active until 2002, composed of five members: RUEDIGER BERGHAHN (Vocals), KLAUS HOLST (guitar), KLAUS NAGURSKI (Flute and Sax), Ronald Wilson (Bass) and JAN RIECK (Drums and Percussion). They were used to play in small places and started with covers of TRN YEARS AFTER, VANILLA FUDGE and also URIAH HEEP and BLACK SABBATH, but later they started been heavily influenced by more jazz oriented bands, in particular SOFT MACHINE. What results is a mixture of heavy rock, Canterbury with long improvisations as typical of Krautrock. Their debut album is the most well known.Vampire State Building is a killer release from 70's Germany underground. The band delivers a bunch of bombastic, extremely freaked out fuzzy improvisations including jazzy tendencies. Simple Headphone Mind opens the album with a surprising hippie like groovy jazz variation that features powerful piano bases, enchanting flute line and a very catchy rhythm. The break session provides endless screaming fuzzy guitar solos accompanied by a very jazzy instrumentation. Tour chance of a Lifetime is a heartbreaking, cloudy compositions for dense, spacious melodies with beautifully dramatic vocals. Where the wild things are is an hyperactive freak 'n roll piece with killer riffs, mysteriously atmospheric jazz fusion links. Piss off is a bizarre, curious, fuzzy & druggy jam making a large part to atonal guitar / sax dialogues. Change will come is a retro jazz rockin' piece including a nice groove and agitated stoned vocals.

Line-up / Musicians

Rüdiger Berghan/piano,vocals
Klaus Holst/guitar
Klaus Nagurski/flute,sax
Ronald Wilson/bass
Jan Rieck/drums,percussion

Discography(Album)

Vampire State Building 1971