ZOUP

What a joy to have a new Kraan album in 2023, more than 50 years after the beginnings of the band! There isn't that much information out on the album yet, but it seems most music has indeed been recorded recently, with the odd exception (keyboarder Ingo Bischof, who died in 2019, is present on a track; former saxophonist Alto Pappert also makes a guest appearance on one track, which may be fairly recent).

The band operates as a trio with founding members Hellmut Hattler on bass and (very rare) vocals, Peter Wolbrandt on guitar, and Jan Fride on drums. The pro and con of these veterans that were 3/4 of the original Kraan in 1971 still going on is that the album isn't exactly full of shocks and surprises. Kraan do friendly optimistic swinging very well played Kraan music, reliable for the fans but maybe not necessarily attracting new listeners, although for somebody who doesn't know the band, this album is as good an entry point as any studio album (but check out their live ones first). The music is melodic, warm, mostly instrumental, with jazzy influences.

One winning ingredient of the Kraan formula is the perfect balance between teamwork and instrumental performances. There are many solos of Peter's wonderful guitar (most songs have two or more guitar tracks). There's also a guest keyboardist, Martin Kasper, who is rather prominent in some parts of the album, and integrates himself perfectly into the band's sound. Jan and particularly Hellmut with his unique style of bass playing are very strong instrumentalists, but don't go on solo trips and instead support the overall sound. Generally the music is well composed and structured (all compositions and words by Hellmut Hattler) and the band comes together to generate a unique ensemble sound, which sets it apart from much of jazz rock/fusion.

I find a number of Kraan studio albums rather hit and miss, but not this one, which presents a consistent approach with some moderate contrast (particularly the more rocky vocals-driven "Twisted") and no weak spots. I think I haven't enjoyed Kraan albums from beginning to end as much as this one for a very long time, certainly not studio albums (they were always better live).

When it comes to the rating I have to be honest and say that this album isn't really that progressive and will be too much of an easy listening experience for many on this site. So the PA rating has to be three stars even though my personal enjoyment is certainly worth four stars. Check this out if you are a fan already, or if you like somewhat light but extremely enjoyable optimistic music played by top instrumentalists.

The German band's 15th studio release since its 1972 debut--six in the 21st Century.

1. "Zoup" (7:14) great groove that feels as if it is really just the bare bones for something great--like a tame, two-dimensional Ozric Tentacles or Jean-Luc Ponty. They try hard--especially when Martin Kasper's keyboards join in--but it's just not enough. (13/15)

2. "Rainy May" (3:36) vocals! (8.66667/10)

3. "Überstürzter Aufbruch" (4:45) nice drumming as well as electric guitar solos in the third and fourth minutes. REminds me a lot of the MANNA / MIRAGE albums Dave Newhouse has been putting out over the past ten years. (8.75/10)

4. "Weit und Breit" (4:19) pleasant enough but not very exciting. (8.66667/10)

5. "Twisted" (4:57) more singing over pretty straightforward near-pop rock music. (8.5/10)

6. "Norwegen Dia" (5:04) like a remake of a ROLLING STONES song ("Satisfaction") or Tom PETTY. Cool mid-section: groove, rhythm gtr and lead synths. (8.75/10)

7. "A Skyful of Veils" (4:26) nice, fairly original song, but still in a raw, "unfinished" state. (8.7/10)

8. "Plain Vanilla" (4:38) I thought (with no little excitement and anticipation) this was going to be an homage to the pair of Focus songs, "Soft Vanilla" and "Hard Vanilla" from 1975's Mother Focus, but it's not. Still it is one of the more polished albeit bluesy songs on the album with multiple layers of interesting things going on at once. (8.75/10)

9. "Bikinian Rhapsody" (4:10) definitely dreamy, island-like music. Could've/should've been developed more. (8.7/10)

10. "Aus allen Wolken" (4:08) The main melody in the chorus sections (coming from the fretless bass) sounds so much like THE POLICE's "Wrapped Around Your Finger." (8.75/10)

11. "Norwegen Dia" (Acoustic Version) (5:07) another song using an old Smooth Jazz Pop remake/cover melody line. (8.6666667/10)

Total Time 51:24

An album that sounds like a bunch of old guys getting together occasionally to jam, occasionally liking one of their jams well enough to process, produce, and release it. The work of both the drummer and the bass player are quite solid and often interesting.

B-/3.5 stars; a very pleasant easy-listening album that many older prog lovers may love but, for all intents and purposes, offers nothing new or exciting to the lexicon of progressive rock music.