More Schiller
Since I’ve been working a lot lately on Hoshi (updates will follow later) and there is no better music to listen to, while working, than Schiller, I’ve been thinking a lot about their different live albums, the people behind Schiller and how they influenced the music.
Sehnsucht
Band: Ralf Gustke (drums), Cliff Hewitt (electronic drums), Mickey Meinert (guitar), Tissy Thiers (bass guitar), Christian Kretschmar (synthesizer) and Christopher von Deylen (keyboards).
Heavy electrock (a term I “might” have invented) sounds. Mickey Meinert is very good, Petra Marklund (September) does really nice vocals on “Breathe”. I love this album!
Atemlos
Band: Ralf Gustke (drums), Cliff Hewitt (electronic drums), Andreas Binder (guitar), Thissy Thiers (bass guitar), Christian Kretschmar (synthesizer) and Christopher von Deylen (keyboards).
Cliff Hewitt with long hair! Andreas Binder is ok, not bad but nothing to remember. Amazing drumming by both Ralf and Cliff. Very good “Salton Sea”.
Sonne
Band: Ralf Gustke (drums), Cliff Hewitt (electronic drums), Andreas Binder (guitar), Thissy Thiers (bass guitar), Christian Kretschmar (synthesizer) and of course, Christopher von Deylen (keyboards).
Probably the best pure-electro Schiller sound, the band was really fused well after years of playing together. Ralf Gustke solo drums on “Ruhe”! Best “Glockenspiel”.
Zeitreise
Band: Flo Dauner (drums), Ferdinand Kirner (guitar), Doug Wimbish (bass guitar), Tricia McTeague (percussion, acoustic guitar) and Christopher von Deylen (keyboards).
Massive change in band members; Doug Wimbish’s bass solo on “Glockenspiel” is unbelievable and he is pulling a Jimi Hendrix onstage. I like Tricia McTeague, she brings a lot into Schiller.
Morgenstund
Band: Gary Wallis (drums), Scott McKeon (guitar), Doug Wimbish (bass guitar), Tricia McTeague (percussion, acoustic guitar), Sophie Hiller (synthesizer) and Christopher von Deylen (keyboards).
Not a live album but Gary Wallis is back with Schiller, Scott McKeon is fucking amazing but doesn’t feel permanent (or at least a longer temporary), Tricia kicks ass as usually. What can I say about “Berlin Tehran”? In my opinion, the best Schiller album to date. Oh, and it has Nena, Nena is very good.
If I had to pick the perfect team of “Schillers”, I’d go for Gary Wallis on drums (and I LOVE Cliff Hewitt but Gary Wallis is God), Scott McKeon guitar, Doug Wimbish bass guitar, Christian Kretschmar on synthesizer and of course, Christopher von Deylen on keyboards. But I can’t not notice that Schiller never had a guitarist that could pull a “Jens Gad on Enigma’s I love you, I’ll kill You”-type of solo.
Speaking of Jens Gad, you should really be listening to some of the old Enigma tunes or Achillea. They will blow your world apart. Also, check out Schiller x Alphaville - Summer in Berlin.