PLAMP

Plamp, a Swiss band only named after the first names of the musicians involved, came from the city of Chur and were around since the mid-70's as a quintet, Mario Giovanoli played flute and saxophone, Peter Toenz was on electric guitar, Peter Streiff on Hammond organ and piano, Louis Streiff on drums and Andrea Thoeny on bass, while all members contributed on the vocal parts.For their only release ''Und ueberhaupt ...'', pressed privately and released sometime during year 1978, they were joined by Fortunat Froelich on cello and piano and Marc Keller on acoustic guitars.

Plamp used the nearby Kraut Rock qualities in a lighter version to produce their own personal sound, obviously influenced by Folk, Jazz and Psychedelic Rock, and it's really amazing why the band remained so obscure, they were propably at the wrong place at the wrong time.The result of their efforts was a rich album with long instrumental passages and reduced, mediocre vocals in English, containing a wide range of inspirations, as proposed by the expanded instrumentation, including keyboards, sax and flute.They offered what most Kraut Rock acts were doing previously yet in a calmer edition, the arrangements sound a bit more delicate and elaborate as a whole, but you can find all the traditional elements of the movement, some serious groovy parts, some cosmic/psychedelic breaks with a folky aura and of course some nice little jams with a jazzy background.Close to Austrians ISAIAH, their music goes from lyrical, rhythmic parts with organ showering to flute-based psychedelia and from jazzy interventions, featuring great sax and piano, to standard Kraut Rock abnormalities with tireless solos on various instruments.''Behind'' is a nice example of their undefinable eclectisicm, archaic flute lines meet with theatrical vocals, cello strings and organ in a very jazzy enviroment.

The band stayed together until early-80's.Musicians of Plamp have been later detected in various local-based bands and collaborations, while three members, Louis Streiff, Toenz and Thoeny, rejoined forces again in 1984 for Paulin Nuotcla's album ''Mouva't''.

Nice Kraut-influenced Psych/Prog/Fusion with diverse influences and instrumental mannerisms.Very expensive in its original form without any reissues, still a good one within the movement.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

3,5 really

Plamp is an forgotten and very obscure band coming from Switzerland, releasing only one album in 1978 named ... und überhaupt .... I was very pleasent surprised when I heared this album. A combination of psychedelic rock like in late '60's early '70's with progressive arrangements and also some jazz hints here and there. Very good album overall, nice compositions and yet complex enough arrangements to please any prog listners, the vocal parts are in german language and also one track has english lyrics - Behind. Some instruments pieces give a special atmosphere, the most progressive from the album, opening track Streiffzug and Serum stands above almost all the rest. The longest track from here Arwen clocking around 11 min, is excellent, mid tempo piece with great arrangements. So, a great album, very unnoticed to prog listners and for sure needs a better view. The name of the band is taken from the initials of the names of the mebers, Plamp. 3.5 quite great record, very hard to find today in original form and quite expensive aswell. They remind me in places, maybe because is a lots of flute here with Rousseau, german progressive band from the '80's. Pastoral feeling combined with progressive elements. Recommended.