News: Muck Grohbian's debut album to come out on Long Hair

I suppose it was inevitable, as Long Hair has already reissued many archival Aera albums, that they would also take on leader Muck Grohbian's rare debut album "Muckefuck". I learned this while inspecting the Aera Bavarian Radio CD's, also by Long Hair (they state to look for the Groh album in the Spring of 2011).

4/25/11 update: Looks like the album will be released in May of 2011. Here's what the label has to say: "Originally released in 1979, these recordings show the first solo efforts by formerly Aera leader, guitar player and composer Muck Groh. But in fact this album wasn't a solo album but could be described at the third Aera album of Aera's first decade line-up. All those great musicians like sax player Klaus Kreuzeder, drummer Wolfgang Teske, violinist Christoph Krieger and a lot of guest musicians like Alto Pappert (formerly Kraan) and Aeras second decade musicians like Matz Steinke on bass and Limbus on percussions contributed to this great album. The first 4 titles on the CD (formerly A-Side of the album) are in the tradition of the second album "Hand und Fuß". "Psychochinese im Stanzwerk" reminds to Amon Düül's Deutsch-Nepal. For the first time Muck Groh uses vocals in his compositions in a folky style and "Blinde Kuh" reminds a little bit to the early German new wave bands like Spliff or Nina Hagen Band. All in all this album shows many facets of Muck Grohs composer abilities and convinces with its clever arrangements. CD comes with comprehensive booklet with rare and unseen photos and there are 8 bonus tracks taken from a concert from 1981. "

Aera ~ Germany

Too Much. 1981 Spiegelei
Akataki. 1982 Spiegelei

Muck Groh - Muckefuck. 1979 Erlkonig. ***Reissued by Long Hair Mar 2011

Aera's last album is also one of their best and compares favorably with other excellent early 80s German fusion albums like Embryo's Zack Gluck and Kontrast's sole work. Band has contacted me to explain that they've reissued all the Aera albums from their house label (Erlkonig - first 4), but that the last two albums (including Too Much) are owned by a corporation. Speaking of Too Much - this would have to be considered Aera's weakest and most commercial effort. The funky chicken component is pretty high here. Still, the album has its merits, including some nice atmospheric bits that belie its popstar ambition.

Priority: 2

10/11/10 (new entry); 3/5/11

News: Great news for Aera fans: TWO archival live CDs to be released by Long Hair!

Wow - today is a big day if you're an Aera fan. And, if we're to interpret the Long Hair announcement, a huge day for Krautrock fans in general. We've already been spoiled with the SWF sessions. Now we have a whole new radio company to play with: The Bavarian Broadcast Corporation.

Look for release dates from the middle to end of November.


The Bavarian Broadcast (BR) Recordings Vol.1 1975

"Besides the SWF (German south-west broadcast) series with German bands of the Krautrock era,Long Hair start a new series with recordings form the vaults of Bavarian Broadcast Corporation (located in Munich). Volume 1 of the series is dedicated to Aera, one of Germany´s finest bands of this time and well known because of their albums "Humanum Est" and "Hand und Fuss" (vinyl version re-released on Long Hair, LHC43 and LHC44). On January 9,1975 Aera with the line-up (same as on "Humanum Est") Muck Groh, guitar, Klaus Kreuzeder, sax and flute, Dieter Bauer, bass and drummer Wolfgang Teske, performed in an extraordinary setting-St. George´s Church in Freising, district of Munich. The idea of the concert was to open the church for contemporary music and to give the musicians the chance to interpret the Roman Catholic liturgy, the "Holy Mass", with their music. Aera went a long with the five components of the holy mass and played two titles of their up coming album "Humanum Est" and another three titles that were not included on any album. The titles presented during the second part of the concert were earlier versions of titles that were later released on the album "Hand und Fuss". Aera played more than 75 minutes. All titles were digitally remastered from original master tape. Booklets contains story and a review of the concert and rare photos. Highly recommended!"

Well that certain sounds like an instant buy!


The Bavarian Broadcast (BR) Recordings Vol.2 1977-1979

"Volume 2 of the Bavarian broadcast series present further recordings of Area, for once from the period 1977-1979. Five live tracks from 2 concerts and four tracks recorded in Bavarian Broadcast Corporation owned studio "Franken" "at Nuremberg". Aera played a lively jazz-rock dominated by soloist and sax and flute player Klaus Kreuzeder, based on powerful and clever keyboard playing all held together by amazing bass player Matz Steinke and drummer Lutz Oldemeier (of Missus Beastly-fame) and lots of percussions. Aera were in a very good shape and gave their best. Highlights are the 17 minutes long version of "Dracula´s Frühstück" and nearly 10 minutes version of "You need some speed". All titles were digitally remastered from the original tapes. Booklets contains the history of the recordings and rare photos. Highly recommended!"

Awesome. This is in addition to the already great Mechelwind archive release earlier in the year.

News: Long Hair to release early archival material from Aera!

As we've said before, no one turns up more interesting unreleased studio and live material than Long Hair. And usually in perfect sound! The CDRWL just learned of a new archival set coming soon from the very good German fusion band Aera. All the music here predates their original albums.

Aera - Mechelwind. 1973 Germany

The label says: "This double CD (1. 44:15 / 2. 41:41) unites absolute rarities of famous German band Aera. AERA founded in 1972 by "Ihre Kinder" guitarist Muck Groh and 2066 & Then keyboard player Steve Robinson were in their very beginnings, when they recorded their special extended version (26 minutes) "Mechelwind Suite" of their later classic title "Mechelwind" (on album "Hand und Fuss"). The Mechelwind Suite is divided into 5 parts and is rather different from the later album-version, not only because of Steve Robinson's excellent keyboard playing but also because of Muck Groh's fine guitar playing and Klaus Kreuzeder's pleasant sax tunes. CD 1 finishes with two SWF-recordings "Hodibbel" and "Mechelwind" from Oktober 1973 again with 2066 & Then keyboarder Steve Robinson. CD 2 contains a live performance of AERA from 23.12.1973 with the same line up as on CD 1. Highlights are the 15-minutes-version of "Hodibbel" and 12-minutes-version of "Papa Doing". The recordings show AERA at their very best during their first decade. Both CDs are digital remastered from the original tapes. Double CD comes with comprehensive booklet with a lot of unseen photos and band history told by founder-member Steve Robinson. A must have."

I don't believe Robinson is on any of the studio albums.