Kovac New Set, Roland - Love That

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Garden Of Delights
Catalog Number: CD 072
Format: CD
Total Time: 31:16:00

The Roland Kovac New Set's follow up to The Master Said was Love That which had over all different sound. The line up had changed, where only Kovac and guitarist Siegfried "Sigi" Schwab remained from the group that recorded the previous album. Keith Forsey, who was later to play with Amon Düül II (and contribute to the Flashdance soundtrack), replaced Charly Antonlini and on bass Peter Truck replaced Franz Löffler. In addition, Brian Auger guested on keyboards.

The pieces on Love That are shorter, most falling the 4 - 5 minute range, though one track, "Genesis," falls in the 9-minute range. There is a reason why Schwab is a renowned jazz and new age guitarist - his playing is impeccable. His playing in the opening track "Guru" has a freer, "70s" sound - distorted and a little sexy, with a bit of a "wah-wah" effect applied (maybe more than a bit). "Love That" is different yet again, as tentative keys prod the silence while drums, percussion and a second organ come in to urge the first to cut loose. Before too long they're in the right groove, "organ one" finding it's confidence. This is arrangement, by the way, not in the playing or talent. "Sivertime" (which was supposed to be "Silvertime," but a persistence of typos at the time stuck). This is a more studied piece, after the initial blast of organs (a phrase that repeats at times throughout the piece). At times you will think of ELP's Keith Emerson -- "Stone Of Years" echoed in my head, but it has more to do with tone and a phrase here and there than anything else. Truck's bass, which going by the pictures, was an upright, slowly walks its way through the piece. Hmm? this has that Miles Davis kind of coolness about it.

"Genesis" is an apt description for the piece as it slowly evolves from something very subtle, and harking back to parts of the previous release stylistically, to heartfelt and bluesy guitar solo from Schwab - echoey, wavery, very much in keeping with the then current 70s sound, bringing to mind Jimi Hendrix. I can imagine the fractal computer graphics to this piece as Schwab's guitar evokes looping lines of sound that form the basis for some colorful and psychedelic imagery. Well, that's just the first movement. Things darken quite considerably after that, as dark and deep organ tones, sparse drumming, and sonic effects come into play.

"Exploration" is another terrific piece where organ and drums play off each other, letting Forsey have a more spot light time. Though his style is less jazzy than Antonlini's he is no less a talented drummer for it, and plays with a great deal of dynamism. I wouldn't call this piece moody, though sections of it are, but the organ is certainly thoughtful with it's carefully rendered phrases.

As with The Master Said, interest is held through out, which makes you wonder how this could be used as background music - the foreground would become the secondary element. Well, that is if the foreground were actors acting out some drama. Of course, each piece might have only been excerpted to underscore some action in the movie -- yet it works as a complete suite.

Again we have to thank Garden Of Delights for bringing this work to greater attention - it's terrific. The liner notes essentially repeat those from the The Master Said, providing that little bit of info that pertains to this release. But this isn't a flaw - Kovac's later works were of a different style, and since only a year passed between the two? This release also comes highly recommended.

Tracklisting:
Guru (4:35) / Love That (5:57) / Sivertime (5:53) / Genesis (9:18) / Exploration (5:13)

Musicians:
Roland Kovac - keyboards
Siegfried "Sigi" Schwab - guitar
Keith Forsey - drums
Peter Truck - bass

Discography:
The Master Said (1971)
Love That (1972)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin DE

Added: June 23rd 2003
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 3123
Language: english