Walpurgis - Queen of Saba (1972) [Hi-Res]

Walpurgis: The Forgotten Mystics of West Berlin
The band Walpurgis remains one of the most enigmatic and underrated collectives in the history of Krautrock. Despite releasing only one album, their story serves as a perfect snapshot of the experimental West German music scene in the early 1970s.
1. An International Lineup
Unlike many purely German bands of the era, Walpurgis featured a strong Polish influence. Founders and guitarists Jerzy Sokolowski and Ryszard Kalemba brought a distinct European melodicism to the group, which they seamlessly blended with German avant-garde sensibilities.
2. The Album: "Queen of Saba" (1972)
Their sole LP is a quintessential journey into "acid rock."
The Sound: Listening to the title track, you’ll hear long, sprawling improvisations reminiscent of early Pink Floyd or The Grateful Dead. It is "deep-dive" music, characterized by atmospheric textures and soaring guitar solos.
A Connection to Giants: The keyboard parts on the album were performed by Jürgen Dollase, the leader of the famous Krautrock band Wallenstein. His contribution gave the record significant credibility among critics and fans alike.
3. The Cult Status of the OHR Label
The band was fortunate (and perhaps ultimately unfortunate) to be signed to the Ohr label—the "home" of legendary rebels like Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. Today, Ohr releases are considered masterpieces of cover art and production; original vinyl pressings of Queen of Saba are highly sought after, often fetching hundreds of dollars at auction.
4. Why Did They Vanish?
Walpurgis became victims of the industry's volatility. In 1973, the Ohr label collapsed due to legal battles and financial instability. Without a platform or promotional support, the band disbanded before they could gain a solid foothold. The musicians eventually moved on to other projects, leaving behind only 40 minutes of dense, psychedelic magic.

WALPURGIS was founded in the beginning of the 70's by the Polish and German musicians Ryszard Kalemba (guitar), Jerszy Sokolownski (guitar, vocals), George Fruchtenicht (bass), Jan Sundermeyer (percussion, flute), and Manfred Stadelmann (drums, vocals).

During May and June 1972 WALPURGIS recorded their first and only record "Queen of Saba" for the famous German OHR label, in the Dierks Studio in Stommeln, with Dieter Dierks engineering and Frank Öser producing. Jurgen Dollase from the band WALLENSTEIN played keyboards. The band plays a Westcoast and Psychedelic influenced Krautrock. Their music is based on long improvisations mainly on guitar with organ and piano work by Dollase. WALPURGIS didn't break through and never gained a second opportunity, due to the demise of OHR reords in 1973.