c/o 2014 Eclipsed Rock Magazine, Walter Sehrer

Norbert Krüler aka Shamall has stayed true to his very own style with his new double album. This becomes clear right at the beginning, where he marries acoustic guitar with typical Floyd keyboards in a wonderfully spherical way. In addition, machine-like sequencers rattle. Memories of “Wish you were here” are aroused. But Shamall’s music is, besides the conscious closeness to Pink Floyd, more electronically influenced. The technoid touch with its many virtuoso, siren-like lead synths feeds on the eighties.

New is vocalist Anke Ullrich, which leads to more tension in the vocals. No less than 150 minutes are allowed to gradually build up musical themes and then enjoy them to the full. Only sometimes this turns out a bit too redundant. The hard rocking guitar of Matthias Mehrtens does its job to not let you sink into a comfortable sleep. All in all an exciting odyssey between dynamic retroprog, electronic Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream spheres as well as more coarse, 80s-heavy stadium rock.

Top track: Shine a Light.