Thomas Glönkler - 2023 - Tiefenland

(117:28; Weltenblau)

Track list:
1. Nichts Ist Vorbei 2:37
2. Bis zum Himmel. (I) Bis zum Himmel 3:59
3. Bis zum Himmel. (II) Wo Alles Begann 1:37
4. Tiefenland 7:17
5. Verloren 4:52
6. Die Stille Nach dem Schrei. (I) Dein Leben 4:32
7. Die Stille Nach dem Schrei. (II) ... Zu Lieben 1:29
8. Die Stille Nach dem Schrei. (III) In der Stille Nach dem Schrei 5:28
9. Kleine Seele 2:48
10. Frei Sehn. (I) Spiel Mit dem Feuer 3:34
11. Frei Sehn. (II) Frei Sehn 3:44
12. Frei Sehn. (III) Leuchtende Schatten 2:19
13. Die Endlichkeit der Welt 2:29
14. Schattenland. (I) Vortraum 4:21
15. Schattenland. (II) Limbus 2:58
16. Schattenland. (III) Zwischenland 3:50
17. Schattenland. (IV) Leben in Dir 6:06
- Bonus Tracks:
18. Frei Sein 0:58
19. Nicht Ist Vorbei 0:46
20. Frei Sein (Edit) 3:30
21. Am Vulkan (Skjalbreidur) 1:48
22. Insel (Demo) 4:35
23. Die Stille Vor Dem Sturm 1:33
24. Mein Weg (Demo) 3:22
25. In Limbo 1:45
26. Karfreitag 1:19
27. Die Endlichkeit der Welt (Demo) 1:41
28. Mein Weg (Gitarre) 1:40
29. Kleine Seele (Demo) 2:26
30. Auf dem Weg 2:02
31. Die Endlichkeit der Welt (Outtake) 1:53
32. Spiel Mit dem Feuer (Outtake) 1:36
33. In der Stille Nach dem Schrei (Demo) 3:42
34. Limbus (Outtake) 1:17
35. Leben in Dir (Demo) 2:32
36. Bis zum Himmel (4-Track-Demo) 1:24
37. Tiefenland (4-Track-Demo) 2:18
38. Island. I Keflavik 0:40
39. Island. II Mosfellsheidi 1:37
40. Island. II Pingvallavatn 0:58
41. Island. IV Pingvellir 0:59
42. Island. V Öxararfoss 0:50
43. Island. VI Myvatn 0:56
44. Island. VII Steine und Licht 1:07
45. Island. VIII Laugahraun 0:32
46. Island. IX Landmannlaugar 1:34
47. Island. X Lettöl Mit Geysir 1:11
48. Island. XI Blaa Lonid 0:57

Line-up:
Thomas Glönkler - guitars, bass, keyboards, programming, drums, percussion, vocals
Alex Hanafi - vocals
Butzi Hofmann - drums, programming
with:
Volker Hinkel - guitars, piano
Laura Castrogiovanni - backing vocals
Ralf Grossmann - backing vocals
Matthias Fuhrmann - harminica
Jörg Wunderlich - saxophone
Wolf Stefan Reiser - horn
Stefan Gross - trumpet
Juri Nothacker - vocals
Kinder Schlehengäuschule Gechingen - vocals


Prolusion.
German artist Thomas Glönkler has a past as a member of progressive rock band ICU and has been releasing solo material ever since 2004, albeit with quite a few years between the three solo albums he has to his name at this point. "Tiefenland" is the name of his most recent solo production, which was released through his own label Weltenblau in the fall of 2023.

Analysis.
As far as the progressive rock universe goes, this production is one that touch base with this universe rather than being a distinct part of it in my opinion at least. The songs we get here tend to be of a more accessible nature in general, and while most of them do change things around quite a bit it isn't always done in a manner that is what one might describe as progressive in nature or in spirit. Which obviously isn't all that important, but which merits a mention when writing for a progressive rock oriented publication.

If anything I'd say that the singer/songwriter tradition appears to be something of a foundation here, with many songs being of the kind and of a nature where I would suspect that the core foundation of the song itself was worked out with vocals combined with either an acoustic guitar or the piano. With core elements from this foundation being very much a presence in many of the songs here.

Quite a few of the songs have been expanded in scope however, and in many cases developed into a landscape that probably aligns with what I tend to describe as atmospheric laden progressive rock. Dreamladen, careful arrangements with multiple layers of sounds, with more elaborate rhythms or guitars of some kind or other accompanying the core vocals and acoustic guitars or keyboard. Sometimes with a nod to jazz worked into the landscapes in part, perhaps more often with a more energetic classic rock and borderline hard rock action taking over at some point. Some of the compositions do come across as more purebred examples of accessible progressive rock too, but if that is by intention, accident or due to old habits I don't know. The most important bit for me at least is that the end result is appealing.

For me this is an album that is more interesting as an album experience than it is when seeing the different songs in isolation from one another. Or to put it that way: There are some songs here that by themselves don't come across as all that interesting, but that works very well in the context of a full album experience. Songs that function as transitional moments or a bridge between two creations that both are more interesting, and where the song or songs in between them is a part of why those songs prior and following come across as more appealing and more interesting.

It should also be noted that this is a German language production, and in this case I find the use of the native language of the artist adds a further dimension to the album as a whole too. In this case with a slightly dark toned, melancholic and appealing nature being the result of the melodic, German singing present on these compositions.

This production is also released with a full album's worth of additional material. These are alternative versions of some songs, excerpts from others, as well as songs that didn't make it on to this album for some reason or other. While I won't rate this bonus material, I do find this additional album to be one well worth investigating too, with the 11 part 'Island Suite" that concludes this bonus album to be of particular interest.

Conclusion.
While this is an album that should have a fairly good appeal amongst progressive rock fans, it should be noted that it'll be those with a more keen interest in the more broadly appealing and accessible varieties of the form that comes across as a primary audience for this production. A certain fascination for music with ties to the singer/songwriter tradition as well as music with a bit more of an art pop feel to it will be useful here, and enjoying music of this kind that includes a bit of classic rock is probably something of a requirement. For those comfortable in such a landscape, and who otherwise enjoy accessible and more broadly appealing progressive rock and also enjoy listening to vocals using a language that isn't English, this album will probably come across as quite the charming and rewarding experience.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thomasgloenkler
https://www.weltenblau.de/