Information implosion

I always loved Out of Focus and Embryo, to me they were two of the more exiting jazz-rock oriented krautrock bands. So when I encountered this description in the THE CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG book I knew I had to find this album.

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A rarity of 1980’s Krautrock, Kontrast saw ex-Out Of Focus members: Remigius Drechsler, Ingo Schmid-Neuhaus and Moran Neumüller, working together again after having been apart for several years.

Out Of Focus main-man Remigius Drechsler had been with Embryo on and off for a couple of years prior to this, and actually Kontrast was his project and not a proper band as such. In fact, one track is Remigius entirely solo, with the aid of some nifty multi-tracking! Most of the album, however, is pretty much live rockin’ fusion stepping on from the second disc of Out Of Focus’ FOUR LETTER MONDAY AFTERNOON, as a refined and complex fusion, deep groove music that rattles along magnificently, characteristic of the Munich scene, with the edge on solo upon solo, experimentation and weirdness.

KONTRAST (1983-1985)

Original LP cover

LP Remi Records 86001 (1986)

(c)THE CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG by Steven Freeman & Alan Freeman.

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I could not find this LP or even MP3s anywhere, so obviously when Freemans released this on CD on their Cosmic Egg label with bonus materials I had to buy it.

Kontrast - Volume I & II CD booklet front

Here is my culinary comparison: Krautrock meets RIO in an old cafe and they have a cup off jazzy java with mushrooms and follow up with special whimsical rustic pastry

Great album with jazzy and experimental feel not unlike some of 80’s RIO bands, but overall more groovy, jazzy and with that unmistakable crazy kraut vibe. Hints of Out of Focus and Embryo as one might expect, but different from both of these bands and more in touch with Grotesk and with musical ideas close to Cassiber.

About this reissue: This is a very well done, beautiful and informative CD reissue form the Krautrock gurus on their Cosmic Egg label. On the level of GoD and LH reissues and as informative as any GoD CD I have seen.

Kontrast - Volume I & II CD booklet back

…out

Amon Düül II – Only Human (1979)

I was avoiding this album  for many years now. Today I finally gave in and get a digital copy of it as I was thinking of buying it to complete my ADII collection.

Let me tell you something that you probably read many times before: the best thing about this album is it’s cover.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Gone are the wild freak-outs, even sophisticated psychedelic prog rock of latter day ADII like what you can find on Pyragony X and Made in Germany is gone.

What we have here is stupid disco and cheesy pop-rock.  Some of the songs are catchy and as far as pop goes this is not that bad, but as far as ADII goes we are scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Kismet is the only worthwhile song here.

This is the only Amon Düül II albums not worth having on LP or CD, unless you find it for $1 in a cut out bin. Get this one and Pyragony X only if you are a krautrock completist type.

…out

I stumbled onto this CD reissue in used CD section in one of my favorite NYC record stores. After reading the liner notes I garbed it.

I was expecting this band to be influenced by other French prog bands of that time, but they are nothing like their contemporaries. Bluesy, folky and jazzy prog with clear British psych influences. Not a trace of Zeuhl influence, in my opinion, anywhere on this album. Vocals I guess are an acquired taste, but if you don’t mind them there is a lot to like here.

P.S. Great art cover on this one.

…out

Daevid Allen is a very cool guy.  Recently I got in the Gong, Soft Machine and Allen mood, and  listen to a lot 0f Gong and Allen’s solo stuff.  His music is funny, intelligent and he has a great sense of humor. It’s not without a bit of Hippie-dippy flavor, but I don’t mid that. All of his albums as well as Gong albums with his are well worth a try and highly recommended.

Even in the 90’s when this type of music was not in fashionable he was putting out hight quality psychedelic stuff. I remember going to this concert and being totally flabbergasted.

Brainville 98

And getting his pot headed pixie autograph on the other side. Far out dude.

Pixie

…out

Finally got this album. I had it as LP rip for a long time and as CD-R for even an longer time. A few days back I found it used, 1992 CD edition with bonus track, for a good price and bought it.

Art Bears - Hopes and Fears (1978)

I figured I do not want the new remasted version because I am used, at this point, to how it sounds on 1992 ReR CD.

“Hopes and Fears” is basically a Henry Cow album that was different enough from old Henry Cow albums to require a new band name. Very adventurous RIO music with Dagmar Krause taking a front seat here. Jazzy angular feel of Henry Cow albums is mostly gone and is replaced by short avant-garde song like compositions. Not for the faint at heart.

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Apparently Boris Vian’s son Patrick Vian released this experiential electronic music album in the 70’s. I managed to find it a few weeks ago, great stuff.

Bruits et temps analogues – 1976

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Komintern – Le bal du rat mort (1971)

Harvest 2C 062-11774

I like this type of stuff usually, but I find lack of focus and direction here very annoying.

This particular mix of folk, circus cabaret rock, typically french chanson lounge stuff  and Zappa like rock should be entertaining and at time this album is very interesting.

However, in the end only some ideas are very good, but for the most part this collection of sounds fails as an album, just a bunch of random goofy “Will this work?”, “How is this?” and “Look what we just did!” stuff that might have worked if it was more cohesive.

Etron fou Leloublan’s first album’s is in a way composed around the same idea but is way better than this and actually works.

…out

Känguru – Känguru (1981)

SPALAX 14574

Very nice and at times strange jazz, rock and folky  fusion. A few completely unexpected moments that might take you by surprise. This might require a few listens to appreciate. Not for the casual krautrock fans, more for completist types.

Below is a quote out of excellent krautrock book by Freeman brothers:

Out of the remnants of several late-1970’s/early-1980’s groups: Supersession, To Be, Messengers, and others, Känguru could be classed as a supergroup of sorts, and thus they attempted to blend all their influences into a modern rock fusion, “Deutsch Rock ohne text” to quote some of the cover notes. They showed their post new-wave edge greatest on their debut, which was much more guitar fronted funky rock, with a touch of angst and many surprises.

(c) THE CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG by Steven Freeman and Alan Freeman

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I was digging into more obscure krautrock bands catalogs recently and discovered “Brot & Spiele” album by Munjun. I got the mp3s from band’s web page and was so impressed that I hunted down the LP. LP issue on Schneeball is very cool. My LP came in a nice gate fold package still with game board on the inside, game cards and instructions. The game is based on bands tour locations, too bad it’s in German and I can’t follow it. Below is short review of the album.

Munju – Brot & Spiele (1980)

Schneeball 0022

Something really clicked when I listened to this album, it was love from first listen. It is excellent in every way.

In my opinion this albums is a perfect combination of Krautrock, NDW, RIO elements and Jazz-Fusion stylistic moves. It is never boring and always adventurous with a lot of surprises without being too difficult. Christian Burchard of Embryo’s fame is helping out on few tracks.

Great stuff from a seemingly forgotten and underrated band. A minor masterpiece that unfortunately was never released on LP or CD. LP comes with a cool board game and cards, I guess this goes well with album’s name that I figure is a variation of a famous “panem et circenses” metaphor.

…out

Code III – Planet of Man (1974)

delta-acustic 25-125-1

Code III recorded their only album in Delta-Acustic Recording studio using Kunstkopf” (aka “artificial head”) it is a wonderful 3D sounding recording with tripped-out, kosmische and freak-out music.

Code III – PLANET OF MAN as well as Sand – GOLEM are one of the best albums for enjoying in headphones. Code III is very hard to find since it was only re-released on CD by a Korean bootleg label.

Here is a bit form info about Code III – PLANET OF MAN album from THE CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG book:

Code III were never a proper band, but were an impromptu group created for an album dedicated to showcasing the amazing sound characteristics of the Kunstkopf Artificial Head Recording System. Principally, Code III were Berlin studio engineer Manfred Schunke and American multi-instrumentalist Ed Key.

The music on PLANET OF MAN is a sonic depiction of the history of the Earth, from the void of empty space, via the formation of the planets, the evolution of life, through to man’s domination of the planet, and ultimately back to the void. The opening and closing excursions, involving atmospheric electronics, injections of a dreamy folk song, and disembodied resonant female voice, hint a little at Brainticket’s CELESTIAL OCEAN, although the mood is much spookier. Confusingly “Dawn Of An Era” (the lyrics are sung in the previous track) involves what sounds like demented Neanderthals involved in some weird drum ritual. “Countdown” adds up to a blend of atmospheric electronics with abstract use of voice collage and effects (and Indian music), onto a remarkably clever accelerating space-rock burn-out featuring Klaus Schulze at the drum stool! Returning to weird space music at the end, it all adds up to a remarkable and unique album.

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