Amos Key – Keynotes (2010)

Amos Key was formed around 1970 in the Bavarian (Germany) town of Emmering, a village near Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich. The group was the project of keyboardist Thomas Mueller, later Thomas Molin. After initial line-up changes, the trio Molin, Andreas M. Gross (bass) and Lutz Ludwig (drums – formerly with the band SUB) crystallised by early 1973 and recorded an album at the end of the same year, which was released on the Spiegelei label in 1974 (“First Key”). After the release of the LP, guitarist Helmut Jungkunz joined the band. Further demo recordings were made with him. As the group was unable to find a record company willing to release the material, Amos Key disbanded at the beginning of 1976.

In 2010, Long Hair Music released an album entitled “Keynotes” with recordings of a radio session made for Südwestfunk in Baden-Baden in July 1973.

The detailed group biography written by Andreas M. Gross (Thomas Molin has apparently passed away in the meantime), which can be found in the booklet of the archive CD “Keynotes” released by Long Hair Music in 2010, leaves nothing to be desired in this respect. Amos Key really did come from Bavaria, from a village called Emmering (the band lived there in an old house on the outskirts of the village) near Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich.

In 1973, Thomas Molin, Andreas M. Gross and Lutz Ludwig (formerly with a band called SUB) lived and rehearsed there. The group had received a recording contract from Intercord, on whose Spiegelei label the Amos Key debut was to be released. As a result, they worked hard on material that was to be recorded at the end of the year. The same material was also performed live at various concerts. On 21 July 1973, the band was invited to the Südwestfunk studio in Baden-Baden to record a radio session. The band recorded a good three quarters of an hour of music, which has now been released by Long Hair Music on the archive CD to be reviewed here.

In the summer of 1973, Amos Key played pieces that formed the basis for their later album. Some of the numbers from “Keynotes” therefore also appear – more or less modified – on “First Key”. Others were apparently discarded by the band and can only be found here. The sound quality of these recordings is excellent throughout.

Musically, of course, there are no major differences to the music that can be found on “First Key”. Amos Key had a keyboard-dominated, mostly instrumental trioprog on offer, which is basically the German version of The Nice. However, the music is a little jazzier, there are not as many direct quotes as with the British role model and the band sounds a little more modern. Of course, there are also some classical quotes on Amos Key.

Bach’s “Toccata” is once again covered (probably the most rocked-out piece by Bach) and many of the other pieces also sound more or less as if Bach’s organ lines were being provided with a rock rhythm section. Another quote also solves a personal puzzle for the reviewer. Some time ago, I stumbled across a Schumann quote on the only album by the Swedish band Panta Rei, which I couldn’t immediately place (see “Panta Rei”). It was only with some difficulty that I found out that Schumann’s piano piece “Knecht Ruprecht” had been used there and, in view of the fact that I don’t own a recording of the original version, I wondered where I knew the piece from. I probably know it from “First Key”, because there is also an adaptation of the piece from the album for young people.

“Keynotes” offers a representative overview of the work of this somewhat forgotten German prog band. Since “First Key” has not (yet) been re-released on CD in compliance with copyright laws, “Keynotes” is definitely worth picking up if you want to get to know the music of Amos Key. However, there is one problem with this album. In the long run, the music on offer is a little monotonous, as it is basically just organ, bass and drums scurrying around, occasionally supplemented by rather negligible vocals. On the studio album, the music is a little more varied and, above all, more colourful, as other keyboard instruments and sounds are also used. (by Achim Breilling)

As with many German bands of the time, the vocals were not convincing … but the music was and is excellent … and if you like keyboard wizards like Rick van der Linden or Keith Emerson, then you should really listen to this album !

Recorded live at the Südwestfunkstudio U1, Stuttgart/Germany, 1973

Personnel:
Andreas M. Gross (bass, vocals)
Lutz Ludwig (drums)
Thomas Molin (keyboards, vocals)

Tracklist:
01. Sometimes (Molin) 3.13
02. Flucht (Escape) 4.19
03. First Snow (Gross/Molin) 5.56
04. Ensterknick-Stimm-Stamm (Gross/Molin) 4.36
05. Got The Feeling (Molin) 5.22
06. Emanon (Molin) 1.45
07. Toccata (Bach) 2.09
08. Knecht Ruprecht (Ruprecht The Servant) (Gross/Molin) 5.14
09. Satyr (Gross/Molin) 4.27
10. Important Happening (Gross/Molin) 8.47

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Amos Key – First Key (1973)

AMOS KEY is a classically influenced, and keyboard driven band from Germany. The lineup consisted of Thomas Molin (keyboards, vocals), Andreas Gross (bass, guitar, vocals), and Lutz Ludwig (drums).

Their debut release was 1973’s “First Key”. To show their dedication to the masters, the album was dedicated to Bach, Beethoven, and Shumann.

The German trio are mostly compared to EKSEPTION, ELP, DEEP PURPLE and THE NICE. There have been comparisons also with ATLANTIC PHILHARMONIC, MARIAN VARGA and COLLEGIUM MUSICUM.

Unlike many of their contemporaries, AMOS KEY favoured shorter songs over longer epics. Around 1975 AMOS KEY again entered the studio to record another album but unfortunately it was not to be. The album was never finished, but a few demos have come to light. For a long hiatus the band became more obscure with their one and only release. (H.T. Riekels)

Despite the changing of the times there are always those bands that refuse to move on when the rest of the world does and in the case of the German band AMOS KEY, this band cranked out a form of playing the classics symphonic prog that was best represented by the English band The Nice which was quite the rage in the late 60s. Despite the fact that AMOS KEY delivered a similar sound as late as 1974 on the band’s first and only album titled FIRST KEY, the band did a pretty good job at nailing down the symphonically infused classical elements and adapted them nicely to heavier rock. Although this band wasn’t the typical Krautrock band of the era, the band often appears on lists given the time and place from where it emerged.

This is one of those mysterious bands lost in the annals of history and buried beneath the mammoth pile of bands that were either more talented or successful but despite existing as a mere footnote in history, FIRST KEY is actually a very pleasant experience. This band consisted of Thomas Molin (keyboards, vocals), Andreas Gross (bass, guitar, vocals), and Lutz Ludwig (drums) and formed in the Bavarian city of Emmering. This power trio existed from 1970 to 1976 but only was able to release FIRST KEY therefore no second key would emerge until the year 2010. Just for a reference drummer Lutz Ludwig was a member of the psychedelic Kraut band Sub which is probably why this band is included on Krautrock lists despite not really sounding German at all.

FIRST KEY features nine short but sweet rocking the classics with only a couple tracks passing the five minute mark. This is very much a Bach, Beethoven and Schumann worshipping session as the band basically followed the rock aspects of the classical crossover Dutch band Ekseption which was a contemporary of The Nice, the better known. While mostly instrumental with the focus on classical organ runs over hefty guitar, bass and drums, the band crafted some interesting Deep Purple mimicry as the organ tones often emulate the great Jon Lord. This organ prog is feisty beast since despite the rather derivative nature of the music at hand which was about five years too late to the game, still exhibited a fiery passion from the members who were hell bent for leather to release an album as they swam upstream against the very different music scene of 1974.

While i would hardly deem FIRST KEY an essential prog pick by any means, the performances are indeed excellent as the musicianship is top notch and even the sparsely distributed vocals aren’t that bad either. Somehow the band forged ahead through most of the 1970s but failed to release a second album. This is highly recommended for those who can’t get enough of those rockin’ the classics with Keith Emerson inspired keyboard flash in full display however unlike some of the cheesy examples of The Nice, AMOS KEY integrated the rock aspects into their sound perfectly. If this album HAD emerged five years earlier, AMOS KEY surely would’ve stood out as one of the most exciting early prog bands of the day because i personally actually like this album better than anything The Nice had done mostly because this one is totally consistent. A relic of history but one that is worthwhile for those digging deeper. (by siLLy puPPy)

Personnel:
Andreas Gross (bass, guitar, vocals)
Lutz Ludwig (drums)
Thomas Molin (keyboards, vocals)

Tracklist:
01. Shoebread (Molin) 4.09
02. Ensterknickstimmstamm (Molin/Gross) 3.33
03. Knecht Ruprecht (Gross/Molin) 4.53
04. Sometimes… (Molin) 2.04
05. Got The Feelin‘ (Molin) 3.12
06. Escape (Molin) 4.03
07. Important Matter (Molin/Gross) 6.00
08. Dragon’s Walk (Molin) 4.26
09. First Key (Molin/Gross) 4.00

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