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:: REVIEW ::
 I
suppose that any group who cut its teeth as a tribute band, would naturally
tend to employ some similar production and compositional techniques to its own
music as the band whose music it used to play. After all, there must be a high
level of passion and respect among its members to only play a certain band’s
repertoire night after night. Such is the case with the German band RPWL ,
former Pink Floyd cover band, which recently released its third original CD
“Stock”. That being said, the track “Who Do You Think You Are” sounds more 'Sargeant
Pepperish' than anything Floyd ever did.
“Stock” is a cosmic space ride through the
universe as seen through eyes and dreams of a man seeking reconnection and
reconciliation with a love who has crossed over to another plane of being.
“Opel” kicks the trip off, a guitar- laden piece complete with garbled radio
transmissions. “The Way It Is” then turns the search into an emotional
mind-meld between flesh and spirit. Floydesque syncopated guitar and various
synthesizer sounds provide a fluid motion for “Gentle Art Of Swimming” , a
dreamstate look at the flow through life. RPWL’s penchant for sun worship (
note second album title ), returns in “Sun in The Sky” , where liberal use of
tremolo and bitchin’ vocal harmony during the refrain add up to something more
than the quest for the ultimate tan! "Forgive Me / part 2" is an eerie lament
of unsaid feelings, while 'part 3' anticipates an ultimate reunion. Strangely,
"Forgive Me / part 3" ends at 3:07 on my track timer, but keeps running in
silence for a full 1:23 when at 5:30 a jazzy little guitar groove cues up to
leave the listener feeling good as it describes that reunion between him and
her.
By no means is RPWL a Pink Floyd ripoff, and certainly not a clone. Yes,
Karlheinz Wallner is a student of David Gilmour, but his expressive riffs make
him an excellent guitarist in his own right. Together with Lang, Wernthaler,
Ebner, and Rissettio, you are reminded of the Pink Floyd phenomenon, but they
have their own thing to say. That was then and this is now.
The CD is a bit shorter than the usual hour+ prog offering, but quality beats
out quantity here. Maybe they just felt that “The song is over, I’d thought
I’d something more to say”.
Iggy has been feeding me some good stuff lately…
9 Keyboards
Reviewed by: Rick Woodward 4/5/03
Visit these following websites:
http://www.rpwl.de/
www.insideoutmusic.com
Email: rpwl@farmlands.de
:: Discography ::
Stock - 2003
TRYING TO KISS
THE SUN - 2002
GOD HAS FAILED - 2000
You can purchase this CD from
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