Guerssen Rec.
Walti Huber : A Sense Of Touch (CH,1983)***'
Walti Huber started as a folk trio, inspired by people like Jethro Tull, Stephen Stills, and Cream, until his best friend and musical partner died of cancer. He decided to go into the studio to inject new life and start to record some songs which they were not able to do live.
In 1982 his first album, “Only One Smile Alone” was recorded, entirely with William Blake poem interpretations.
Also this second album, from 1983, adapted some Blake lyrics, but there appeared also some self-penned songs, two Stephen Stills interpretations (“So begin the task”, “Thoroughfare Gap”), and a John Martyn song (“Just Now”).
This album was musically more ambitious and added drums (,tabla), keyboards, electric guitars, and some accordion and xylophones and marimbaphones, and additional female dual vocal arrangements. These arrangements give often a more “progressive” touch to the rather folk leanings.
After this album, a third album was published under the group name of Jetsam, putting early 17th century John Donne’s sonnets onto music. Three tracks from his Jetsam work from 1988 are added as bonus tracks. Since 1994 Walti has released four more cd’s with this group.
Guerssen, with the last few re-releases (Pererin, Bob Theil, Walti Huber, Penny Davies & Roger Illott), prove collector's and music lovers wrong, in their generally dismissive attitude towards '80s acidfolk releases. Go on explore !
