So one of the things that I really like about Prog Rock is that the genre is global in nature, and the bands can virtually come from anywhere in the world!! Typically, most of the vocals are in English making it harder to pinpoint the homeland of the band. That is not a problem with Traumhaus, whose vocals are in their native language – German!! I discovered the band on progstreaming, where I saw their latest release Das Geheimnis (The Secret) I listened for a bit and then went to Spotify to find the album so that I could download it, to listen to it more fully. The album was not a Spotify, I did find though a just released album Ausgeleiffert. The album is a re-release of the band’s self-titled first album, which was released in 2001. The re-re-release includes some new cover art work and two bonus tracks “Die Reise” (The Journey) and Die Andere Seite (The Other Side).
Traumhaus (Dream House) evolved in the late 90s, early 00s out of the band Zweeback. Here’s the original album cover and musician line-up….
Alexander Weyland / vocals, synthesizers, piano’
Michael Dorniak / drums, bass, solo-guitar (2), backing vocals
Bernhard Selbach / guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals
Frank Woidich / synthesizer, organ, backing vocals
Guest:
Nina Weyland / vocals (3 & 5)
The majority of the tracks range from 5 to 10 minutes in length. Track two “Ausgeliefert” probably my favorite is a whopping 17 minutes plus long!! Overall, I really like the album, at first I wasn’t sure that I’d like the album because of the German on the vocals, but the songs and the musicianship on the rest of the album more than make up for it!! Besides it’s nice to hear German be melodic!
I really haven’t listened to the latest album Das Geheimnis enough yet to comment on the album Kev Rowland at ProgArchives writes….
….Traumhaus have managed to produce a quite exceptional album, interesting in all facets as they move through melodies and styles. Jimmy (Keegan)* has provide himself to be a real asset here, driving the music with plenty of rolls around the kit when the need arises, or just a gentle tap of a cymbal here and there to provide the necessary accent. This music can be symphonic or simple, piano or swathes or keyboards, gentle background guitar or full on riffs. The more I have heard from these guys, the more I am incredibly impressed by them. Lyrics are all in German, which allows me treat the vocals as just another instrument, and yet again this really works for them, although the Jimmy’s drumming has lifted them into a new level.Full Review
The current line-up for the band is…
Alexander Weyland: Keyboards, Vocals
Tobias Hampl: Guitar
Till Ottinger: Bass
Stefan Hopf: drums
(*the Jimmy referred to above was Jimmy Keegan from Spock’s Beard)
So check them out!
Links
Website
ProgArchives
Facebook
Youtube
Here’s Traumhaus performing at the Night of Prog Festival IX……
