Hillside George Hennig

• 1 The Door 03:56
• 2 The Seventh String 04:14
• 3 Hillside 03:09
• 4 Smile 04:57
• 5 White Diamonds 03:32
• 6 Nemo Skywalking 03:47
• 7 The Magic Bell 03:48
• 8 The Reason Why 03:30
• 9 Secrets 03:22
• 10 The Storm 02:05
• 11 A Life Divine 03:04
• 12 In the High Room 04:19
• 13 Winterhill 04:57
• 14 Like Feathers 04:41
• Total Runtime 53:21

Info for Hillside

Hillside. Opus Magnum, enormous feat and dream-come-true. The work on the symphonic album ’Hillside’ recorded in Skopje October 2018 with the Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra (directed by Oleg Kondratenko) proved often difficult. The ’Idee und Klang Studio Basel’ was fully booked almost year-round, so the job had somehow to be done ’in between’ and ’in pieces’. But it’s finally done and everyone is happy with the result. Not only the cover design by flyart’s Pascal Brun (with the front painting Eros & Thanatos of the Italian Surrealist Ettore Aldo del Vigo), but also the sound (created by engineer-wizards Daniel Dettwiler and Benjamin Gut) which is now dynamic, clear and powerful (thanks to Christoph Staudenmann on drums!).

George Hennig

George Hennig
According to local newspapers at the time, 18 year old George Hennig was being acclaimed as Basle’s answer to Jeff Beck & Mike Bloomfield. Regardless of all the praise – this remarkably talented local hero decided not to follow the standard virtuoso-soloist route. Discovering his passion for Anglo-inspired song-writing & by working together with other celebrated talents of the generation, he evolved into a versatile & accomplished musician with deep artistic & poetic credentials.

A Hamburg-based record-company responded to his demo-recording in the 70’s & produced his album ‘First Snow’ for release in Germany (due to popular demand, a second pressing of the album was ordered). Many positive reviews, many live performances and studio work with mainstream musicians followed. Fitting into this busy schedule he also collaborated on film & TV soundtracks whilst simultaneously producing his own albums ‘From Grey To Gold’ in 1981 and ‘Jewels In The Gutter’ in 1989.

The last decade has seen him working with fellow musician-travellers & local musical legends from the 70’s, ‘The Zodiacs’. Writing songs for the band he continued his own lifelong-project exploring interfaces between psychedelic and Celtic music styles. Occasionally appearing with the Zodiacs for rare stage performances, George is currently leading a peaceful life in the countryside, mostly staying out of the public limelight.

Over the years, many producers, musicians and fans alike have often remarked that George Hennig possesses a unique personal style falling somewhere between Ray Davies and Jeff Lynne. Whatever people may say, I nonetheless suspect that George will continue playing his very own remarkable & unique style far into the future.

After his self-produced 2007 album ‘The Definition Of Face’ (on which he played all instruments) followed the 2010 album ‘GHOSTS’ – a collection of sometimes unconventional folk-pop songs which are closer to his Celtic roots than his other favourite and often revisited ‘Swinging London 60’s’ style.

And now, seven years later – George returns with a new & intriguing Pop Album ‘Of Piers & Repose’ – drawing inspiration again along the musical fault-lines between the musical capitals of the world, Liverpool & London. Twelve songs & stories about transformation, final journeys and goodbyes, the ‘innocence’ of his Sixties memories and the ultimate philosophical question, whether love can truly conquer adversity.

For insiders, it’s a comeback; for others, perhaps the breakthrough of the year…

But for George himself, perhaps his ambitions & destiny may finally have caught up with him!

This album contains no booklet.