Leave it to a German band with a Latin name to deliver an album about the Greek classic The Odyssey. Better believe it, as Mulo Francel/reeds, Andreas Hinterseher/acc-band-tp-fh, DD Lowka/b-perc, Chris Gall/-p-key, Paulo Morellog/g, Robert Kainar/dr, Philipp Sterzer/fl and Max Geller/as take you on a musical journey through the epic poem with a wide range of songs, musical stories and sonic adventures. All of the tunes have references to the Trojan War story, with titles such as “Odyssee Calling”, “Poseidon’s Revenge”, “And, Pull!” as well as “Aeolian Echoes” all bringing back memories of High School Literature class.
Musically, there is a lovely mix of sighing tenor sax and accordion on “Dionysus”, romantic guitar and bass on “Between the Waves”, the team rocking out on “Posedon’s Revenge” and the flutes trudging over the percussive muck of “Vulcano”. Francel sighs over “Children’s Daydream” and Gall dances to “Aeolian Echoes” with the whole team bopping steady on “Swinging Odyssee”. Even if you don’t know the difference between Paris and the capitol of France, the music will captivate you. If you do have a bit of background, the task of enjoying the album is less Sisyphusian.
The team hits a Homer on this one.