SHAA KHAN are a german heavy prog rock band which produced two LPs and two singles. Drummer Walter Kaulhausen and guitarist Roland Soltysiak started at the beginning of 1970 to play hard rock songs from Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. The band name has no common sense - just a pun which pleased the musicians. After some line-up changes Jochen Gutermut (bass) became a permanent member. Because they were participating at courses of the Akademie Remscheid their style changed to a jazz rock direction more and more. During the years 1973/74 they played gigs as the supporting act for Earth & Fire, Sweet, Smokie, UFO und Nektar.
Shaa Khan were a fine German band who released a couple of albums in the late 70's. "Anything Wrong?" was their second and last one, and consisted of highly melodic, solid and accessible symphonic progressive rock. They sometimes tend to remind me a bit of Camel, especially on a track like "Once Upon A Time". Their sound also benefited from the presence of two good but very different vocalists. This can be heard best on "Howy the Professional" that is perhaps the best track on the whole album, and features some truly stunning melodies. The contrast between high-pitched falsetto and the much lower and more masculine growl is very striking. The harder rocking "Agonie" also makes good use of this. The keyboardist focuses mainly on organ and string-synths in a tasteful and intelligent manner. Some of his best passages can be heard in the title-track, that is an otherwise song-based tune with the strong melodies that characterizes most of the record. The band's overall sound is more British than German, and both vocalists sings in convincing English with little or no accent at all (very rare for German vocalists). "Another Fight" is yet another highlight, where the main melody is played on organ and sung by both singers simultaneously, and features a surprising flamenco break in the middle. The dramatic "Tales of Schroeder" is the longest and most complex track on the record, and probably also the least accessible, although that doesn't say much in the case of this album. The strong melodies and tasteful sound makes "Anything Wrong?" a winner with me, and I've no problems about recommending it to anyone with sense for good 70's symphonic progressive rock.
Musicians
- Klaus Grant / percussion, vocals
- Jochen Gutermuth / bass
- Walter Kaulhausen / drums
- Horst Schlechtriemen / keyboards
- Roland Soltysiak / guitar
- Heiner Waldmann / guitar, vocals
LP Sky Records Sky 025 (1979 Germany)
Lyrics
The time has gone when we were living together
When we could talk without suspicion and untruth
I love you still and sometimes I think I need you
wish you were here and when you are something is strange
Sometimes we act in a foolish play
with loving eyes of our masquerade
The time has come that we must change the condition
And we must see that there is no more unity
Let's try to find a way of getting together
Clear up our minds and let this shit come to an end
Sometimes we act in a foolish play
with loving eyes of our masquerade
I was standing in an overcrowded pub there
When I suddenly caught a glimpse of you
Tried to talk to you but ye turned away
Left me standing in a confused mood
We were walking through the lonely streets at midnight
Seemed you wanna leave but you didn't tell
Only thing you said you've been in trouble
Baby that's no way to say, "Let's make it end!"
9 years ago
11 years ago