DIAMONDS

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This is KRAAN's latest called "Diamonds" released in 2010. I had high hopes for this one after being completely taken by their previous two records called "Through" and "Psychedelic Man" respectively. Both have a sound that is so different from their seventies days but I love them both. Well that sound is still here even though they're down to a trio as the keyboardist Ingo Bischof has left. The one problem is that they have implimented some dance beats to their music. Not a lot fortunately but enough to feel embarrased a couple of times when customers were in the store as I thought to myself "My store ain't no stinkin' disco !" Oh well there's not a lot but this is a definite step down from the previous two albums hence the 3 star rating.

Gotta love the cover art though as we see someone on the street painting on a canvas and the result is the album cover from "The Psychedelic Man". "Akua" is laid back and relaxing. It's barely mid-paced with a beat and more. "Diamonds" is funky with vocals although it changes each time on the chorus to an uplifting mood. I like it. "Marienbad" has a rich sound and a solid beat in this laid back song. Beautiful stuff. "The Schuh" is uptempo with vocals and I like the bass after 4 minutes. "Neu-Rosenheim Suite" is another mid-paced rich sounding instrumental.

"Ring My Bell" has a heavy beat as the bass kicks in with whispered vocals. He then sings as themes are repeated. Prominant guitar comes and goes. "Soul" is my favourite. A nice heavy rhythm kicks in and this sounds so good. "Club 20" kicks in with a beat. I like this. Melancholic guitar comes and goes. Some great sounding bass after 2 1/2 minutes then a dance beat. Yikes ! "Ab Nach Kaspel" is all about the dance beats. No thanks. "Am Hafen" is a nice relaxed tune. "Zoe's Zoo" ends it and I love the tone of the guitar. It's almost spacey 3 minutes in then the guitar with a beat returns. Great way to end the album.

Lots to like but some misses too.