Stern Meissen

Exploring Reise Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen

Released in 1980, Reise Zum Mittelpunkt Des Menschen is the third studio album by the East German progressive rock band Stern Meissen, also known as Stern-Combo Meissen. This album represents a significant entry in the band’s discography, particularly as a concept album focusing on the complexities of human existence. The recording took place at Rundfunk der DDR in East Berlin and was released by the state-run AMIGA label.

Concept and Composition

The album is a progressive rock-opera composed by keyboardist Thomas Kurzhals, featuring lyrics by Kurt Demmler, a prominent poet and lyricist in East Germany. It consists of five interconnected suites that delve into themes of inner psyche and societal alienation. The centerpiece of the album is the suite titled "Hinwendung," which runs for an expansive 13 minutes and 28 seconds. The music combines rich synthesizer arrangements and operatic vocals, drawing comparisons to bands like Pink Floyd and Genesis.

Musical Structure and Instrumentation

Stern Meissen employs a variety of instruments on this album. The lineup includes Kurzhals on Minimoog synthesizer, grand piano, and Mellotron, among others. Lead vocalist Reinhard Fißler contributes acoustic guitar and showcases his operatic vocal style throughout the album. Other members include Lothar Kramer on keyboards, Peter Rasym on bass guitar, Michael Behm on drums, and Martin Schreier on acoustic guitar and percussion. This diverse instrumentation helps create a complex sound that is characteristic of symphonic progressive rock.

Track Highlights

Key tracks include "Allein," which opens the album, and "Menschenzeit," which closes it. Each piece flows into the next, creating a continuous listening experience that emphasizes the album's conceptual nature. The dual-synthesizer counterpoints and layered arrangements further enhance the thematic exploration of human emotion and introspection.

This album was printed by VEB Gotha-Druck with the catalog number 8 55 811 / 8 55 812.