Blank Manuskript – The Waiting Soldier (2015, CD, Austria)

Tracklist:
1 Induction 6:09
2 Public Enemy 5:42
3 Kites To Sky 2:53
4 Doubts 3:44
5 The Night 9:16
6 Conclusion 5:06
7 Cloud 6:35

Musicians:
Alto Saxophone – Jakob Aistleitner
Baritone Saxophone, Trombone, Flute, Electric Guitar – Manuel Schoenegger
Classical Guitar – Cecilio Perera
Drums, Percussion – Klaus Ackermann
Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Producer – Alfons Wohlmuth
Electric Guitar – Helmut Mühlbacker, Peter Baxrainer
French Horn, Trumpet, Vocals – David Saudek
Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Vocals, Producer – Dominik Wallner
Vocals – Georg Dörnberger, Nora Sigl

Blank Manuskript is an ArtRock project from Salzburg, Austria. Typical long songs ornamented with a high level of symphonic density and elaborate polyphonic structures as well as extended improvised sections lead their audience through an entire musical adventure. Their compositional approach seeks to combine all sorts of different styles and traditions needed to serve the initial concept of their works. Hence, the arrangements are carefully structured with complex rhythmical patterns and establish a sound-scape that can hardly be found in music nowadays. The lyrical elements are picturesque with a worked out mystic touch and though at a first glance arcane, they always address current social issues in an implicit way. As the music always follows the narrated concept, one might label it contemporary rock program music.

The band was formed in 2007 with the aim of working on fully-fledged concept albums without the pressure of having to follow a certain musical style. Blank Manuskript's first publication was the concept album Tales from an Island - Impressions from Rapa Nui (2009). The album deals with the formation of society and culture in the example of Easter Island, and culminates in a fictional love story wrapped around the famous Birdman Cult. Their second album A Profound Path (2013), which is often described as being of a much darker nature than its predecessor, is a musical journey from hell to heaven and is loosely based on Dante's Divinia Comedia. In 2015, Blank Manuskript released "The Waiting Soldier", dealing with the loss of identity in human beings. The story is set in an undetermined time and can also be applied to modern day life. (progarchives)