STRANGE DREAMS

Honestly always feel it's very difficult to discuss Krautrock, and listening to this rare compilation album could make me more confused. This album 'Strange Dreams' contains unreleased tracks recorded at their rehearsals and upon a gig in Herzogenrath near Aachen in 1976 (later released via a German independent label Garden Of Delights), and their musical style including the stuffs here might be closer to heavy / psychedelic progressive ensemble (keyboard, guitar, bass, drums-based) than Krautrock one in my humble opinion. Indeed Fistus' inorganic and quirky organ sounds might influence much upon younger Krautrock outfits I guess (right?). Through the whole album, recording quality or sounds are not good (sometimes sounds are warped and interrupted) but this bad recording (or preservation of tapes) condition can notify us some Kraut-ish atmosphere cynically. There are lots of important points to listen to - the first three tracks Get The Feeling ~ Knocker ~ Motorcycle are exactly very typical heavily psychedelic guitar-based progressive rock examples. Morning is an organ-based laid-back psychedelic song reminding us Procol Harum. The title track Strange Dreams sounds heavy rock one with free jazzy essence in the middle part. And my masterpiece - The Donkey always make me weep ... slow-tempo, depressive but dramatic and aggressive organ-based psychedelic progressive. Without my intention this song let me push the "reverse" button on my CD player. Little Man, the last song in this album recorded at some rehearsals, is very flexible jazz rock / fusion with much psychedelic bitter sweet. The last three songs recorded on a gig are more poppy for me but I can feel good air NECRONOMICON and the audience should be well united.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend this album as a essential masterpiece of Krautrock. However, it's a very interesting work I wanna say. At least for me, it's very fantastic!

Well I thoroughly enjoyed their sole studio album so I thought i'd check out this complialation album of unreleased and live tracks. I guess I was hoping for something as good as what OUT OF FOCUS released posthumously, but this isn't even close. Sadly the sound quality for most of these tracks is poor at best.The vocals are often just as bad as the sound quality.To be honest these songs were never mean't to be released and it shows.

The final three live tunes are the best of the lot. My favourite thing about this album is the bass work. It's very prominant and fat.The organ is ever-present and the guitar can be outstanding.The song "Knocker" is my favourite of the non-live tracks. I love when they jam on this one.

At over 79 minutes this was a tough one to get through. Fans or collectors might be interested, others would do well to take a pass and check out their studio album.