| EmOcean | CD Lion Music |
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Hubi's
progressive concept masterpiece, which features: Vivien Lalu (Shadrane, Paris) - keys, Marcel Coenen (Ex-Lemur Voice, Sun Caged) - guitars, Daniel Flores (Mind's Eye) - drums, limited edition collectors item digipak with 2 exclusive bonus tracks: "Tears of an Enchanted Sea" &"Crystal Moon" |
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Kailash | CD Lion Music |
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Hubi's second
progressive concept masterpiece, which features: Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged) – guitars, Jorge Salán (Mago de Oz) - guitars, Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye) – drums, Johan Niemann (Therion) - bass |
| Downloads and audio samples | |||||
| REVIEWS: | |||||
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Hubi
Meisel Kailash Lion Music
Comments: "I can't think of anyone ever that had a better pure voice?" This is the thought that will race through your head when you hear the breathtaking high peaceful tones of Hubi Meisel. With those killer pipes, Hubi could have surrounded himself with a bunch of average musicians to allow his star to shine even brighter, but thankfully he didn't. Meisel chose expert musicians to carry on a solid straight brand of progressive rock. Joining him on this journey are Vivien Lalu (Lalu) on keyboards, Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged) and Jorge Salán (Mago de Oz) on guitars, Daniel Flores (Mind's Eye) on drums alongside Johan Niemann (Therion) on bass. This band sounds like a cross between Yes and Rush with an added flair of Himalayan ambience. This is more a movie score or rock opera then a conventional album though, with Meisel's killer pure voice on display. There are guitar solos, keyboard pieces, and even lions roaring. The Far Eastern influences are so peaceful that you may want to use this CD as a relaxation tool while getting a massage. To sum it up in a sentence, it is an excellent piece of work by Meisel and company, and anyone on earth that has any passion for good music will fall in love with this album! It would rob the essence from it to try and compare it to any other band or type of music as it is more of a work of art then a regular rock CD. Also, there is no best song or worst song as all the pieces will inspire different emotions in different people. Everyone should own this CD. Go to www.lionmusic.com and pick it up.
Band
members:
Track
listing:
BONUS
TRACKS:
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HUBI MEISEL - KAILASH
(B+/B) Lion Music, 2006
12 tracks, RT: 62:43
[
http://www.HubiMeisel.com/
]
[
http://www.myspace.com/hubimeisel
]
[
http://www.lionmusic.com/
]
Along with keyboardist
and composer Vivian Lalu,
Hubi
Meisel may have invented
a new style of rock --
New
Age Prog Metal! KAILASH
is Hubi's latest solo
album of
ethereal, introspective
songs conceptually
surrounding
a man's spiritual voyage
to Mt. Kailash in the
Himalayas, a destination
thought by the Hindu and
Buddhist religions to be
the holiest place on
Earth.
Opening with the
excellent "Potala
Palace," the mood
is set for a journey of
discovery. Hubi has
certainly
enlisted the assistance
of some excellent
players,
including guitarists
Jorge Salan (Mango De
Oz) and
Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged),
drummer Daniel Flores
(Mind's Eye) and bassist
Johan Niemann (Mind's
Eye,
Therion). The music
really is an interesting
mix of
keyboard soundscapes,
sound effects, precise
musicianship and Hubi's
very unique vocal style,
a
nice balance of elements
found on songs such as
"Red
Oracle," "Kailash -
Jewel Of Ice," and
"Wheel Of
Life." Everyone plays at
expected high levels and
the
production brings out
the quality of each
musician. To
my ears the vocals are
mixed a bit high and
Hubi's
voice is so smooth it
creates a certain
uniformity
throughout the album,
but with songs as
dynamic and
well written as "Merdeka"
(check out those guitar
solos) and bonus track
"Tigers Of Everest,"
KAILASH
should find its way into
the collection of prog
fans
looking for something
off the beaten path... -
Neal
Woodall (MysticX9@gmail.com)
Detritus Rock/Metal
e-zine
"Rock Hard With A
Purpose"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Detritus/
|
| Hubi Meisel - Kailash (Lion Music) By: Joe Florez www.live4metal.com | |
 |
I know that this name isn’t recognizable to anyone, but all I have to say is that you are missing out on not only a really cool singer, but musically as well. A brief history is in order. Hubi is a singer with a slightly high octave range. He was once in the progressive metal band Dreamscape and then moved on to the solo world. His debut “EmOcean” was a brilliant piece of work and I have been chomping at the bit waiting for album number two. All prog/power heads must own this. You have absolutely never heard anything like it. What we have here is a concept album about the Himalayas, Tibet and the Buddhist culture. In other words, this is something spiritual and then some. “Potala Palace” is simply |
| amazing musically. Not only do you get a soft and colorful atmosphere that showers the song, but the musicians here are all Grade A. The rhythm section of Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye) and Johan Niemann (Therion) is thick and rich. You can hear the bass being thumped away while the skins are beaten at different tempo ranges without ever getting too technical or out of control, and some additional tribal percussion work is added just to spice things up. Vivien Lalu throws down his keys just right. They never dominate the song. They only accentuate it. As for the dual guitarists of Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged) and Jorge Salan (Mago Ded Oz), forget about it. They thrown down some serious shit. They play some simple, yet slightly aggressive riffs that are catchy and moving, but when it comes time for the solo, they both just go all out showing what they have and it will be a guarantee that they will blow you away. Mr. Meisel’s voice could irritate some and I could see that because it may be just a tad too high for folks to handle, but what you don’t know is that he can control his high pitches. He only goes so far and never cracks his voice by singing or screaming out of his range. It’s smooth, distinct and enjoyable. Take it from me because I am not a huge fan of the upper vocal range with very few exceptions. All of the songs on here are pretty consistent and don’t throw any curve balls. Many of them retain the same type of vibe and perhaps include a dash of middle eastern flavor for a little ethnicity. “Merdeka” is the only track on here that injects a healthy dose of 70’s tinged classic rock keyboarding that sounds grand. It doesn’t flood the song at all. It comes in only when needed. All I have to say is that if this is your first trip down HM lane, then you better be prepared for one awesome journey. This is sophisticated writing performed by a bunch of underground artists that need to be discovered. This piece of plastic proves that some artists can still be creative in a genre that is so filled with bland material. So, sit back, close your eyes and enjoy. You won’t regret it. www.lionmusic.com | www.hubimeisel.com | |
Meisel,
Hubi: Kailash
Over 2 years in the making, German vocalist Hubi Meisel follows up his highly acclaimed CD from 2003, EmOcean with another spectacular concept CD called Kailash. While EmOcean’s story took place in the Sargasso Sea, the setting for Kailash moves further east to the Himalaya mountain range. The CD derives it’s title from Mt. Kailash which according to Hindu and Buddhist religions has long been regarded as the holiest place in the world. To try to attempt to explain the whole story and concept of Kailash in great detail would probably exceed the scope of this review so I’ll provide a brief overview just so you have a rough idea of what the story is about. The story basically deals with one man’s journey across the Himalayas to Mt. Kailash where upon reaching the summit, an important secret is revealed to him. I won’t give away the rest of the story line or what happens but I would strongly suggest that if you want more info, to go directly to Hubi’s website where all the information behind the concept of Kailash has been greatly detailed by the man himself.
Once again Hubi has surrounded himself with a perennial all-star band to bring his latest musical vision to fruition. The concept and lyrics may be Meisel’s but the contributions of his close friend and musical collaborator, keyboardist Vivien Lalu, who wrote all the music and co-arranged with Hubi, cannot be overlooked. Lalu’s fantastic keyboard passages and arrangements are the perfect match for Meisel’s vocals and lyrics, it’s almost like they work on a purely intuitive level in their approach to the music and lyrics. The rest of this stellar lineup is rounded out by guitarist Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged), drummer Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye) along with new additions, the great Johan Niemann on bass (Therion) and additional guitarist Jorge Salan (Mango de Oz). The guitar duties are almost evenly split on the CD’s 10 main tracks (Joop Wolters once again plays all guitars on the bonus tracks) between Coenen and Salan and they both do an excellent job throughout, in fact Salan’s addition is a real coup for Meisel as his playing adds a whole other flavor to the songs on which he appears, not to mention this guy can shred with the best of them. What more can you say about the brilliant rhythm section of Niemann and Flores, if you’ve never heard some of the releases they’ve both played on together, you are missing out big time. In addition to backing Hubi, they continue to supply the bottom end for other projects such as Mind’s Eye and Tears of Anger.
Kailash is truly epic in musical scope, but never feels bloated or pretentious due to the absolutely stellar ensemble playing and dynamic interplay throughout. On some tracks Lalu’s keyboard lines are doubled in unison by Coenen and Salan’s guitars to perfection that my jaw eventually got tired of draging on the floor in awe at the astonishing level of musicianship that these guys possess. A prime example of what Salan brings to the table with his playing can be heard on the magnificent 10 and half minute, and center piece of the CD, “Wheel of Life”. It’s only fitting then that I left the best for last and that would be the performance of Hubi himself. Meisel turns in the vocal performance of a lifetime, singing every note with the utmost of conviction, feeling and emotion as only he can and in his own unique style. There is not one ounce of fat or filler on Kailash and the production and sound is also top notch, something Hubi took care of entirely on his own once more as he mixed and produced the whole thing in his own studio. Kailash is truly worth the wait and Meisel has definitely taken his music to a whole new level and raised the bar dramatically for his next effort. However for now, get yourself a copy of this disc as soon as possible and immerse yourself headlong into the work of an extremely gifted and dedicated artist. I never imagined dishing out a 5 star rating, but trust me it's truly warranted.
Track Listing
1) Potala Palace
2) Red Oracle
3) Snow Lion
4) Himalayan Sunset
5) Shiva’s Dance
6) Kailash – Jewel of Ice
7) Wheel of Life
8 ) Milarepa’s Cave of Miracles
9) Merdeka
10) The Great Prayer (Monlam Chenmo)
11) The Gentleman of Great Magic
12) Tigers of Everest
Added: February
1st 2006
Reviewer:
Ryan Sparks
www.seaoftranquility.org
Score:
Hubi Meisel
"EmOcean"
Lion Music
Most of you in the UK will probably never heard of Hubi Meisel, so I am
going to enlighten you, Hubi is a talanted vocalist from Germany, who
once was the frontman for German Prog Metaller's 'Dreamscape' who
released 2 album through Rising Sun Records. They were and still are a
talanted young band that would appeal to fans of Dream Theater & Vanden
Plas. Hubi left the band after the bands 2nd album 'Very' due to musical
differences and now he is back on the scene with this his 2nd solo
album. The debut I have yet to hear but if it's anything like this then
it's certainly worth a listen. Joining Hubi is Mind's Eye drummer Daniel
Flores, Syn Caged guitar wizard - Marcel Coenen, along with Viven Lalu
keyboards, Jean Affonco - bass. This is a great album which captures the
likes of Dream Theater, Sun Caged, Minds Eye,
Dreamscape among others and is well worth a listen. The
production is excellent and it comes in a digi pk form with 14 trax in
total, value for money. Hubi has a great voice, sometimes on the soft
approach but it certainly suits the music that's for sure. Check out:
Lost In The Waters Of Sargasso, Poseidon's
Trident, Nocturnal Breeze, Underwater Fears, Fanta Sea, Aqua Phoenix.
A great 2nd album, well worth a listen if you're a
fan of Progressive Metal.
Friday 13th - UK magazine
Germany has oftentimes produced refreshingly unique musical styles since the 1970’s: the space age, eclectic Krautrock period (bands such as Guru Guru), followed by heavily synthesized music during the Technorock phase (bands such as Kraftwerk), giving way to the no frills Heavy Metal movement (bands such as the Scorpions), and most recently a combination of the latter two with Rammstein leading the way. The genesis of another unique German style may very well be in process as exemplified by Hubi Meisel’s EmOcean.
EmOcean can best be described under a new category of Heavy Metal (that I’m going to take the liberty of throwing out into the ring today) -- Mood Metal, if you will. Meisel focuses on creating a powerful, “dreamy” atmosphere in EmOcean by centering on sounds of the sea, utilizing an array of keyboard compositions, and offering lyrics designed to paint complex images that help solicit an aggressively relaxed “mood” within the listener.
EmOcean production quality is borderline perfect. The guitar sound is powerful with clear distortion, the bass guitar is well defined and discernable, and the keyboards come in great variety and are largely responsible for conveying the album’s aggressively relaxed mood. The percussion is consistent with the bass drum and high treble nicely integrated – the only minor sound imperfection comes via the mid-range skins, which could’ve/should’ve been emphasized to a greater extent…not a big deal, really, but enough to prevent the accomplishment of true sonic perfection.
As unique as the sound of this album is Meisel’s singing style. First of all, it becomes clear very quickly that Meisel has great vocal talent…he effortlessly shifts to and fro betwixt the low and high octaves without missing a note. The merits of his vocal style, however, are a different story. Meisel’s lyrics are some of the most cerebral and studied that I’ve ever encountered in Rock ‘n’ Roll – in fact Meisel’s biography boasts about how many hours he spent researching Mythology, Atlantis, and other mysteries of the sea prior to drafting his story line and lyrics. His fact-finding efforts are clearly evident and successful throughout the album and result in very original, intricate lyrical presentation. Meisel delivers these artistic lyrics via a “dabbling” style where each word is centered, framed, and deliberately sung. Should you hear only one song from EmOcean, you’d probably think Meisel’s style is pretty innovative and interesting…the only remote parallel that compares to his style would be Lenny Wolf’s style from Kingdom Come. But when this dabbling vocal style is consistently carried through each track, it becomes old hat, somewhat annoying at times, and loses its initial enjoyable impact.
Meisel assembled an impressive cast of musicians to record EmOcean: Marcel Coenen from Sun Caged on guitar; Jean Affonco from Absolute on bass guitar; Daniel Flores from Mind’s Eye on drums, and Shadrane’s Vivien Lalu on keyboards. Each musician’s style is evident throughout the album, and Meisel doesn’t appear to ask any of them to play out of character…the result being four definitive musical styles contributing their piece and meshing together somewhat seamlessly. There’s a ton of effects that add to the ocean ambiance and mood; from simple sounds like waves crashing on a shoreline, to more complex effects like effervescent (bubbly) water, thunder, dolphin sonics, seagull squawks, and maybe even pelican calls. In the end, although Meisel uses Heavy Metal as the foundation for EmOcean, this album could definitely be utilized as a late night sedative by any avid Heavy Metal fan that refuses to completely let down his/her guard, even when the ultimate goal is to drift off to sleep (metalheadz never get their fill, you know!).
This album was originally briefly released under a different label with 12 tracks, 1 of them all instrumental. Meisel switched labels midstream to Lion Music, and has added 2 bonus tracks, both following the same underwater theme. Essentially, most of the first 11 tracks dance to the beat of Mood Metal. The final 3 tracks, though skillful, are stripped of virtually all resemblances to Heavy Metal of any sort…almost as if Meisel indeed wants his listeners to leave the EmOcean experience in a relaxed state vs. being ready to go out on the street and kick some arse!
Nonetheless, EmOcean is indeed a unique piece of work. Some may really like Meisel’s vocal delivery, some simply won’t. If you enjoy his style, or at least don’t find his vocal delivery offensive, you’ll find EmOcean is enjoyable in all other musical aspects, and a true pleasure to listen to when you’re in the mood to listen closely and become “one” with the sound. Every musical collector needs party music and, conversely, needs music to listen to in solitary. EmOcean would be a great addition to fill the latter void of any Metal fan’s musical library.
Guitars: B
Bass: B
Percussion: C
Vocals: B
Lyrics: A
Recording Quality: A-
Originality: A
Overall Rating: B
Release Date: March 24, 2004 – Japan; March 26, 2004 –
Everywhere Else
NOTE: To learn more about Hubi Meisel's research
and motivations behind the EmOcean concept, visit
www.lionmusic.com, click on Artists, then
click on Hubi Meisel.
HUBI MEISEL - EMOCEAN (Lion Music)
"Emocean" is based upon German vocalist Hubi Meisel's vision of
underwater life in the ocean a'la Atlantis crossed with the Bermuda Triangle
and Greek Mythology that eventually evolved into a concept album split into
three fragments starting with Part I - AETPON OEION and the stomping 'Lost
In The Waters Of Sargasso'. The song is technically dazzling, abundant with
sweeping melodic guitars performed by Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged),
with the majestic pompous keyboards performed by Vivien Lalu (Shadrane/Paris)
that give the song a feeling of Dream Theater. If the DT influences were
apparent on this first track, then the infectious 'Poscidon's Trident' is
even more in tune with DT. A very strong progressive/melodic track with lots
of experimentation played out and heavily inspired by Rush particularly in
Hubi's voice which is almost up there with Geddy Lee. 'Nocturnal Breeze' is filled with breezy melodic keyboards, while Hubi's
vocals take on a ghostly gothic texture, this turns into an stunning song
where the guitars have a feeling of Steve Vai circa "Flexable", they are
also very sharp and this piece finally builds into a very powerful melodic/progressive
piece, you will love the mood the song creates as it builds, think Spock's
Beard. It's from here that you start to relish in the album and specially
Hubi's vocals which are very good and as I said like Geddy Lee crossed with
James Labrie which is demonstrated with stronger effect on the ethereal 'Dolphin's
Wake' this is melodic and progressive with fantastic melodies sweeping
through the song, very much like Rush. Moving on to Part II - ATAANTIE with 'Underwater Tears' which is pure
Dream Theater, I loved the vocals and music on this very catchy song, the
guitar tempos change and the whole song is very eloquent. 'Fantasea' is more
laid back and filled with exquisite keyboards at the start, it eventually
builds into a cool majestic piece, proving to be one of my favourite tracks,
it has a passionate, elegant texture, particularly Hubi's vocals which are
striking. Then it's time for another highlight called 'The Souls Of
Atlantis', this song is very much like Queensryche and DT and is very
strong, lyrically, musically and vocally, almost melodious, Hubi's voice is
just marvellous and somehow he really pulls you into the texture of the
song, I have to say it, I'm very stirred with the gentleman's voice. This
song is amazing. 'Sapientia Vitae' again has a strong Rush feel, while 'Aeure Dream'
flourishes in spacious keyboards like a movie soundtrack which leads into
Part III - ENOIA OAAATTHE, the songs here suggest a more epic symphonic
style to the album which starts with 'Aqua Phoneix', again this song is in
the DT style and features heavy progressive guitars, Hubi's vocals are
forceful yet refined and the song has a huge vibe as it builds into a
staggering catchy progressive workout. 'Aero Nautical' is more of the same, filled with melodic keyboards and a
catchy rhythm, the song is again very catchy, another highlight. The title
track 'EmOcean' is next, it's pacific feel glides along like Dream Theater,
a gratifying mild piece with fantastic melodies that just float spiritually
around the room, gorgeous stuff. There is also a couple of bonus cuts,
'Crystal Moon' gives Nightwish a run for their money while 'Tears Of An
Enchanted Sea' is a relaxing piano piece with ocean sound effects, and is up
there with the likes of Lana Lane, a grand ending with gorgeous cinematic
music that leaves you in awe. I was left very moved with "Emocean", it all works and you don't need to
spend a lot of time with it to get into it like some progressive rock
albums, this gives Hubi the edge as there is something about the songs that
pulls you into their charms, be it the vocals, musical experimentations,
sound effects or simply the catchy flavours that give these tunes a sense of
commerciality which all make for a most sufficient record. 85/100 Nicky Baldrian
Hubi Meisel Every year
there are 3 or 4 albums that stand out from the rest and this is one
of them. It's the classic case where everything that follows has to
be judged against it. "EmOcean" is a grand, sweeping concept; it is
progressive metal and is superbly produced. Hubi Meisel's voice is
amazing. It is silky, velvet and rich but at the same time he can
reach those heavenly high notes. Because of his vocal range he is
unlike most other metal vocalists I have heard and this is the magic
ingredient of this album. You can also add to this the melodic way
this whole concept has been constructed. Initially, it comes out
as a special limited digipack with 2 bonus tracks.
Throughout this
album the keys shimmer in the background and just occasionally are
over-laid with a piano; they portray a sense of anticipation,
mystery or because of the subject matter, a feeling of foreboding;
if you like, a fantasy dream unlike most other progressive/metal
albums. There's an essence reaching out from this music that is
almost overwhelming. Linking several tracks there are sounds of
waves crashing, seagulls and other assortment of noises adding to
that overall mystery. This album is not symphonic even though the
keys are ever present, it keeps its roots firmly in progressive
metal without over indulging itself in metal excesses. At times, the
music has a dark edge with wailing guitars that are eventually
replaced by power chords, then the piano appears only to be taken
over again by the wailing guitars and those shimmering keys. This is
always held together by Hubi's tremendous vocals; "Sapientia Vitae"
is a prime example although the longest track on the album, "Souls
Of Atlantis", is impossible to ignore. This is a dream
of an album, richly enhanced by its melodic content and because of
the faultless way this band have lovingly constructed this whole
piece of work they earn an immediate place in E.P.R.R's. Hall Of
Fame. Don't miss this album. 100%
Band
Members The
Album Tracks
Part One
European
Progressive Rock Reviews
MEISEL
HUBI – EmOcean / Lion Music
Our
good German friend Hubi is
releasing his new studio album,
which is a metal opera with a
lot of twists and different
influences in it. There’s some
classic metal and power metal in
it and there’s some progressive
metal as well. The man has
managed to combine simple and
catchy melodies with some
complex structures and
arrangements and result is
excellent. The musicianship is
top and it’s not just the
excellent voice of Hubi that
shines in the album, but also
the performance of all the band
members. The album is rich in
textures, the concept (dealing
with Atlantis and the Bermuda
Triangle) pretty cool and the
whole album is well worth your
attention. Since I’ve been
following Hubi’s work for quite
some time now the quality of
this album was hardly a
surprise, but for those of you
unfamiliar with his work, the
quality of the album will come
like a slap in the face. For
more info head to
www.hubimeisel.com
and check the album out.
8/10 The concept of EmOcean is about a man and his unusual encounter with
Poseidon while traversing the Sargasso Sea. Poseidon appears and takes
him down beneath the sea to the long lost civilization of Atlantis.
There he feels the presence of the lost souls telepathically conveying a
warning to him, a message about the meaning of all life and the nearly
irreparable damages brought forth through the centuries by mankind. With
this message from the ocean floor, our hero returns to the land above
the sea to spread his message to the world. EmOcean is a beautifully
well crafted musical journey that will win over fans of progressive
metal based conceptual albums. It is one of four new releases that Lion
Music has broken their neo-classical metal formula with. The other three
are from Condition Red, Mister Kite and Sun Caged. Fans of melodic, progressive metal as well as rock operas, this disc
does the genre proud and stays clear of the cheese factor too. ~Ron for ProgNaut.com [March 17th, 2004]
Hubi Meisel was born
in Frankfurt in 1974. In 1995 he joined a well known hardrock band
named Triple X, this lasted for 3 years. There after he joined
Dreamscape from Munich, after releasing an album and touring with
that band he left because of musical differences. He finally came to
the conclusion that he had to go it alone. His first solo album
which came out in 2002 was full of cover songs, however he states
his future releases would not contain cover songs. Back in 2001 he
had already begun planning his next project, EmOcean, and began to
research Atlantis, the Sargasso Sea, the Bermuda Triangle and Greek
Mythology. He eventually met the French keyboardist Vivien Lalu on
the Internet and they soon became friends. Vivien would eventually
compose the main instrumental music of this album.
The two bonus tracks are very interesting because of my love
of pianos and keyboards; is this why they are left off the album and
tagged on the end as bonus tracks, too symphonic for metal fans? Or
could it be Hubi is testing the water for future works? Well Hubi,
have no fear, these two symphonic songs are well worth exploring
further. As far as I'm concerned they are probably the best moments
of the album.
Hubi Meisel:
Vocals
Vivien Lalu: keys
Marcel Coenen: Guitars
Daniel Flores: Drums
Jean B. Affonco: Bass
EmOcean
Lost In The Waters Of Sargasso
Poseidon's Trident
Nocturnal Breeze
Dolphin's Wake
Part Two
Underwater Fears
Fanta Sea
The Souls Of Atlantis
Sapientia Vitae
Azure Dreams
Part Three
Aqua Phoenix
Aero Nautical
EmOcean
Bonus Tracks
Crystal Moon
Fears Of An Enchanted Sea
http://www.tandet.freeserve.co.uk
Tracks:
