THE OTHER SIDES OF AGITATION FREE

2.5 stars .

This IMO should not be considered a real Agitation Free album as there are only two remaining members playing all sorts of fusion jazz with invited guests. Trust me on this one , this has nothing to do with their normal sound , but this is not bad . It probably deserves a better rating from me but I wanted to make a point. If I can point out some same-sounding records , I could tell you second period Doldinger's Passport. Deliverance is the best track on here. Still worth a spin but be wary of the name

This is one of those albums that works well as a background, or you can get stuff from listening intently. Some people may find it a drawback that the overall sound is not demanding at all to listen to, and consequently makes good incidental or background music. It is not Agitation Free playing space music, but gentle, pleasant, fusion-jazz/new age. In particular the first two tracks on the album stand out ... "Atlantic Overcrossing" is a wonderful song with pub-rock overtones (think Ace/Paul Carrack) -- one of those pieces you may remember from the 70's that you heard somewhere but can't identify where you actually heard it. "Abulafia" is a nice gentle sax tune that is pleasant and hummable but oddly defiant in its complexity. Both make the record worth owning. One of the most striking things about the entire record is that it *sounds* very 80's in approach (this is the sort of prog rock you'd hear on cable stations at the time as background music) but was allegedly recorded in 1974 and 1975.

Insubstantial compared to their phenomenal original two studio recordings, but much better than i expected given the reviews and ratings here and elsewhere. Fairly simple jazz-rock, with a touch of the Agitation Free sound (mostly on "Deliverance). Side a (first 4 tracks) at least is worth listening to a few times certainly; I thoroughly enjoy these songs. Side b has a number of good moments too, one being "Song für einen Proletariersohn Teil 1". All songs except tracks 2, 3 and 4 have vocals, almost all in English, with the last in German. In general, this is pleasant, upbeat music that is easy to listen to.

3.25 stars

Good fusion, but this is not Agitation Free. Neither is this Krautrock.

Forget everything you previously have heard by Agitation Free before. This album is a total break with their previous albums. Hence, it should not be called a Agitation Free album at all. I guess this incarnation of Agitation Free, which only includes to original members, is just trading on their name to sell more albums or even to get a record deal at all.

The music here is straight fusion and even jazz without any hints of Krautrock whatsoever. The music is down the Chick Corea alley. The main instruments are bass, some straight playing electric guitars without any fuzz, some vocals, a lot of tangents and drums.

My gripes here is the lack of any identity on the songs here. This album feels and sounds like some studio musicians is running through some standard jazz tunes and then record them. Soulless and pretty pointless too. The musicians is great, but their material is only half decent. The only good song here is Atlantic Overcrossing and that is because it is a Sting rip off. Sorry, but where did Agitation Free go ? They are not here.

2.5 stars