Hans Platz – Timestamps (2013)

To be honest here, I have never heard the name of Hans Platz till’ now that I received the promo of his debut album to write a review. Hans Platz is a German guitarist that has many years of studio and live experience with several bands. For some years now, he plays in the band‚Feuerschwanz„, with whom he was already able to celebrate chart successes.

He had lessons, among others, at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and he learned at seminars from musicians like the gypsy jazz guitarist Joscho Stephan, Peter Wölpl or the Swedish guitar wizard Mattias IA Eklundh, who also contributed to a guest solo to the song „Deadman?.
For this first step, Hans collaborates with some well-known musicians such as Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani, Aristocrats), Wolfgang Haffner (Passport, Metro, Till Bronner), TM Stevens (James Brown, Joe Cocker, Steve Vai, Billy Joel, John McLaughlin) and Pete Griffin (Zappa plays Zappa) to create an album not only for the guitar maniacs out there but for all the real music fans. All songs here are mixed by Fabio Trentini (produced i.a. the Guano Apes).
The music here can be characterized as the perfect mix of the two guitar schools; European’s and U.S.’ scene. His guitar skills are incredible and in same parts the fusion/jazzier elements make the whole project just brilliant!! There are some really excellent and extremely melodic tunes such as “Father” and “Alive” that travels you to other places. But, when it comes to some serious guitar-driven tracks like “Axetasy” and “This Is War”, the only thing that you have to do is to turn up the volume on 10!!! Listen, also, to the more complex tracks such as “Freak Sauna”, “Red Room Nine” and “Timestamps” and you’ll understand what I’m talking about!
I had many years to hear something so good and I have to say that I enjoyed every single minute of “Timestamps”!!! Hans Platz achieves to put his own identity in each of the songs here and, at the end, to create a great instrumental record! The mix of many elements (rock, fusion, jazz, heavy rock, e.t.c.) make the whole project extremely interesting not only for the guitar freaks but, also, for every serious rock fan out there!

01. Birdrange
02. Spanish Race On A Devil’s Highway
03. Pull It Out
04. Father
05. Red Room Nine
06. Axetasy
07. Freak Sauna
08. Deadman
09. Timestamps
10. This Is War
11. Alive

Hans Platz (guitars)
Fabio Trentini (bass -#1,2,4,6,8,10)
Pete Griffin (bass – #3,5,9,11)
T.M. Stevens (bass – #7)
Marco Minnemann (drums – #2,3,9,10)
Wolfgang Haffner (drums – #1,4,11)
Wolfram Kellner (drums – #5-7)
Simon Michael (drums – #8)
Mattias IA Eklundh (guest guitar solo – #8)

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