Jazz? Rock? Psychedelic collective improvisation? Definitely still a fascinating trip

It is the year 1969. In the post-war West Germany to make a few bands with plenty of funny name, to explore new musical territory, which has no sane person ever entered. They are called Can, Amon Düül, Amon Düül II or just Xhol Caravan. Your first LPs that mark the beginning of an independent young scene also carry very strange title: "Monster Movie", "Psychedelic Underground", "Phallus Dei" and "Electrip". Each of you should have heard, if one is interested in Zero Hour German rock music at least once. What you want to hear more often of this strange stuff with security? I say: "Electrip", the work of an almost forgotten group hopeless hippies from Wiesbaden who smoked pot together for three years and made music. As early as 1970 came their last studio and live recordings, but only one or two years later appeared on the Ohr label (as was the band only XhoI). In retrospect it is clear that the musicians have at least used a solid record company in order to keep going. Perhaps the band would have gone a similar route as Can, would you behave professionally and occasionally roused to compose.

But if again so something great like "Electrip" would be the outcome? Only the first three pieces to earn at least 7.5 stars. There is a wonderful flow, all involved seem to be telepathically linked. The music is never overwhelmed by the two competent brass, the diligent drummer rackert with jazzy subtlety and leaves the pool nonstop sizzle, even the man on organ and electric piano knows his craft, whether he mitgroovt casually or solo play. He also produced intensity by holding tones simply longer where others keyboardist would cut faster in the keys - very unusual. But everything seems organic, and when the improvisations lead to an intoxicatingly primeval jungle sound, it sucks Never.

The following "Raise up high" wears not quite as good about the total length of almost 18 minutes. It begins as a song; "Öcki" on the microphone are the aggressive Mick Jagger, climaxing into a true primal scream ecstasy, whereupon romp the other Xholisten accordingly. Wow! A chaotic free-form passage joins, is violent and shrill, then the brake is pulled once. Gradually the band picking up speed again, the ever-present bass is particularly apparent here. But it will not come to a melodic-dissolved jamming, instead swirls the music as soon as a overtightened Brummkreisel then -. "Racing standstill" the mind-expanding nature The end is reached when it is no longer "higher" is (or as equal to the instruments fall apart). Then someone herumklimpert like a little kid on a harpsichord, is only logical from psychedelic vision, just as the muezzin singing on "Walla Mashalla," the short, restrained final title.

The fine CD by Garden of Delights (thick booklet; sound is authentic, but not dull) contains two bonus tracks: a single, which was released months before the LP, as the band is still a guitarist and a "real" singers belonged. Not bad, but it is traditional soul and blues, which refers more to the earlier incarnation of the group called Soul Caravan.

Conclusion: A disc that can be readily sorting among Krautrock. Some might look at these shots as confused, weird and outdated. From amateurish strumming here can certainly be no question. I think, "Electrip" manages more than any other album that you wistfully yearns for a time that you have never experienced. Whoever comes out will hopefully register also a way of life, the one in today's music (not to mention society) can look with a magnifying glass: awakening, freedom, fun, total commitment and "everything is possible".