SUKRAM GURK

In this album, the obscure germans of Siloah explore a new musical direction that has almost nothing in common with the acid-bucolic-primitive-folk of their beginning. The music is highly concentrated on complex, melodic progressive rock psychedelica dominated by electric organs' powerful chords. The album is proggier and much more structured that their previous one. The opening theme starts as a humorous proggy pop ballad then carries on an ultra expressive organ section focused on serene melodies. Magic Carpet ride to the alps is a grooved out, sensual organic improvisation, strictly instrumental with a discreet experimental touch. Feast of the pickpockets is a gorgeous dreamy-like, spacy dramatic interlude for warm organic tones. Stony is an other psychedelic improvisation sustained by furious keyboards and a frantic freak'n roll action. Obviously recommended for krautrock fans despite it's not a classic. Nicely made!

SILOAH were a hippie/folk band out of Germany similar to AMON DUUL, at least on their 1970 debut. I mean there's a song on there called "Krishna's Golden Dope Shop" which would be a great name for one of the many weed shops in my area(haha). A four piece with several guests helping out on that one then two years later we get album number two with only the bass player returning but he's playing organ this time around. He brought in SAMETI's bass player and the drummer will be part of SPARIFANKAL playing on their "Bayern-Rock" album from 1976.

So a trio this time with one guest adding percussion. We do get vocals from both the bass player and organist and I like them, and lets just say the music is better because the musicians are better and somehow this one just resonates with me. Not many fans of this one but I have my hand up. It works. And don't dismiss this based on the start of the record where we get the band whooping it up having fun, some laughter reminding me of a Kevin Ayers track. A party-like atmosphere shall we say. It turns very experimental around 2 minutes then back to the music before 5 minutes.

Man the vocals have character and are quite insane before 9 minutes for example. I have to say I really like the bass player's style. Glad the original bass player switched to organ also because it's perfect for this music. It settles right down at 12 1/2 minutes as the organ pulses quietly. Drums return then vocals but check out that bass before 15 minutes. Love the vocals here. A uniform but adventerous piece of music over 16 minutes in length. Nice.

"Magic Carpet Ride ToThe Alps" is a slow ride but it very slowly picks up as it goes, barely noticeable as our ride is smooth. Floating organ, drums and bass in this slow ride. "Feast Of The Pickpockets" is over 8 1/2 minutes and is quite adventerous with experimental stuff along with catchy melodies as we get repeated themes. Vocals just before 4 minutes as he cries out the words. Nice bass before 6 minutes.

"Stony" is my favourite. Again this album is so much better than the debut as far as ideas go, it's like they got serious here after that first few minutes of letting it all out at the start of this record. This track sounds amazing the way the percussion, drums and bass interact. It gets pretty intense too.

This is a keeper and quite the surprise given most people's opinions of it.