MORBUS

Now it's time to present the current album of ELECTRIC ORANGE, a german band which was founded in the year 1992. The members describe their music as Neo Krautrock - that suits fine as a matter of fact. 'Morbus' - mastered by Eroc (Grobschnitt) - shines with much variety and a wealth of details is to be considered whereas the cover artwork is a controversial thing anyway. Very deliberately, I think. The songs are constantly driven by hypnotic grooves, embraced with space/psychedelic organ and synth layers. Samples and diverse other elements like german recitatives are integrated and there are many 'inventions for guitar'. ELECTRIC ORANGE's music is somewhat retro, inspired by Krautrock bands of the 60/70s with their typical Trance and Psych. But you can also feel a 'modern' TripHop/TripRock touch. Provided with some crazy ideas this album has a very special unique atmosphere.

Einwahn is arranged to be the only way to get into the album for sure. I assume the band changes one letter of the german expression 'Einbahn' (One way). And it comes up a compelling song with a very repetitive rhythm. Initiated by some samples the track develops from a mysterious Trance mood to a Psych groover offering some impressions what follows in the next 70 minutes. Rote Flocken, cumbersome, seems to be provided with another title variation (Rote Socken?). A modified voice recitates german lyrics accompanied by distorted guitars. The track sounds like a krautrocked version of the french volkslied 'Frère Jacques' - absolutely crazy! Next one Span 5 has got its place on this album totally improvised without any reworking - a Space Jam which remembers me at AMON DÜÜL's Yeti decorated with some floydy keys. The title song Morbus has nothing to do with any sort of disease, right? A german voice with an accent is giving a lecture about ... nonsense? Weird guitars are interrupting this interesting lesson from time to time - what the hell is goin' on here?

Errorman follows - gloomy, Mellotron pregnant, symphonic with heavy guitars and english spoken words. In opposite to this Flohfunknest swings because it's carried by a jazzy contrabass. Someone brushes his teeth, recorded secretely and used as the only long solo of the album - oh boy! Unfortunately I couldn't find any credit which band member is responsible for that! Traumama - another pun - you have 5 minutes to give it a serious consideration. Space/Psych with nice female voices and ASHRA guitars. Krautschock is beautiful relaxed with flute and organ - the song flows just like a meditation mass. Vibraphone alike sounds, Harmonium and freaky samples in the background are initiating the longest track Wald. A punching bass and spacy keyboards are giving the song a new direction after a while. Noticable is also one of the rare guitar solos at the end.

Reaching enlarges ELECTRIC ORANGE's repertoire with a ballad surprisingly, supported by the use of acoustic guitar, percussion and Mellotron. The door to avantgarde music is opened wide due to Schöhl 2, hard to define, fascinating - it picks you up on its way to another universe. After a beautiful melancholic meandering intro with flute Sarau glides into a sensitive TripRock groove - my personal favourite. Fine organ layers, excellent bass lines and guitars matching with Manuel Göttsching. The song ends with a sudden death much too early and you are back and present with the one and only avoidable question: what can I expect from this band in the future?

'Morbus' seems to be ELECTRIC ORANGE's masterpiece at the moment. As for the first impressions you might think it's monotonous here and there. But if you take some time the album unfolds its beauty. For the summary a must have - not only for Krautrock fans - get it and enjoy!

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