The Ant Band: Bonus Bits & Blunders

A review of the Ant Band bonus album

Preface:

The Ant Band is following up. So they respond to the success of A Light On The Hill and the pleas of the fans. Unfortunately, they make it a bit difficult for the reviewer with the follow-up Bonus Bits & Blunders. Even the title! Sure, a reference to Anthony Phillip's Private Parts & Pieces series. Instead of P P & P now B B & B. But, please, Bonus Bits & Blunders? How is that to be understood now? A few bonus tracks, outtakes, alternative versions and some blunders (isn't that called mistakes?). Not only, because the title allusion ... mhm?? Does the Ant Band now want to take off permanently and first fall back on old, leftover, even faulty material? Is it the money that attracts them, or is it the artistic stardom? Questions about questions that will be answered in the following.

Background:

The great response of the fans to the album A Light On The Hill and their wish for a follow-up made the Ant Band, led by Tom Morgenstern, rummage in their music case, conjure up little bonus bits & blunders and put together 40 minutes of music.

The proceeds were again to go to the Corona Artists' Aid. Unfortunately, the willingness to donate has declined too much. The world political situation probably plays an important role in this.

Artwork:

The cover design is based on the layout of the A Light On The Hill album. The listener looks at the Moselle landscape in the background. In the foreground, all the little bits of the cover of the Light album float away in a suitcase attached to a balloon: the neck of the 12-string guitar, the Ant dwarf, the ant and all the enchanting creatures that decorate the cover of the Light album. Tom Morgenstern has taken over the design completely this time. On the back, the titles are listed with liner notes and their contributors. Thus, continuity is maintained and the listener knows what to expect.

The Songs:

The album offers the listener nine tracks, alternative versions, so-called guide versions and live songs from the legendary Anthony Phillips event on 22 and 23 March 2014 in Welkers, Germany.

Moon's Lament For The Sun (guitar mix)

The guitar version of the piece from the Masquerade musical captivates with its intimacy and seems like a raw, unpolished diamond. One feels transported into a living room, where Nina Morgenstern sings beautifully soulful about lost love to the guitar of Sascha Krieger. Hach, the atmosphere makes the reviewer think of a performance in a literary-artistic salon of 19th century Berlin.

This bit stands on an equal footing with the heavy, piano-based elaboration of the Light album. Nina's singing seems more fragile, quieter, more intimate and remains whispering in the ear.

Stranger (Rock mix)

Guitar arpeggios, Robin Morgenstern's vocals, restrained drums and short keyboard solos characterise the song. From minute 2:15, the tempo picks up a little. The whole piece is reminiscent of Tony Banks' solo album A Curious Feeling. We can now let it rock a little, loosely based on Stevie Nicks, Rock a Little. Because the beat seems to be a bit faster, like in the midtempo range, without taking away the melancholy of the lyrics from this version. This mix does not need to fear a comparison with the version of the Light album.

Collections / Sleepfall (live)

Is there anything else to criticise here? Maybe the little blunder at the beginning of the piece? But Sascha Krieger becomes so relaxed as the song progresses, he plays / sings the dreamlike finale of The Geese & The Ghost album in an unbelievably swinging, hippie-esque way that Ant was certainly moved and, like the fans and the reviewer, encouraged to sing along. Yes, which Genesis song does that echo? Oh, the reviewer didn't mention that here is a bonus, the first live recording of the Anthony Phillips event in Welkers on 22 and 23 March 2014 and a highlight of the album.

"Then let us drink - Then let us smile - Then let us go!"

God If I Saw Her Now (Reggae mix)

A reggae version of one of the most beautiful love songs of the Genesis cosmos? Isn't that blasphemy? The track almost sounds like the version from the Light album. If it weren't for this strumming reggae guitar, accompanied by gentle percussion. They give the piece a summery lightness. The sadness about the loss of first love is ironically heightened without taking away the seriousness of the subject. A romantic like Clemens Brentano would have enjoyed it, Ant too? The reviewer, at any rate, feels an impulse to dance in his legs. That can't be wrong.

Field of Eternity (new recording)

This is a newly recorded version by Gereon Schoplick, as there were technical problems er - blunders with the live recording by Welkers. Here he shows how sensitively Gereon can pluck his guitar. The reviewer was already moved in Welkers by the interpretation of one of the most beautiful and probably also most demanding pieces by Anthony Phillips. Gereon, like the bard on the cover of The Geese & The Ghost, takes the listener on a journey into the infinite world of music. Take a deep breath and let the music flow through your body? This bonus is another highlight of the album.

Unheared Cry (unused guide version)

Mhm, a little excursion into the world of musicians? A guide version is a track that serves as an orientation for the musician who is playing his instrument. It is important, for example, for setting the tempo, the vocals, the groove and pitch control. It is especially necessary when not all musicians are on the spot at the same time, as was the case with the Ant Band. Actually, these "auxiliary tracks" are destroyed, but that didn't happen here. So you are gifted with a kind of "naked" version that includes vocals, keyboards, an electric guitar and a percussion track. Apart from the great vocals, the work that Peter Musto, who plays all the instruments himself, did should be noted.

Unfortunately, besides the vocals, only the keyboards found their way onto the finished piece. The tempo didn't harmonise with the 12-string guitars. Yes, they are bitchy, the 12-strings?

Silver Song (live)

The fairy sang and danced in Welkers. The Silver Song was celebrated so beautifully by the Morgenstern Trio. This is how Ant's music can / must sound live. The magic of the Ant Event is captured here. Oh my! May everyone listen to the song themselves and share the reviewer's enthusiasm.

A song of farewell, of departure, an invitation to honour the past, but to turn to the new.

She'll Be Waiting (guide mix)

The final product of the Light album convinces with its Beatles / Strawbs charm. Here again is a guide mix. But this one seems like a finished song and thus represents an equal alternative version. Tom Morgenstern is responsible for the vocals and all instruments. This, yes, folky version revives the time of the late sixties. A beautiful, airy version that would have earned airplay and easily leaves all the "modern" pop songs behind.

Slow Dance (excerpts from Part 1) (live)

The musical highlight of the Anthony Phillips event and the album. Fantastic what Brilla, Krieger, Morgenstern and Waltner deliver here. The music flows wonderfully, building a bridge from the Middle Ages to the present day. Sombre keyboard walls are accompanied by airy guitar duets and cheeky flute melodies. One feels as if one could watch the audience holding its breath, spellbound and devoutly listening. So great was the musical tension. Here, in Welkers, lies the root of The Ant Band project. The reviewer is happy to have been there and glad that a larger audience can now enjoy the slow dance.

It is important to mention Thomas Waltner, whose enthusiasm contributed significantly to the realisation of the idea of playing Ant's music (live). Unfortunately, he passed away far too early in 2017.

Bonus:

Stranger (live) Empire Magazine 144 CD

Another song from the Anthony Phillips event, but released in advance on the Empire CD mentioned above. A beautiful acoustic version with guitar and vocals. Much "leaner", rougher than the band version of the Light album. Here the circle closes. The musical evening of our salon ends with the altogether third version of this melancholic song. Let's have another glass of wine and listen to the sounds blowing in the nightly summer wind?

All in all:

Have the reviewer's flippant questions been answered? So much for making money or serving the purpose of musical adulation! The B B & B album is a nice complement to the "big" A Light on the Hill release. The proceeds go to a good cause.

It offers alternative song variations that stand confidently alongside those of the "Birthday Cake" for Ant. One can follow the process of creation through the guide versions. We can guess how much enthusiasm, how much love was put into this work.

The live pieces take us once again to Welkers, where it all began.

In short, it is a devotion to the music of Anthony Phillips.

Post Script

The reviewer is pleased that these Bonus Bits & Blunders have not been tucked away in the case and left to gather dust for all eternity.

He feels light-hearted, apologises for the moody preface and floats away on the wings of music?

In Memoriam Thomas Waltner

Author: Thomas Jesse

The Bonus-CD is now sold out, but the album can be purchased digitally at Bandcamp.