Paternoster - Paternoster 1972

One of the strangest and obscure bands to emanate from continental Europe during the glory years of the progressive rock movement of the early seventies was Vienna's Paternoster. While one can count the number of Austrian progressive rock bands from this era on one hand , most notably Eela Craig, Paternoster stood alone with their singular LP simply titled Paternoster which was derived from The Lord's Prayer in German by amalgamating Pater ( Lord ) and Noster ( Prayer ). Distinquished by the haunting dirge-like mournful vocal stylings of organist / vocalist Franz Wippel backed by guitarist / vocalist Gerhard Waller, bassist Gerhart Walenta and drummer Heimo Wisser they achieved a unique sound during the two years of their short existence from 1970-72. Not a Krautrock band per se, although almost always categorized as such, contemporary Kraurock elements were evident particularily in the form of primitive electronic effects in the form of distorted guitars and echo boxes similar to early Guru Guru and Tangerine Dream's primitive audio experiments. Classical devices were also employed which added to a gothic church-like sound at times.

While the sombre timbre of Wippel's dreary vocal deliveries might suggest sacreligious overtones they are quite the opposite. Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull were criticized for being anti-religious on their respective Master Of Reality and Aqualung albums but their messages were actually pro-religion but anti-church if listened to carefully. Albeit rather cynical Paternoster' s somewhat complex and poetic lyrics (sung in English) attempted to achieve the same protest against organized religion as exemplified by the relatively blatant track, " The Pope Is Wrong ". They also sang about suicide and death but the nightmarish meloncholic atmospheres created by Wippel's moaning vocals were contrasted by the very British sounding Hammond Organ led instrumenal accompaniments ( the only keyboard used on the album ) and Waller's psychedelic fuzzed out guitar. Comparisons have often been made to early Pink Floyd, The Nice, Uriah Heep and sometimes Van der Graaf Generator as well as to early material from German bands Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, Virus, Pell Mell, Kin Ping Meh and the vocals of Jane.

Having disbanded shortly after releasing their lone LP in October 1972, Paternoster faded into Krautrock folklore along with other one album Krautrock wonders such as Dies Irae, Necronimicon and Sperrmull. Their mystique continued into the age of the internet where original vinyl copies of their eponymous 1972 recording have been known to fetch as much as $2000 on ebay as well as at record conventions. In 1991 a small German label, Ohrswashl records, which specializes in psychedelic music, released the album on CD and more recently on 180 grain vinyl with a full reproduction of the original album jacket. Both were reproduced by transferring vinyl to digital as all the master tapes had vanished over time. Both reproductions are a feat of audio engineering and the transfers are almost without flaw.

Those with an interest in Krautrock or early progressive rock will not want to miss this jewel from it's glory years. Progarchives.com listen here