Blind Ego
Since the mid 80´s the progressive rock scene has started to
flourish again all over Europe. In the process, bands who use
their creativity for new branches rather than stick to the roots
of the genre are a joy to listen to. The band RPWL from Freising,
Germany with already five successful records released is
outstanding in the music scene. Guitarist Karlheinz "Kalle"
Wallner contributes a major part of the quartet's sound. On the
occasion of his solo–project BLIND EGO he took a closer look in
the mirror to reflect on a number of touching, very personal
experiences. The "Mirror" answered back ten times in a wonderful
way…
"The `Mirror`- Songs derive from different phases in the last
three years", says Kalle Wallner. "During this time a lot
happened in my personal life. Although I originally didn't plan
on using autobiographical issues it did happen in the end. The
songs are a result of different emotions: anger, hate, grief.
While writing I sort of stripped down to the bottom of my soul
and tried to convert all of this into intense music."
This explains one part of the project's name "EGO", but why
"BLIND"? "´BLIND´ stands for initiating and finishing this
project on my own without letting myself be distracted from
anything. In addition, working alone makes you blind in a way
because influences from the outside don't have to be taken into
consideration at first." Wallner produced demo tapes and invited
various renowned musicians to the Farmlands studio, which he and
his colleague Yogi Lang from RPWL run together, to help him give
his work a perfect finish. "I had already asked John Jowitt
(Bass/IQ, JADIS) at the German ECLIPSED-festival and kept in
touch with him ever since. He established the contact with Paul
Wrightson (ex-ARENA) who sings the stately, rather emotional
tracks. John Mitchell (ARENA, IT BITES, KINO) has impressed me
for a long time as a singer and I was sure that he was the right
person for the more rock-like songs. Tommy Eberhardt I know to
be one of the best drummers In South Germany. I was very glad
about Clive Nolan (ARENA, PENDRAGON) not only recording Paul
Wrightson's vocals but also contributing backing vocals himself.
It was clear from the beginning that I wanted to work with Yogi
Lang as a producer. We know each other very well and each knows
how to get the best out of the other."
Mission accomplished. "Mirror" is full of a devotion which has
no match yet. BLIND EGO sounds like a straighter version of RPWL
with more guitars. Even if Wallner never uses captivating solos
to push these to the forefront and gives the record great
elegant moments which are to be enjoyed. The guitar-vocal ballad
"Black Despair" ("The saddest song I ever wrote") perfectly
offers a combination of both while Waller's creative solo makes
you go all goose-pimply. A similar sensation arises with "Don't
Ask Me Why" which Is radiant thanks to a strong guitar motive
but mainly because of the perfect harmony of vocals and guitar
and which shows Wallner's versatility. More rock-like, partly
just instrumental are the songs "Obsession", "Open Sore" and
"Moorland" with a 5/8 beat.
All this should be to the taste of the RPWL fans because the
guitarist never denies his band membership. He will be loved for
the two longtracks on "Mirror". The title track ("One sees
oneself in the mirror but doesn't recognize oneself") could
hardly find a better way to describe the inner conflict during
self- reflection than its tricky combination of 5/8 and 4/4
beats. And the most complex track of the record which is
provided with the most keyboards "Forbidden To Remain" ("…for
which there was no sufficient time In `Trying To Kiss The Sun`")
convinces with a disturbing 13/8 beat motive, a concert-like
psychedelic middle part and one of the most beautiful guitar
solos since Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". At this point, at the
latest, even the last person should realize that Kalle Wallner
is one of the greatest guitarists in the genre.
As a bonus track on "Mirror" one will find a remix of "Artist
Manque" which is a track by the precursor band of RPWL "VIOLET
DISTRICT". "This band was, back then, the crucial factor for my
decision to become a professional musician". A wise decision.
DISCOGRAPHY
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Mirror (2007)
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