KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS

Karl Hector & The Malcouns biography
KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS formed 2008 in Munich, Germany, when guitarist, composer and producer Karl Hector whose real name is Jan Weissenfeldt (a.k.a. J.J. Whitefield of retro-funk band Whitefield Brothers) joined The Malcouns' keyboardist Thomas Myland and multi-instrumentalist, drummer Zdenko Curulija (all three of Poets Of Rhythm) and released their first collaborative efforts, the single "J.B. Rib / Popcorn With A Feeling" and the full-length "Sahara Swings", a percussive mixture of jazz-funk and krautrock with tribal/world/afrobeat vibes. This had been preceded by four organ-driven The Malcouns singles between 2002 and 2005 all supported by a prominent horn section that provided a fusion of funk, soul and jazz.

The new collaboration soon became a festival favorite across Europe and spawned a cult following while, alongside this, Karl Hector formed afro-rock band Johnny! with the son of famous Ghanaian musician Ebo Taylor. Next, Karl Hector & The Malcouns released three limited-edition, hand-silk screened EPs between 2011 and 2014 before the sophomore full-length album "Unstraight Ahead" which added a psychedelic, droney, spacey ingredient to the mix, eventually resulting in 2019's full-length krautrock extravaganza "Non Ex Orbis" again preceded by an intermediate EP and two singles. Undergoing a number of personnel changes over the years, the 2019 offering was performed by Karl Hector, Curulija, Maja Burchard (lead vocals, vibraphone, organ) and Al Markovic (bass). The daughter of Embryo's Christian Burchard, Maja occasionally adds vocals not unlike that of Gong's Gilli Smyth.

Recommended if you like Amon Düül, Popol Vuh, Embryo, Can, Agitation Free, Ibliss, Tomorrow's Gift and Gong.


- earlyprog, August 2023