TONE FLOAT

I was lucky enough to find a copy of this on CD at my local record shop (although I suspect it's a bootleg.) The sound quality is not the best, with a bit of vinyl noise, but in a way that's part of its charm. Now, on to the music. The title track is amazing. A side long, free form Krautrock improvisation with bells and swirling organs and lovely flute. It's one of the best examples of early German experimental music, and I even prefer it to what Amon Düül II was doing at around the same time. It manages to be hypnotic and psychedelic while avoiding the common pitfalls of other such works, namely repetition and adhering to a formula. I find side 2 a great deal less compelling. It consists of shorter tracks, also mostly improvised, but they feel mainly like failed experiments. This record bears no resemblance to the Kraftwerk that would later produce The Man Machine and Trans Europe Express, so be prepared for that. In fact, there are no electronics present whatsoever. Overall, it is a worthy beginning and a milestone in the development in Krautrock.