| View Larger Image | Steig Aus | Audio CDby Embryo
| List Price: | $39.98 | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Audio CD | | Format: | Import, Original recording remastered | | Studio: | Universal Japan | | Release Date: | May 30, 2005 | | Sales Rank: | 228,220th |
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TRACK LISTING |
Disc: 1
- Track 1: Radio Marrakesch/Orient Express
- Track 2: Dreaming Girls
- Track 3: Call: Call, Pt. 1/Organ Walk/Marimba Village/Lost Violin/Call, Pt. 2
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Album Description
Founded by Christian Burchard (drums, marimba, vibraphone) and still going strong almost 38 years later, Embryo are an excellent example of fusion music from 1973 and further demonstrate the vision of diversity the Brain label founders had. Aided by Dave King and Joerg Evers on bass, the famous Mal Waldron on electric piano, Roman Bunka on guitar, Jimmy Jackson on organ and Mellotron and Edgar Hoffmann on violin, Steig Aus is built of 3 long and wonderful tracks. Steig Aus is another "must own" record, not only for Krautrock collectors but for lovers of fine music in general. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 5 reviews)
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Killer jamming jazz rock/prog with ethnic influences! by BENJAMIN MILER (Eugene, OR United States)  5 Stars
December 13, 2008
I am completely blown away by this 1973 album, which actually consisted of some sessions from 1972 and late 1971 that were rejected by United Artists. Why did UA reject them? They felt the pieces were too lengthy and leaned too much to ethno-fusion. But that's a bit strange that the label did have Can and Amon Duul II who often recorded side-length pieces and even more "out there" at times than what Embryo were doing. But even those two groups left UA by 1974 (and leaving many fans feeling those two groups best days were behind them after leaving that label).
Luckily for Embyro, they signed a deal with Brain Records, and from those rejected UA sessions comes Steig Aus, simply an amazing jamming album combining world music, fusion, and prog rock, with tons of great Mellotron and Hammond organ from Jimmy Jackson (who was an American who played for Ray Charles, and in Germany for the likes of Amon Duul II), Farfisa electric piano from Mal Waldron (yes, THAT Mal Waldron), not to mention the guy who kept the Embryo name no matter who was in the group: drummer/percussionist Christian Burchard. "Radio Marrakesh / Orient Express" starts off sounding very Middle Eastern, starting with the call of a muezzin (I'm pretty sure was taped in Marrakesh, in Morocco, given the "Radio Marrakesh" title), then you get some really intense Middle Eastern oud playing, making you think you're listening to Middle Eastern music. Then suddenly the bass guitar kicks in, the Mellotron and Hammond organ, with some funky guitar playing, suddenly it has a more Western feel (but the world music influences are never far away, especially in the percussion work from Christian Burchard). I really like those Mellotron passages, Jimmy Jackson tends to use the tron brass quite extensively. I really like how the intensity never lets down throughout this whole piece. It's great jam rock, to show the world that jam rock doesn't always mean The Grateful Dead (or more modern equivalents like Phish). "Dreaming Girls" has a more laid-back feel with great use of the vibraphone, and more fantastic Mellotron playing. There's also some nice violin playing included. The last one is the side-length "Call" divided in five parts, which again is more great extended jamming, organ, marimba, violin, and once again, more Mellotron. Each suite might focus on one instrument ("Organ Walk", "Marimba Village", "Lost Violin", showing the emphasis on such instruments on those passages), but the whole band still participates. A lot of times when a band jams, they might not have enough good ideas to keep the music going throughout, making it boring and tedious, but Embyro completely avoids that trap altogether with a fantastic and solid album.
I really highly recommend this album, it's completely essential, and I don't hesitate to give this a five star rating!
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Embryo - 'Steig Aus' (Repertoire) 3 1/2 stars by Mike Reed (USA)  3 Stars
March 14, 2006
Originally released in 1973,looks to be Embryo's fourth actual album.Tough to describe by some,but a few might tag it as 'space fusion'.Track listing is:"Radio Marrakesch/Orient Express"(9:50),"Dreaming Girls"(10:30) and "Call:Call,Part 1/Organ Walk"(17:21).You probably need to be in that 'certain' frame of mind to properly enjoy this reissue CD.No doubt about it,Embryo was ahead of it's time.Might appeal to fans of Roman Bunka,Eiliff and possibly Toad.
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Top Ranked Masterpiece of Krautrock/jazz fusion by W. T. Hoffman (Pennsylvania, United States) 5 Stars
February 18, 2006
From the very first sounds, as the album begins, you know that you are in for a listening experience unequalled almost anywhere. The needle hits the groove, and the muslim call for prayer is heard. WHAT?? Then, some intense OUD type jamming, and the first impression, is that perhaps you ARE listening to arabian radio. But then, the master of Jazz organ, Jimmy Jackson starts to play the theme to the first song, and you are hooked. Then, Mal Waldron, yes, that MAL WALDRON, who played with Miles Davis, and has composistions in every Jazz Fakebook in the world, starts in on the electric piano. By the time the electric guitar comes in, with fast fluid lines that would put Zappa or Beck to shame, its obvious, this is something special. Quite honestly, as the music builds, I find it on the level of any jazz fusion band from the 70s. The incredible give and take of the musicians, as themes, and counter themes weave in and out of the mix, simply overwhelms one with awe. And, underneath all the music, the miraculous drumming of Christian Burchard, the actual leader of the band EMBRYO, and with Ed Hoffmann on violin, the core members. Without reservation, this band, which Miles Davis had such respect for, is at least near the level of his BITCHES BREW era. Believe me, that is high praise from anyone who loves this sound.
One of the great features of this album, is the way textures, and different sonorities are blended, and interwoven. Sometimes, you are listening to vibes, and violin, with shimmering sheets of organ underneath, and small stabs of piano punctuating the soundscape. Other times, the instruments swell together, into a climatic miasma which sucks the air out of your lungs. I'm not alone in my assessment. EMBRYO, and especially this album, has been listen in some Krautrock guides, along with Can's TAGO MAGO, and Amon Duul II's YETI, as the very core of the Krautrock movement. I suppose because each album, is representing the acme of achievement, of a different subgenre, within Krautrock as a whole. With Can, obviously they represent that avant guard, minimalist-electronic band sound, which is most commonly associated with Krautrock. (FAUST, NEU, KRAFTWERK, TANG DREAM fall under the CAN division) With Amon Duul II, the more rock oriented sounds, the long jams, and freak out psychedelia. (KROKODIL, KRAAN, and the German Prog bands fit this division of sound). EMBRYO is the top notch of the jazz fusion bands, like Dzyan, Missus Beastly, Agitation Free, Eulenspygel, Out of Focus, Brainstorm, etc. EMBRYO, at this period of their evolution, had really reached the early peak of their musical vision. From their first album, OPAL, onward, it was obvious, this was a band that would play until the members retired from old age. (They are still going strong, in fact.) As fantastic as this album is, what really overwhelms me personally, is that this is one of four albums from 1972, that EMBRYO recorded. Each of them are almost as fantastic as STEIG AUS. What maybe makes this album such a legend, is the fact that two jazz greats, are jamming along, on Keyboards. I'm sure that the best of Miles Davis' work was what was being attempted, and with as much success as anyone could hope for.
I can't recommend this album highly enough. If you enjoy that fusion era Miles, mixed with a touch of world music, and an obvious nod to the Krautrock vision, then I can't see how you can go wrong here. Sadly, it's sort of expensive. So is champagne. As i write this, the CD plays in the backround. As many times as I've played this music, i am continually drawn in, and discover more details, layers, unexpected turns of musical metre and poly rythyms. EMBRYO is one of those great bands sadly mostly unknown outside of Europe. Any Jazz enthusiast could embrase their jazz fusion work, if they would just hear it. For that matter, I'm sure most jam rockers could easily blow their minds on this album as well.
ESSENCIAL.
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fusion-rock-world music innovators by Warren W. Nelson (Mooresville, NC USA)  4 Stars
August 03, 2005
In 1972,before there were terms like 'fusion' 'world music'or 'krautrock',Embryo were blending these new sounds in extended improvisations and inventing new types of music. Closer to 'Bitches Brew' than the mind melting fellow countrymen Amon Duul II or Guru Guru, they brought together many different cultural influences in titles like 'radio marakesh/orient express' in inspired improvisations. Jazz innovator Mal Waldron guests on electric piano. Perhaps considered to uncommercial when these prodigious recordings were made, 'Steig Aus' was not released until 1975. Recommended.
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Como subir en un tren by P. SAAVEDRA (Lima - Perú) 4 Stars
August 23, 2004
Esta buena banda alemana ha sabido sacar jugo del exotismo de sus instrumentos, pues no sólo el sonido de vibráfonos, bajo y percusión manda, sino las extrañas melodías del violín que parecieran sacadas de un espacio y tiempo de lo más ignoto. A veces parece que Embryo busca rememorar el ambiente del Medio Oriente, visto desde una ventana de tren a alta velocidad, lo cual no quiere decir que sus impresiones sean superficiales (como por ejemplo en el caso de Dreaming Girls). Un tema para atraparnos a todos, por su concepción, espíritu nocturno, fresco y veloz: Radio Marrakesh, que comienza de día y con una alta torre donde se recitan oraciones al desierto y luego la modernidad que llega en vagones a alta velocidad: teclados, bajo, percusión de gran precisión. Un punto a favor para tu colección.
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