Some people know that Max Werner was a vocalist, musician, and drummer born in the Netherlands. He was most known being the lead singer, drummer, and percussionist of the progressive art rock band Kayak. Werner co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager, and drummer Pim Koopman. The last two musicians named, unfortunately already died much too soon. Max sang lead vocals and played mellotron on Kayak's first five albums. He later switched to drums until the band split up in 1982. In 1999, he returned as singer for the Kayak album Close To The Fire. After a short tour in 2000, he had to leave again due to health problems. Werner also recorded four solo albums: Rainbow's End (1979), Seasons (1981), How Can It Be... Like This? (1988) and Not The Opera (1995). His biggest success as a solo artist was in May 1981. Because he scored a hit single with Rain In May (taken from Seasons), which peaked at No. 3 in the Netherlands and was a huge success in certain other European countries as well. In June of that same year, the song also peaked as high as No. 74 on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts. In September 1981, the song peaked at No. 2 in Germany. Werner died on 9 April 2024, at the age of 70. Max Werner's solo albums had never been released on CD before. Until now. Thanks to Iconoclassic Records. They managed to release Seasons, his second solo album, on compact disc this year. Making sure you have the best audio possible, which you don't find on a download stream! It was remastered by Wouter Bessels, former Background Magazine reviewer and editor. Making it sounding very good. The album has everything to do with the success of Rain In May. Its rather weird that Rain In May became a big success in several countries, because Max Werner wasn't exactly thrilled with life in the spotlight; he preferred the shadow of his drums. Or better yet, he enjoyed delivering the mail. Ironically, he had his biggest hit as a solo artist, which meant he had to be in the spotlight. Producer Chris Pilgram, who wrote the song with a certain Meldon, had been peddling the song to record companies for over three years until he finally found the right voice for it. Max Werner turned it into a worldwide hit, charting in the Netherlands, Germany, and the US. The song wasn't without controversy. It was released at a time when Phil Collins had a big hit with In The Air Tonight. Like Werner, Phil Collins was a drummer who sang. Kayak had previously been inspired by Genesis, the band Collins played drums in. And so, some critics claimed that Rain In May sounded a lot like In The Air Tonight. Pilgram can still get angry about that in 2025. "There were those—you'd call them woke DJs these days, those canal-belt types—who immediately claimed it was all Phil Collins's copycat." The fact is, Max Werder didn't start singing or drumming because Phil Collins did. "If those canal-belt types had been better informed, they would have known that the song existed three and a half years before Phil Collins even considered a solo career." According to Pilgram, the people at Iconoclassic know nothing of this history; they focused solely on the music itself. "They just listened and thought: wow, this is a fantastic record." Rain In May is written in common time. The track has a tempo of 98 beats per minute and is played in the key of G major. In the lyrics, the male narrator describes his depressive mood during the three seasons: autumn (first stanza), winter (second stanza) and summer in the last stanza. The only time of year he feels comfortable is spring, especially during the month of May. Various unpleasant phenomena that occur in every season are discussed, such as cold and slippery roads in winter. At the end of each verse and in the chorus, he expresses his euphoria in relation to the eponymous Rain In May. Because of the theme of seasons on this tune they decided to come up with a concept album about the four seasons. Most of the songs for the album, Seasons, were written by the duo Pilgrim/ Meldon. Pilgrim also did some percussion, vocal and keyboard parts. Werner wrote only three compositions. One together with the late Edward Reekers, at the time lead singer with Kayak and had replaced Max behind the microphone. One cover was also added. Summer In The City, a song by the Canadian-American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Released in 1966. They created on this album a great sounding cover much in the style of the other compositions. Meaning lots of big drum sounds! Max himself played keyboards, percussion, drums (without hi-hat and cymbals, they covered them with tea towels) and of course the lead and backing vocals. Reekers and Ton Scherpenzeel (keyboard player Kayak) also contributed on the album. As for the songs on this album it is easy to say that the music is rather commercial sounding and has nothing to do with the music of Kayak or his debut solo album. It is dominated instrumentally by big drums, spare guitar, synthesizers, vocoder and the Roland CR78 drum machine. Don't get me wrong they don't sound bad. They still are of a rather strong level. But not as complex as the songs he recorded with Kayak. You could say that Crystals (So Cold) is the only tune moving into that direction music wise. Because it is a mellow progressive rock tune. The rest of the compositions are too much dominated by the big drum sound. This reissue contains all the eleven original album tracks. Plus one bonus track. Namely Stop And Start. Which was released one year later as a single and sound much as Rain In May. Pilgrim tried to copy the single. It has a certain Christmas spirit but was released just after Christmas. All in all is Seasons a fine album to listen to with 12 strong compositions. Werner is not selling out himself on this release, but moves music wise into less complex compositions. Songs which are more easy to digest. Sometimes reminding me of early Phill Collins and Peter Gabriel stuff. Hopefully Iconoclassic Records will also release his other three solo albums, so everyone knows what Max was capable of musically during his musical career. And not only playing in Kayak and releasing a hit single! *** Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
