Atlantis-Atlantis (1973)

After the German band Frumpy disbanded, some of its members decided to form a new group called Atlantis, which moved away from the psychedelic and avant-garde approach of its predecessor, exploring styles such as blues, funk, soul, and American hard rock with progressive influences. Formed in mid-1972 by singer Inga Rumpf, keyboardist Jean-Jacques Kravetz, and bassist Karl-Heinz Schott, they recruited guitarist Frank Diez and drummer Curt Cress. Shortly after their formation, they moved to London where they entered Island Records studios to record their debut album. However, before recording, Kravetz was replaced by keyboardist Jean-Alain Roussel, and Traffic percussionist Reebop Kwakuh Baah also participated in the recording sessions. Subsequent tours of the UK, opening for Traffic and Procol Harum, marked the beginning of a constant turnover of members. In the middle of the following year came the band's second album, "It's Getting Better", which was followed by another successful tour and further personnel changes. In 1974, after their third album, "Ooh Baby", the band embarked on a long tour of the United States as the support act for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The following LP, "Get On Board", would be Atlantis's final epitaph, with Rumpf and Schott, the only two remaining members of the original lineup, bringing the adventure of this magnificent German band to an end. Focusing on their successful debut album (which achieved considerable sales on the British and North American charts), we find a varied sound of styles, from blues, soul and classic rock as is evident in "Get Up", "Rock'n' Roll Preacher", "Maybe It's Useless", "Words Of Love" and "Let's Get On The Road Again", to progressive pieces with the extensive and excellent "Living At The Edge Of Time".