The Boat Of Thoughts

Description

First reissue of the Progrock classic (1976) by the German band Octopus feat. Jennifer Hensel. 'Boat Of Thoughts' is now also available on vinyl (180-gram pressing) on Sireena records. Launched in 1973 by Pit Hensel (guitar) and Claus KnieImeyer (bass) as a duo, the band was completed a little later by singer Jennifer Hensel, as well as Werner Littau on keyboards and Dieter Becke on drums, a lineup that spent most of its time in Hesse and was based in Hanau. Recorded on its own and released on the Sky label in 1976, "Boat Of Thoughts", with its progressive Krautrock sounds and English-language lyrics, has become a rock classic much appreciated by collectors and fans over the years. Full of virtuosity in its compositions, Octopus enriched its sound, characterized by melodic and hard-rock guitar riffs, as well as hymn-like keyboard sounds, with elaborate string and choir arrangements (mellotron), extended instrumental excursions and odd meters. At the center of the musical event stands singer Jennifer Hensel with her powerful and assertive voice, which is sometimes comparable to that of Inga Rumpf. On the album’s six songs, she delivers a perfect vocal performance between energetic passages and dreamy lyrical moments, where she knows how to convince with a tender folk-inflected timbre.