Genre: Hard Rock
Disc manufacturer country: Germany
Disc release year: 1995
Publisher (label): Ohrwaschl Records
Part number: OW 034
Country: Germany
Audio codec: FLAC (*.flac)
Rip type: image+.cue
Audio bitrate: lossless

The Teutonic trio in the person of Jack B. Menzel (bass guitar, vocals), Michael Dertsheny (guitar, vocals) and Clemens Müller (drums, percussion) are atypical representatives of the German rock scene of the 1970s. Self-published, the only album by Elfenbein, with its powerful opening track ("Tired Anyway"), marked an orientation towards Anglo-American hard blues. However, everything here is not as monotonous as it seems at first glance. Which is proved by the song "Witch is Burning", which is the second number. The acoustic folk intro and opening vocal structures are somewhat reminiscent of the famed duet Simon and Garfunkel, the hard 'n art harmonies evoke Rush's "Xanadu" in places, so there are hints of progressiveness. And in order to confirm the listener in this thought, the brave trinity gives out an interesting little thing "Stranger to Myself", the beginning of which is decorated in a ballad vein. However, the theme itself is developing according to other canons, with a bias towards energetic heaviness and some instrumental hypnotic content. Further, quite a traditional 12-bar "Spider Blues" with a prolonged guitar solo, quite characteristic of the genre. "Lazy Daisy" is built to early 60's rock and roll standards and sounds pretty funny in context. In general, the second half of the record is essentially marked by a kind of bias towards conservatism. If you wish, you can catch notes of the Yardbirds, see references to the early days of Led Zeppelin, and, in fact, see a certain continuity from many British ensembles that reached their peak at the turn of the sixties and seventies. Of the most interesting songs of this part of the release, I would like to note the soft melodic "Can't Find My Way Home" and the wonderful closing etude in pastoral tones "One More...Little Song", the acoustic atmosphere and chic choral chants of which are clearly borrowed from The Moody Blues. A very sincere motive, filled with bright dreamy sadness. Bottom line: not progressive, of course, but on the whole an interesting, thoughtful work, recommended primarily to fans of the good old hard rock.

Tracklist:
01. Tired Anyway 03:07
02. Witch Is Burning 05:27
03. Stranger To Myself 05:25
04. Spider - Blues 05:21
05. Lazy Daisy 01:58
06. You've Done Me Wrong 04:42
07. Can't Find My Way Home 05:47
08. Lost Son 04:00
09. One More... Little Song 03:24

Personnel:
Jack B. Menzel (vocals, bass)
Michael Dertscheny (guitars, vocals)
Clemens Mueller (drums, percussion)