Blitzkrieg

Though originating from Mönchengladbach, Germany, Wallenstein sported an international lineup: Keyboardist Jürgen Dollase and drummer Harald Grosskopf aided American Bill Barone on guitar and Dutchman Jerry Berkers on bass and vocals. Their debut album Blitzkrieg shared the band’s original name; their choice of using a term associated with Nazi Germany was controversial for the time. Released on the Pilz label, the album was produced by Dieter Dierks. Written by Dollase, Wallenstein’s symphonic styling is based on his classically-trained piano playing. The lead-off track “Lunetic” (sic) attests. With phase-drumming and wah-wah guitar contrasting with Dollase’s harpsichord, a frenetic, almost claustrophobic arrangement ploughs forward; it’s very different from any other prog rock, British or otherwise. “The Theme” continues, this time with Mellotron and piano dominating the relatively straightforward composition. The near 14-minute “Manhatten Project” (sic) offers a few minutes of respite before the band breaks into an extended jam with Barone’s guitar taking center stage. Finally, the more plaintive and conventional “Audiences” closes, with the extended middle section showcasing the band’s skills. Their next album, Mother Universe, followed in 1972 and charted a similar path. An excellent drummer, Grosskopf’s services would be sought by many others, including Ash Ra Tempel and Klaus Schulze. Both Dollase and Grosskopf then participated in the ultra-psychedelic Cosmic Jokers sessions for Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser of Ohr/Pilz fame. Along with Klaus Schulze and Manuel Göttsching, and with engineer Dieter Dierks at the helm, Kaiser released three albums of unauthorized music from the ensuing sessions, most of it exemplary space-rock. Yet years later, legal proceedings over the records would collapse Kaiser’s empire.