Just 14 months after the atmospheric roots rock/Americana gem "Out In The Desert," singer, songwriter, and guitarist TG COPPERFIELD presents his 11th album, an intimate folk-rock record inspired by Hermann Hesse's famous novel "Steppenwolf," which explores inner turmoil. Recorded by Marcus Praed (Tito & Tarantula, among others) at the Mühle der Freundschaft in Bad Iburg, the album captures eight songs live in no more than 15 hours of total recording time, embodying the spirit of Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.
Completely without a click track, safety net, or false bottom, "Steppenwolf" relies on the little imperfections and the humanity that we've come to love so much in rock and roll over the decades. The vibe was crucial, and thus "Steppenwolf" is almost like a beautifully stubborn anachronism, like a voice from a bygone era. "I wanted to put the songs on tape exactly as I wrote them: without overthinking everything and as directly as possible. The feeling plays a big role here!" says COPPERFIELD.
The studio also played a crucial role. The equipment at the Mühle der Freundschaft is ancient—some of it dating back to the 50s—which contributed significantly to the warm, analog, and timeless sound of the record. Especially in an era where technology allows for perfect music every time, "Steppenwolf" was intended to be the exact opposite: like a beating heart, a living organ, the band plays with a relaxed and casual quality that no machine in the world can reproduce. In the largely acoustic environment, the song "Burn In Hell" stands out because, as an anti-war song, it simply has to be a little louder. "Highway Café" sounds like a classic country song from the XNUMXs, and "The Lord Of The Flies" could easily be on Neil Young's "Harvest" album. "Steppenwolf" once again demonstrates the great versatility with which TG COPPERFIELD strides seemingly effortlessly between genres. This is what makes the performances of his Acoustic Trio and the Electric Band so exciting, as you can always expect great surprises.
01 From The Cradle To The Grave
02 Burn In Hell
03 The Lord of the Flies
04 My Dirty Mind
05 Jonah & The Whale
06 Highway Café
07 The Night Is Coming Down
08 The Call of the Wild
