ALPHA CENTAURI

Their debut album "Electronic Meditation" is what Krautrock is all about for me. Their follow up "Alpha Centauri" sees them going further in the experimentation of spacey soundscapes. Just about all the things I liked about the debut are gone. Gone too are Schulze and Schnitzler. Interesting that AGITATION FREE drummer Christopher Franke replaced Klaus. Christopher played with AGITATION FREE well before they released their first album. The two bands often played together at the Zodiac Club, which is how Froese knew Christopher. This album is named after a star which is perfect because the music and cover art all point to what it would be like taking a trip in cold, deep space.

"Sunrise In The Third System" is haunting and eerie with spacey sounds coming and going. It gets louder towards the end. The organ helps warm things up though. "Fly And The Collision Of Comas Sola" is especially cold and empty early on as spacey sounds echo. The organ then flute arrive after 2 1/2 minutes. Great sound. Very spacey 7 1/2 minutes in. Drums 9 minutes in end up getting very aggressive as flute continues. Good section.

Alpha Centauri" is the side long closing suite. Spacey to start with. It gets a little annoying after 3 minutes with those sharp sounds. Flute 10 minutes in. Spoken words 18 minutes in. It sounds like spirits are crying out 21 minutes in.

A trip in space for all who will dare.