13 Nov Episode 18 – Do You Hear Solar Music? Grobschnitt’s Cosmic Fantasia
From a kernel to a cosmos. Over the course of a decade and beyond, Germany’s Grobschnitt twisted and bent and stretched a piece of sound that would be known as “Solar Music.” An alchemical collision of Prog, Krautrock, psychedelia, and uncanny theater, “Solar Music” represents a fascinating evolutionary journey and, particularly in its live iterations, reveals a band at the height of its powers. Radical Research dispenses with the Prominence and aims to get to the Core of the matter.
Note I: We have to thank Tom Phillips for turning us on. Without him, we wouldn’t know “Solar Music,” and if we didn’t know “Solar Music,” we’d be malnourished. Hail Tom.
Note II: If you want to dive in, we recommend these fine releases:
https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-Solar-Music-Live/release/7026856
https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-The-History-Of-Solar-Music-1/release/1957738
https://www.discogs.com/Grobschnitt-Ballermann/release/7026664
Music cited, in order of appearance:
“Solar Music” (live in Berlin, 1977)
“Sun Trip (On the Way)” (Grobschnitt, 1972)
“Solar-Music, Part 1” (Ballermann, 1974)
“Golden Mist” (Solar Music – Live, 1978)
“Otto Pankrock” (Solar Music – Live, 1978)
“Solar Music III” (Solar Music – Live, 1978)
four moments from Warburg performance, 1978
four moments from Munster performance, 1979
final fade, from Warburg, 1978
Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.
This is Radical Research Podcast episode 18