The Savage Rose - In The Plain (1968) {Germany 1st Press}

×

The Savage Rose - In The Plain (1968) {Germany 1st Press}

Close

Danish rock group founded in 1967 by Anders Koppel and Thomas Koppel with Annisette Hansen, Jens Rugsted, Flemming Ostermann, Alex Riel and Ilse Maria Koppel as a backing-project for a TV-show. Their debut as an established rock-group was in May 1968 on Plænen in Tivoli, Copenhagen.

The Savage Rose became rapidly popular in Denmark, but also to some extent abroad. Their lyrics were inspired by Bob Dylan, and the music was a mixture of classical music and US westcoast psychedelic rock, characterized by vocalist Annisette. In fall 1971 The Savage Rose became reduced to a trio on account of musical disagreements – The Koppel Brothers and Annisette wanted to change the musical style towards soul and gospel. The Savage Rose reorganized as a group in 1973, and recorded Wild Child, - but split up in January 1975.

The group reformed as Savage Rose in 1977 now with Danish lyrics, a strong political engagement and in opposition to the established commercial music industry. Through the 80s the group played in Palestinian refugee- and partisan-camps, in Albania and at many manifestations on the political left wing. In this underground period Savage Rose released eight albums (almost all on independent labels) – while living among the underprivileged of Copenhagen. Core members in this period were Thomas Koppel, Annisette and John Ravn.

In 1995 Savage Rose had their second commercial break-through with the album Black Angel – the first album in English for many years. The successor Tameless and subsequent releases were again released as The Savage Rose, while the band for a period lived in US. Even after the sudden death of Thomas Koppel in February 2006, The Savage Rose continued releasing and doing live performances.

In the Plain by Denmark's Savage Rose has a striking cover photo with psychedelic color coordinated band members surrounded by wild pink lettering of the group name. Inside is innovative music, pretty much living up to the typical Polygram hype from this era written on the back cover. "Let's See Her" sounds like Ten Wheel Drive meets Vanilla Fudge; brothers Anders Koppel and Thomas Koppel wrote seven of the eight tracks, and created with this one clever sound and arrangements. The sleeper on In the Plain, though, is the one non-original, five minutes and 38 seconds of "Ride My Mountain," a composition by Jade. It's a wonderful production number where Anisette's vocal scream out over the very together instrumentation. The back cover photo reflects the intensity of "Ride My Mountain," the band looking like exiles of Charles Manson's clan in the positive of the back cover photo, a larger negative version above it making this import very hip. The Savage Rose look like they are auditioning for the film The Savage Seven. The opening track reminds one of a hipper Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and there is no doubt that Savage Rose find more inspiration in their music than similar bands from the era. The production is somewhat like Davd Briggs' work on Alice Cooper's Easy Action, while titles like "The Shepherd & Sally" are as experimental as anything on that early Cooper disc. Having the male vocals on "His Own Happiness" is unnecessary, sort of like Big Brother & the Holding Company letting Janis Joplin take a time out. Thankfully, Anissette comes back after a mini-instrumental interlude for a rare look at the band's sangfroid. It is also interesting to hear Thomas Koppel's to-be ex-wife, Llse Maria Koppel, on harpsichord backing his next wife, Anissette. "Evening's Child" is like a psychedelic powwow of jazz-influenced garage rock which cascades into the dirge that is "A Trial in Our Native Town." Without the polish producer Jimmy Miller would bring to the mix on Refugee, In the Plain is a very good look at a highly creative band.

~ Joe Viglione, All Music