Pinguin, Germany

Der Grosse Rote Vogel. 1972 Zebra

After the psych band Talix released Spuren, they reemerged as Pinguin and issued one fine album in the contemporary Krautrock field. There are six tracks that play as two side long suites. The instrumentation will be familiar to students of the genre: Hammond organ, loud and jamming electric guitar, flute, saxophone, and a thunderous rhythm section. One twist is the vocals are in German, a very unusual move at the time. Period groups such as Nosferatu, Os Mundi, Hanuman, Ikarus, and Xhol Caravan come to mind here. The music belongs as much to progressive rock as it to does to the more atmospheric Krautrock tag, as there's plenty of complexity brought forth. I'm reminded of Inside era Eloy in this way. The second side demonstrates more of the Krautrock experimentalism that we've come to expect. Closer 'Der Traum' is a trippy and jazzy piece with phased vocals. Great album throughout.

Priority: 2

8/15/09 (new entry)