Demian Band

It is a confession: Maik Krahl makes fear a subject of discussion. Fear of making decisions or doing something that you might regret later. The fear of making an irreparable error, perhaps ruining your future as a result, being rejected or giving offense. Not a few people are inclined to postpone answers to urgent questions in the hope that everything will somehow solve itself. But only waiting even increases the problem.

Turkish act Siddhartha was formed in 1993 by Özgür dEmian Kurcan (vocals, guitars), Ege Madra (guitars) and Ulas Akin (bass). For the first 5 years of their existence the band concentrated on being an active live band, with a line-up that soon included Volkan Yildrim (keyboards), Orkun Öker (keyboards) and Kaan Sezgin (drums). In 1998 they hit the studio to record an album, and together with a few songs previously recorded their debut release Siddhartha was issued by Ada Muzik the same year. Siddhartha was disbanded as an active unit in 2001, as founding member Kurcan formed the music collective Siddharthasound Corporation together with Öker instead, a working musical unit first and foremost serving as a vehicle for it's founding members various musical ventures. Turkish outfit Siddhartha explore a flowing and at times hard hitting musical landscape with similarities to bands such as Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and Eloy; and might be of interest to followers of said bands in particular and space rock fans.

Maypole were a Baltimore band formed around 1969, and featured five vocalists, Dennis Tobell (lead guitar), Steve Mace (2nd guitar), Paul Welsh (drums), Kenny Ross (percussion) and John Nickel (bass). Dennis Tobell (who later used the name Demian Bell) was hit by a bus when he was four years old. Appropriately, the band he would go on to lead made music that can make you feel like you’ve been hit by a moving vehicle – a powerful engine that doesn’t inflict physical harm but leaves the ears ringing with loudly melodic music. The legend of Maypole is fraught with mafia connections, drug culture and the worst the music business had to offer, and the band had the misfortune of signing to a label that folded before it could do anything with its solid album. Originally released on Colossus in 1971, this self-titled effort was the only album to emerge during Maypole’s brief lifetime.

The only LP from this very fine, but still ignored US psychedelic rock band from Milwaukee was released by MGM Records in June 1970. Led by the talented organist Sigmund Snopek III the band showed influences of The Nice, The Doors, Love & The Moody Blues (with distinguish, eclectic organ/piano parts; fuzzy and intense guitars & very complex vocals) and have offered a varied, imaginative and well-arranged pop-psychedelic songs with strong, early-progressive and even classical attitude. Unfortunately, this kind of music probably sounded dated for mid-1970 and the group split-up soon after their performance at Atlanta Pop Festival. This CD has been expanded with 3 rare single tracks!