Original language: German
Lukas Tower Band “Albedo” (Transformer Records 2011)
The band’s tumultuous history is thoroughly detailed on their website (see below). The reunion took place in 2000, and the band’s roots go back to 1979. In 1984, the band was officially born, and in 2004 they released their first CD. “Albedo” is their second statement, released on the occasion of their 25th anniversary.
The Lukas Tower Band focuses on the adoption and adaptation of the folk and poetic heritage of the British Isles, playing Celtic and Anglo-Saxon influenced folk motifs both acoustically and electrically, with a subtle jazz touch. The band’s arrangements lean towards Progressive Rock, often in elaborate song structures. Far removed from the light-hearted melodies of Ritchie Blackmore’s Night, yet sometimes brushing the edges of fairground music, their songs are catchy and entertaining. Some of the tracks, which last up to nearly nine minutes, feature complex arrangements in which violin and both acoustic and electric guitars deliver extended instrumental, captivating solos. Silvia Szekely (violin) and Wolfgang Fastenmeier (guitar, percussion) are the key players in crafting the songs’ melodic developments, impressively showcasing their technical and intuitive skill.
The songs are mostly very gentle and lyrical, easily sticking in your mind, with the high, sweet female vocals of Angela Maier making the vocal arrangements catchy and swift. This will attract a much wider audience than just prog fans, and even the jazz-influenced instrumental sections will be loved by many. The Lukas Tower Band does not play harsh, dissonant, or heavy songs, but instead stays within a melodic and easily understandable framework.
A beautiful album!
VM