Abacus
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1970-72) - Christoph Barutsky -- keyboards, synthesizers - Felix Hans -- drums percussion - Klaus Kohlhase -- bass - Hans-Rolf Schade -- guitar, moog, backing vocals - Chris Williams (RIP 2008) -- vocals, acoustic guitar
line up 2 (1972-73) - Christoph Barutsky -- keyboards, synthesizers NEW - Konstantin Bommarius -- drums, percussion (replaced Felix Hans) - Klaus Kohlhase -- bass - Hans-Rolf Schade -- guitar, moog, backing vocals - Chris Williams (RIP 2008) -- vocals, acoustic guitar
line up 3 (1973-) - Christoph Barutsky -- keyboards, synthesizers - Klaus Kohlhase -- bass - Hans-Rolf Schade -- guitar, moog, backing vocals NEW - Allan Warren -- drums, percussion (replaced Konstantin Bommarius) - Chris Williams) -- vocals, acoustic guitar
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- 2066 and Then (Konstantin Bommarius) - Electric Mud (Manfred Heilmann) - The Fashions - Grail (Chris Williams) - Karthago - Live - Time of Commotion (Jurgen Wimpelber)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Everything You Need Company: Zebra Catalog: 2949
002 Country/State: Germany / UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: German pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 6216 Price: $80.00
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Produced by Gerd Muller, 1972's "Everything You Need" marked Abacus' third album in a two year period. The album also reflected the band's first personnel change with former 2066 & Then drummer Konstantin Bommarius replacing Felix Hans. Against that backdrop it shouldn't have come as a surprise to discover the Abacus creative well starting to run dry. Those circumstance might also help explain the band's abrupt change in musical direction with tracks like 'Anyway We Can (Song For H.)' and 'Thing We Do' seeing their earlier progressive roots shed in favor of a somewhat unexpected set of pop and country-rock tinged moves. Mind you, it wasn't like these guys were trying to copy The Flying Burrito Brothers, or Poco, but there was a definite country twang herein. As on the earlier albums lead singer Chris Williams remained an acquired taste. For an English guy he sure didn't sound very English to me. In fact, his vocals frequently sounded pale and weak compared to the rest of the band's energetic performances. Side two featured a five part, side-long title track suite. Anyone expecting a return to the band's progressive roots was in for a major disappointment since the suite sounded more like a series of five song fragments haphazardly stitched together. Of the five segments, only one even came close to have a progressive tinge - 'Paranoia Agency'. The rest ranged from adult contemporary pop to straight ahead commercial pop.
True, the album probably didn't have a great of appeal for the band's hardcore progressive camp, but to my ears it wasn't half bad.
1.) Anyway We Can (Song For H.) (Chris Williams - Christoph Barutsky - Hans-Rolf Schade) - 4:24 rating: *** stars Complete with catchy hook, 'Anyway We Can (Song For H.)' was a rollicking pop-rock number that would have sounded pretty good on early-1970s FM radio. Nice telecaster solo from Hans-Rolf Schade. 2.) Slide Away (Chris Williams - Christoph Barutsky) - 4:47 rating: *** stars Complete with a top-40 melody, one of Williams better vocals, sweet multi-part vocal harmonies, and a lyric that included the phrase 'got to keep on moving, all that happy screwing ...') 'Slide Away' showcased the band at their most commercial. Easy to see progressive fans falling into a coma when listening to this one. Personally I kind of liked it. 3.) Ivan Hood the White Knight (Chris Williams - Christoph Barutsky) - 3:41 rating: ** stars 'Ivan Hood the White Knight' (their spelling, not mine), sounded a bit like a sub par concept piece crossing early Rush, Jethro Tull (with a Germanic edge), and Rick Wakeman. Any idea what language the weird refrain "bi a niya, bi a niya ..." was in ? It sounded like they'd borrowed a page out of the Magma's Kobaïan dictionary .... 4.) Thing We Do (Chris Williams) - 6:10 rating: *** stars Continuing to play-spot-the-influences, 'Thing We Do' seemed to borrow heavily from Donovan's patented blend of hippy philosophy and catchy, top-40 pop melodies. Again, progressive fans were probably appalled to find themselves singing the insidiously catchy closing refrain "la la li li la li ..."
(side 2) 1. ) Everything You Need - 20:06 a.) What a Day (Chris Williams - Hans-Rolf Schade) - rating: **** stars As mentioned, 'Everything You Need' was a twenty minute, side long suite spread across five section (which actually sounded like five entirely different songs that had been haphazardly stitched together.) - Even though it took awhile to get going, powered by some powerhouse drumming from Konstantin Bommarius and a beautiful Hans-Rolf Schade jangle guitar lick, 'What a Day' evolved into the album's prettiest number. It was also another track that served to showcase Williams voice in a positive light. b.) Paranoia Agency (Chris Williams - Christoph Barutsky - Hans-Rolf Schade) - rating: ** stars 'Paranoia Agency' saw the album abruptly verve from prettiest song to weirdest number ... With Williams talk-singing his way through the first part of the song, this one actually sounded like a Monty Python outtake. Literally a horrible vocal (imagine a German Kermit the Frog backed by a crew of Muppets), the second part of the song at least sported a nice heavy metal guitar riff. rating: ** stars c.) Hold Up the Flag (Chris Williams - Hans-Rolf Schade) - rating: *** stars 'Hold Up the Flag' found the band rediscovering the concept of a catchy melody - this time adding a vague Caribbean flavor to the mix. Elsewhere its doubtful this one would have attract much attention, but on this set it actually didn't sound half bad. d.) Don't Worry (Chris Williams - Hans-Rolf Schade) - rating: *** stars If anything, sporting the album's most memorable melody, the acoustic 'Don't Worry' was even more radio friendly. The song also featured one of the prettiest sax solos I've ever heard. Very adult contemporary. e.) Everything You Need (Chris Williams - Christoph Barutsky) - rating: ** stars 'With Williams employing his archest vocal, 'Everything You Need' had the makings of a decent song (at least up until it hit the Vaudevillian ending), but simply could never come into focus. Plodding ...
Though none of the original members are still with the band, Abacus still exists and have a website at: http://www.abacus-studio.de/history.php
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MIDWAY 1. Let's Face The Voice And Dance 2. Including Revelation 3. Me And You 4. 11 Garden 5. You Are Not The One I Love 6. For The Moment 7. Be Beholding 8. Hermann The German 9. Here We Go 10. Midway Chris Williams / vocal - Charlie Schade / guitar, sitar - Chris Barutzky / keyboards - Klaus Kohlhase / bass - Allan Warren / drums, percussion Originally a 60's pop group known as Fashion, Abacus started their career as support to many British progressive bands touring Germany. Influenced by such music, and with the addition of English vocalist Chris Williams, they became Abacus in 1971. We've never encountered their debut LP (which is reputedly very good), but later on they still had a borderline pop sound - hints of Bonzo's and The Move in a bluesy rock with a 60's beat feel, and some psychedelic touches - occasionally mad or eccentric.
In 2008 Chris Williams, Birmingham located Abacus singer unfortunately died,
when he just was about to write the words for "Destiny". At that time he also
had decided to rejoin the band as the new lead singer, because the former singer
and guitarist Manfred Heilmann had left the band. So it took another 2 years to
write the words for" Destiny" and find the new lead singer Stefan Mageney and
the guitarists Mario Schramme and Werner Schimaniak.
Stefan Mageney`s voice has a great recognition and feels comfortable with
ballades as well as with uptempo Prog Rock songs.
For years the bands rhytm line up has stayed unchanged with Rainer Niklowitz on
drums/ percussion and Reiner Schulte on 6 string bass.
Like the pre-Abacus band "Grail" from England the band goes back to the roots by
inviting the Berlin located cellist Manfred Degener to join the band.
Keyboarder Jürgen Wimpelberg is an Abacus member for more than 30 years. He
wrote all songs and words, mixed and produced "Destiny".
On "Destiny" Abacus again has proofed that the band has left behind the former
Kraut Rock image of the 70's and 80's by claiming their big part in the Prog
Rock world of the new millenium.
"Destiny" is distributed world wide by Musea/France.
If you like harmony vocals, driving guitars, classical and ethnic music , great
keyboard and guitar solos, real Hammond organ, Moog synthesizers and Mellotrons,
you love Prog Roc ! So you must love Abacus, too!
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Info from the year 1982
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ABACUS is surely a big name for everyone interested in rock music. The band
formed in 1971 made their breakthrough at the Germersheim rock festival, where
ABACUS drew not less applause from the 300,000 visitors than PINK FLOYD, SANTANA
or ELP which appeared on stage as well. In the following ABACUS published 4 LPs,
of which the last 3 where recorded at Giorgio Moroder's "MUSICLAND". Because of
the global record sales, numerous national and international tours, TV and radio
shows ABACUS became a top act not only in Germany.
ABACUS delivered the same dense sound on stage as in the studio. Maybe that's
why they became a crowd puller for countless shows.
Musical differences about future record productions were among other things
responsible for the break up of the band in 1976. Klaus Kohlhase, bass guitarist
and motor of ABACUS revived the band in 1979. After a long search he found the
players who helped to refine the sound of ABACUS.
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Jürgen Wimpelberg (28),
keyboards, vocals,
guitars
ex-member of "TIME OF
COMMOTION", Composer
of a Rock Opera
Klaus Kohlhase (29),
basses
since 1971 bass player
and "motor" of ABACUS
Norbert Leifert (28),
keyboards, vocals, flutes
ex-member of LIVE
Rainer Niklowitz (28),
drums
ex-member of
"ELECTRIC MUD" Manfred Heilmann (26),
leadvocals, guitars
years of experience as
studio musician
ABACUS is surely a big name for everyone interested in rock music. The band
formed in 1971 made their breakthrough at the Germersheim rock festival, where
ABACUS drew not less applause from the 300,000 visitors than PINK FLOYD, SANTANA
or ELP which appeared on stage as well. Jürgen Wimpelberg takes on himself to
play keyboards, guitars, drum programming as well as vocals.
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