Shamall

Artist: Shamall
P: 2006
LTD:
"...Ambiguous Points Of View" is the 10th release from Norbert Krüler aka Shamall, who demonstrates his ability to produce progressive rock and krautrock as well as electronic music. The incipiencies of becoming more progressive were shown on Shamall's previous releases " The Book: Genesis" and " who do they think they are ". With the new album "Ambiguous points of view", the metamorphosis from an electronic artist to a progressive rock project has been completed. The double-cd comes up with a first-class digibook, which could easily match with the state-of-the-art releases from the progressive label "Inside Out" [...] And the music matches the extraordinary visual appearance as well, because both musical themes "Everything Has Two Sides" and "Far Away From Reality" attract your ears instantly. On both epic titles, which consist of several parts, Shamall performs a mixture between Pink Floyd and Eloy, combining this with his very own musical style. Everyone, who grew up with Pink Floyd's music from "Dark Side Of Moon" up to "The Wall" and with the early works (70's-80's) of the german band Eloy, will feel at home with "Ambiguous points of view" [....] In my opinion, this album is one of the musical highlights of the year 2006. Both visual appearance and music are first-class and I could recommended this release without any restrictions. This album is available as limited edition only, so don't miss it...." Stephan Schelle, January 2007

Artist: Shamall
P: 2001
"....Shamall (which loosely translates as "desert wind") is actually one man: Norbert Krueler. This inspired German musician is blessed with the unrestrainable ability to create a particularly dynamic and dramatic form of electronic music. This 2-CD release from 2001 features 148 minutes of such energetic sonic ecstasy.[...]
Shamalls music is epic in sound, performance, proportion, and scope. This music reaches a state of symphonic presence despite the lack of any orchestral touches. The incredible fusion of a thousand genres of music into a passionate sonic expression is the starting point-from there it builds with alarming velocity and breathtaking impact.

Artist: Shamall
P: 1993/ 2000
This is a must for all Shamall fans. CD 1 contains the early works from the 80ies. Some of them are released for the first time here.
CD 2 is a collection of rare demos and other unreleased material as a document in time.

Artist: Shamall
P: 2016
The tragical nuclear desaster in Fukushima aroused Shamall's personal passion to protest within his means for the energy turnaround in 2011. To rise up against nuclear energy he set a lot of musical emotions free. An hour of this album contains completed songs and tracks of the "Turn Off" theme, which did not fit on the last album, due to the length limitation of a cd. Something about 20 minutes – you could call it bonus material – are first compositions and rehearsals. This refers to „it's been a while“ and „so much is on the line“. So everything is said about the album. It contains exclusively unreleased music compositions and songs – just the continuation of the „Turn Off“ theme. All in all about 78 minutes of emotional tracks. This cd is also available as a part of the 5-CD Box "History Book" (Shamall's 30 Years Anniversary Edition). Because of many inquiries we decided to publish this 5th disc as a separate release. 

Artist: Shamall
P: 2016
The name of this album says all about it. "History Book" – is a review of 30 years of epic musical creation from Shamall. It was a long way from the first mainstream-releases of the eighties to the current, timeless neo-progressive rock hymns.The "History Book" contains 5 CD's. It musically traces the career of Shamall and illustrated the musical development of the project in an impressive way. The musical output is arranged chronologically in this 5-piece CD-Box. CD 1 will start with the first longplayer release „Journey To a Nightmare", which came out in 1989. The disc contains the title theme of this album as well as the audience favorites "Turning Point" and "Nothing to say". „Physical Visions" and "Moments of Illusion" were taken from the same-named album from 1990, which was the first album going around the world, because the companies German „Telekom“ and „Time Life“ have used it's music for movies and commercials. The B-Side „Caligula 2009“ from Shamall's first hit single „My Dream“ (charts rank Nr. 9) which came out in 1986 has been modified especially for the fans of Shamall's very early works. This edited version is now a minute and ten seconds longer than the original version and the last track on CD one. CD 2 is devoted to the albums „In Search of Precision“ (1994) and "Mirror to Eternity" (1993) with it's same-named title. Even the unforgotten track "Mission Hussein" with it's extended drum solo is not missing. The following tracks "Ambrosia", the equally successful "Time Machine" and "In Search of Precision" make this CD to a varied experience. CD 3 continues with the highlights of the albums "This Island Earth", "Influences" and "The Book: Genesis". The well-known WDR-radio show „Schwingungen“ voted the title „New Age Krautrock Symphony“ as „best title of the year 2002“. CD 4 celebrates the musical turnaround of Shamall. Starting with the album „Who do they think they are“, where guitars and vocals found their way into Shamall's music. Altogether the music style became more native and more rocking. Political and socio-critical lyrics that accompanied the vocal parts of the concept albums from now on, aroused the interest of international music fans. With this new neo progressive music concept Shamall celebrated his first bigger success in the US, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and especially in Russia. Therefore the tracks "Hey You" from the album "Who do they think they are", "The Difference between" from "Ambiguous points of view" and "What will happen" from "Questions of Life" are an absolut must on this cd – as well as "Don't get your panties in a bunch"and "Is this human behavior“ from the same-named album. The jury of the JPF Foundation awarded „Ambiguous points of view“ in two ways – the whole album and 3 tracks were voted as best releases of the year in the category "Progressive Rock". In a competition where 560,000 attendees from over 90 countries with 42,000 albums took part. CD 5 includes exclusively unreleased songs based on the double album "Turn Off" from 2013. It's basic theme fascinated Shamall so intensely, that it left a lot of recorded ideas for a third CD. So the 5th CD of „History Book" completes the compilation as a CD with absolute new music. This fifth CD will certainly delight the fans, who are waiting for a musical sign of life from Shamall. Because of many inquiries CD 5 is also available as a regular album under the name „Continuation“.

Artist: Shamall
P: 1994/ 2000
".....If you would ask Norbert Krueler in the year 1994 for his personal favorite, he would have answered without hesitation: "In Search of Precision". At that time this album was his whole pride, because it reflects Norberts high demands concerning classical compositions. Without doubt, this album stands out a little bit against previous releases. All compositions are substantially more complex. The title "In Search of Precision" and the opus "Dream of a better world" (with 5 parts) show particularly Shamalls search for musical precision. The sound of each title is crystal-clear, the arrangements are outstanding and the brilliant impression of the whole let you suppose, that everything would be played in with an orchestra. The detailed work of the classic passages shows Shamalls obsession to rise to perfection. "In Search of Precision" breaks all rules of electronic pop music. "Heartland" (the first part of "Dream of a better world") conveys a slight feeling of "Johann Sebastian Bach" - an incredible artistic masterpiece.
But "Horizons", "Ambrosia" and "Time Machine" are truly tidbits for Shamall-Fans. The great variety of this album is completed with ballads like "Theme of a Broken Romance" and "Tell me why"....."

Artist: Shamall
P: 1997/ 2000
"...Some of you might agree when I am saying "Sometimes Electro and Trance are closer to ambient progrock than progrock itself". The german project SHAMALL is an extraordinary proof for this. Sensitive beats, great keyboards, groovin lead sounds, dynamic parts, lots of chill-outs lead to an album that is a "must buy" -recommendation for all fans of bands like Cosmic Baby, Tangerine Dream, mastermind L.T.J. Bukem AND for progrockers with an open mind for electronic music.

Artist: Shamall
P: 2009
On his more recent albums "who do they think they are" to "questions of life" Shamall dealed with dishonest politics or with questions of the meaning of life. With the new concept album "is this human behavior" Shamall addresses himself to social coldness and superficialty of the society.
The 65-minute title theme of the first cd "is this human behavior" shows in a familiar, multi-faceted way with different tension curves, that Norbert Krueler feels musically at home in the psychedelic-progressive era of the seventies and eighties, but without sounding ancient.
But it's not the music itself, which reminds of the well-known musicians of the 70's and 80's - rather the sounds used by Shamall and his inspired way of playing conveys this feeling.
The title theme of the second cd "living incommunicado" goes on with the first cd, but with different melodies and soli. The whole album is another proof, that Shamall is not tired to perfect the work on his musical project.
However, Shamall's 12th album is anything but musical fastfood, which you could listen to only by the way. And as no meaningful speech goes without pathos, Shamall's music is intrinsically tied to pathos as well. But if one likes this kind of music and goes in for musical long tracks, with this album you'll get one's money's worth.
Guest musicians on some tracks are - as on previous shamall releases - Matthias Mehrtens on guitar and Mike Bach on drums.