Ikarus self-titled album

Ikarus self-titled album from 1971.

Ikarus, a German group from the '70s that released only one album, was formed in Hamburg, Germany, in the mid-'60s. They started as a cover band called Beatique In Corporation (BIC), playing hits by artists like Elvis Presley and Tom Jones. After winning a contest and appearing on a compilation, the band changed its name to Ikarus and moved towards a more progressive rock sound. The band broke up due to the different goals of its members and the commercial decline of progressive rock, which led to internal disagreements and a lack of future direction. 

The album is beautiful, an experimental fusion of jazz, rock, and avant-garde genres with a great ability to blend genres and create unique atmospheres, with complex arrangements, wordless vocals, and a minimalist approach. 

A sound dominated by the interplay between guitar and psychedelic organ, with added intensity from flute, saxophone, and clarinet to bring a driving rock to life. 

The album contains four long tracks, with "Eclipse" and "Mesentry" featuring beautiful atmospheres.

- Eclipse is an epic track of about 15 minutes with powerful riffs and themes.

- Mesentery is a softer and more psychedelic track with a beautiful dreamy atmosphere and excellent percussion.
- The Raven is a very complex, experimental track, based on the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, with a large saxophone part.
- Early Bell's Voice is my favorite track, mostly instrumental with a fantastic early '70s atmosphere and once again great saxophone.

A band of high-level musicians for an album that needs a few listens to be fully absorbed and which in my opinion has been underrated over the years, but I consider this work a must-have in a collection.

This album is rightfully a METEOR of Progressive Rock, visit the PROG METEORS section for more information

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page

Tracklist

1. Eclipse: (15:24)
a) Skyscrapers
b) Sooner or later
2. Mesentery (6:11)
3. The raven (including "Theme for James Marshall") (11:43)
4. Early bell's voice (7:43)

Duration 41:01

LineUp

- Lorenz Köhler - lead vocals
- Wolfgang Kracht - bass, backing vocals
- Jochen Petersen - acoustic and electric guitars, alto and tenor sax, flute, clarinet, backing vocals
- Bernd Schroder - drums, percussion
- Manfred Schulz - guitar, lead vocals (4), backing vocals
- Wulf-Dieter Struntz - organ, piano