Endurance of the Obsolete

Interpretations (9:41)
Waiting for the Dawn (5:43)
Endurance of the Obsolete (12:06)
Spirits Disengage (8:34)
The Complex Extensive Way (12:55)
Overruled (16:35)

The new Apogee Album will be released in June 2020 on Progressive Promotion Records (www.ppr-shop.de).

The title of the Album is "Endurance of the Obsolete" and the title Listing is as follows:

1. Interpretations  9:41

2. Waiting for the Dawn  5:43

3. Endurance of the Obsolete  12:06

4. Spirits Disengage  8:34

5. The Complex Extensive Way  12:55

6. Overruled  16:35

 

The line-up has not changed and Apogee are still

Arne Schäfer: Lead and Backing Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Fretted and Fretless Bass Guitars and Orchestral Arrangements

Ebi Graef: Drums and Percussion

The new Album again provides Classic Progressive Rock and this time you will find some obvious Gentle Giant influences in form of counterpoint a capella vocal and convoluted instrumental arrangements with odd meters, as well as atmospheric textures of accoustic guitars, driving rock songs with solistic escapades and orchestral passages. As usual the Apogee songs consist of multiple themes, which were interwoven to complex, dynamic-symphonic structures.

All tracks were composed and arranged by Arne and recorded between 2017 and 2020 in Mühlheim and Offenbach, Germany. Drums were arranged in teamwork by Ebi and Arne. Thanks to Ekki Nahm for an arrangement suggestion on the middle section of “Endurance of the Obsolete”. All lyrics by Arne. The lyrics of the title track are inspired by Bernd Webler’s great cover art (Please also visit his website at www.berndwebler.de). Bernd also again took over Art & Layout/electronic publishing. Executive producer is Oliver Wenzler of Progressive Promotion Records.


Reviews

Some comments to the Apogee Album "Endurance of the Obsolete", released in 2020:



In 6 Tracks bietet Schäfer uns viel Gitarrenarbeit, oft unterlegt mit schwebenden Keys, manchmal aber auch mit fetterem Orgelsound und allgegenwärtigen Drums. Diese gefallen mir gut und Graef sorgt für Abwechslung und in einigen Momenten für erstauntes Augenrollen. …

Das Album ist in den Gesangslinien durchweg leicht verständlich, besitzt aber wie bereits erwähnt teils sehr lange Soli an Gitarre und Keyboards. Das muss der Hörer akzeptieren, was aber dadurch erleichtert wird, dass diese Soli nicht verkopft sind, sondern stets melodiös gespielt werden. Nach 3-4maligem Anhören sind diese bereits fest im Kopf gespeichert und wer ein echter Fan von Apogee ist, der darf sich das Album somit ohne Reue bestellen. Er erhält genau das, was er sich von der Band erwartet, vielleicht sogar etwas mehr. Gegenüber dem Vorgänger ist „Endurance Of The Obsolete“ eine Steigerung.

(babyblaue-seiten.de, Juni 2020)

Zu hören gibt es wieder Prog der alten Schule, wobei man diesmal entspannter an die Sache herangeht und nicht mehr versucht jeden Song bis zum Anschlag zu füllen. Lange Instrumentalpassagen, die allerdings eher melodiös als frickelig gespielt werden, bestimmen das Bild, wobei man sagen muss, dass die Musik an sich eher in die ruhige Richtung geht und Anleihen bei Genesis oder Gentle Giant sicher nicht unbeabsichtigt sind.

(ffm-rock.de, Juni 2020)

APOGEE: Wer’s klassisch progressive mag, der muss hier hinhören

Die Ein-Mann-Show bedient das Subgenre des Retro-Prog vollends: ausladende Arrangements wie man sie von den genreprägenden Größen Yes, Genesis kennt, lange Soli, komplexe Kompositionen stets nahe oder über der 10-Minuten-Marke. Es kommen auch tulleske Flöten und Gentle-Giant-Satzgesänge (alle von Arne selbst eingesungen) vor. Da blüht das Herz des Retro-Proggers auf und hinter den Produktionen heutiger Genrefavoriten wie den Flower Kings braucht sich Arne Schäfer zu verstecken.

(musicheadquarter.de, Juni 2020)

The extensive instrumental piece is delicious. Arne sings solo for a moment, after that there is a cappella vocals. Everything is sung by Arne, well done! The symphonic elements are sometimes subtly interwoven with the whole. Arne’s guitar playing is super. And to think that he doesn’t only sing and play the guitar, but also the bass and all the keyboards have been played by Arne. Even the orchestral arrangements are arranged by him. Last but not least: Eberhard Graef’s drumming fits perfectly with the music and makes it complete.

(rockmuzine.nl, July 2020)

Das neunminütige ´Interpretations´ besitzt den Schwung der siebzigerjahre Artrock- und insbesondere Rock-Klassiker, inklusive fulminantem Gitarrenspiel und mehrstimmigem Satzgesang á la GENTLE GIANT, und eröffnet 65 Minuten feinsten Retro Prog. …

Auf dem Sektor des teutonischen Retro-Prog gehört Arne Schäfers APOGEE allemal zu den kleinen Edelsteinen, die sein Schöpfer tunlichst weiter hegen und pflegen sollte.

(streetclip.de, July 2020)

Der knapp zehnminütige Opener ‚Interpretations‘ deutet an, was auch im weiteren Verlauf bestätigt wird – die Kompositionen dürften ganz nach dem Geschmack des Symphonic Prog Fans sein…

„Endurance Of The Obsolete“ gehört für den Schreiberling zu den bisher besten Apogee-Alben, nicht zuletzt weil ihm einige schöne Melodien und Arrangements gelungen sind und die Instrumentalparts wieder gut ausgearbeitet und stimmig rüberkommen, gutes Beispiel hierfür ist der Song ‚Spirits Disengage‘.

(betreutesproggen.de, Juli 2020)

Bis zum Ende bleibt diese Textur von Folk-Progressive, aber auch von Progressive a la Tangent allgegenwärtig und bietet Musik, die oft akustisch und zeitlich abgestimmt ist. Elektrische Anstiege führen uns zu einem eher Vintage-Rock-Progressive, aber vergessen wir hier nicht die bemerkenswerte Gesangsarbeit! Apogee setzt sein Abenteuer fort, indem es sein eigenes Universum über den Alben aufbaut und seinen Fans und allen, die die Arbeit von Arne Schäfer entdecken möchten, ein Ergebnis bietet, das The Tangent oder der frühen Genesis nahe kommt.

(Automatic Translation)

(musicinbelgium.net, 2020)

Eine klare Empfehlung für Retro Prog Freunde

(IO Pages Sept 2020)

I must say that this album gave me a nice surprise, since one can find here a lot of tasteful and intricate vocal conterpoint in the loving style of Gentle Giant, but without incurring in a plain copy or pastiche. There's also, along with the recognizable pattern of voices and acoustic guitars, some original flavor in melodies and arrangements, as well as clever and skilful song writing, and that makes this new listen worth. I can point out a resemblance to dutch prog rockers Focus too, for example in the keyboards fanfare and vocal chorus of the opening track ("Interpretations"). But that one, and the other influences, are organically integrated in the music that runs fluid following its own path, and conforming an original and solid idea.

(progarchives.com, September 2020)

Aided only by drummer and percussionist Eberhard Graef, it’s a true feat of endeavour that Apogee always sound like a band and a fully realised one at that.

Much of the German prog master’s basis comes from a much more English base, with a pastoral feel bringing us into a land that the likes of Gentle Giant once roamed proudly. And yet Endurance Of The Obsolete - which comes replete with impressive artwork from Bernd Webler, which is a true joy on the eye - is no overtly respectful homage, instead adding new elements to the familiar themes.

(seaoftranquility.org, 2020)

Ably assisted on percussion by Eberhard Graef, Shafer puts in a tour de force on guitars, keyboards and vocals an impressive feat given the complexity of the multi-textured arrangements which range from standard driving rock to full blown symphonic textures…this has a great feel to it with assured compositions rooted firmly in 20th century prog rock ethos…The extended songs are well constructed and the arrangements, given the solo musician are admirable in their multi-textured feel and complex changes of tone and style.

(Background Magazine, November 2020)

Conclusion. Apogee as of 2020 strikes me as a band that should have a fairly good appeal among progressive rock fans. "Endurance of the Obsolete" is an album in need of fans that enjoy epic length compositions with enough twists and turns to merit the description challenging, as well as those who do not see the need for such creations to be within or in touch with the symphonic landscapes of the progressive rock universe at all times. In my view this is probably the most accomplished creation form this venture I have come across so far, and a strong album overall.

(progressor.net, August 2020)

I find this album interesting and it's getting better after several listens, especially the Gentle Giant multi-part vocal sections in the opening Interpretations and the great symphonic prog rock parts and folk feelings. In spite of having great keyboard and Mellotron playing, my favourite parts are those played by guitar, classic and latin, but also the very good riffs here and there.

Interpretations and the Overruled are clearly winners in this album but I'm sure each listener will easily enjoy any of the remaining compositions.

(Dutch Progressive Rock Pages (dprp.net), 2020)

Wie immer bietet uns Herr SCHÄFER hochwertige Musik ohne Kompromisse an ... Er ist glücklich und wir auch !!...

Dieses neue Album des APOGEE-Projekts, das sich immer einem progressiven Jahrgang zugewandt hat und in der Tat vielen großen legendären Formationen der 70er Jahre wie Genesis und Jethro Tull nahe steht, könnte Sie an neuere Gruppen erinnern, und ich denke an Tangent. Ein Album, das diese und die neuen Fans anspricht, gibt Ihnen Zeit zum Anhören.

(Automatic Translation)

(profilprog.com,2020)

Classic Epic Sound from Apogee

Apogee has become one of the finest progressive rock bands in Germany’s current scene. The group is deeply influenced by the progressive rock giants of the 1970s like Yes and Genesis. Thankfully, it’s prog-metal free as well…

Apogee is the project of multi-instrumentalist Arne Schaefer who plays a wide range of musical instruments and also provides lead and backing vocals. What stands out is Schaefer’s masterful instrumental work on guitars and keyboards featuring wonderful guitars licks and majestic orchestrations, including the always popular mellotron sound, along with notable bass work. Schaefer is joined by a great drummer named Eberhard Graef who delivers creative drumming throughout the album.

(progressiverockcentral.com, July 2020)

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