Under And Above The Clouds: Yacht Rock Grooves From Germany & Austria 1979-1991 [LP]

Various Artists - Under And Above The Clouds: Yacht Rock Grooves From Germany & Austria 1979-1991 [LP]

When people think of Yacht Rock-those smooth, sun-drenched sounds that once drifted from Californian radio stations in the late '70s and early '80s-they rarely imagine it echoing through rehearsal rooms in Hamburg or Linz. Yet even far from the Pacific coastline, the appeal of shimmering chords, laid-back grooves, and polished production found fertile ground.
This compilation gathers rare and overlooked tracks from Germany and Austria. These artists embraced West Coast aesthetics with sincerity and subtle twists, resulting in music that feels both familiar and refreshingly new-smooth sounds for cloudy skies. So drop anchor, pour something cool, and enjoy this unexpected cruise through the lesser-charted waters of Euro Yacht Rock.
Our journey begins in Austria, where Reflection's 'Because' (1981) set the tone with blue-eyed soul and analog warmth-a sunlit blend of Doobie Brothers polish and local charm. Its creator, Dieter Heyduk, reappears with 'Austrian Sky', a heartfelt nod to his homeland that fuses mountain calm with oceanic longing.
From the North Sea island of Fohr, Ara Pacis dreamed of California on their 1979 self-release 'To the Westcoast'. Inspired by Steely Dan and Lake, they turned German rock precision into breezy, melodic sophistication. Meanwhile, in Dusseldorf, Mainpoint fused funk and jazz-rock on 'Frisbee', their 1980 single bursting with rhythmic drive and optimism before the tide of the Neue Deutsche Welle swept such grooves aside.
Bremerhaven's Nuages offered the compilation's only instrumental gem, 'Strange Weekend' (1985)-a gentle blend of jazz-funk and rock and largely lost to time. Its cool restraint captures the European interpretation of Californian ease.
Around the same period, British traveler Gavin James recorded 'River of Laughter' in southern Germany, backed by the blues-rock band Black Cat Bone. His acoustic reflections on water and flow mirrored the soft, meditative pulse at Yacht Rock's core.
Berlin's Top Spin kept things playful with 'Bikin' (1985), a funk-fusion snapshot of urban joy that showcased the city's finest session players. From the Ruhr area, the Jan Pack Band is up next. While not a typical Yacht Rock track, 'Cable Dance' is driven by an effortless, groovy '80s vibe.
Peter Seiler's Goldfinger project reimagined 'Walkin' in the Sand' as a relaxed reggae-tinged track, while Munich's Major Seven closed the voyage with 'Silverboat', a wistful soft rock ballad gliding between melancholy and light.
Across these hidden harbors of German and Austrian pop, the West Coast dream took on new forms-reflected in rivers, skies, and studio lights half a world away from L.A. "Under and Above the Clouds" celebrates that spirit: the enduring pull of smooth music, wherever it's made.
* VITAL SALES POINTS:
- First ever German Yacht Rock compilation with a selection of extremely rare tunes
- Fully Licenced
- Thick gatefold sleeve with hype sticker and extended liner notes
- Pressed on BIO🌿VINYL Replacement of petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste gases
- Quality made in Germany
- Co-op release with The Outer Edge
Tracklisting:
A1. Reflection - Because
A2. Ara Pacis - To the Westcoast
A3. Mainpoint - Frisbee
A4. Nuages - Strange Weekend
A5. Dieter Heyduk - Austrian Sky
B1. Gavin James - River of Laughter
B2. Top Spin - Bikin
B3. Jan Pack Band - Cable Dance
B4. Goldfinger - Walkin' in the Sand
B5. Major Seven - Silverboat