DER GROSSE ROTE VOGEL

An excellent, authentic German psychedelic album featuring dreamy organ / keyboard / mellotron, ethnic / mystic percussion, quirky jazzy saxophone vibes, and magically addictive flute wind. Another Krautrock obscure fantasia with a weird ( but interesting, impressive) pic-printed sleeve has touched my heart obviously. Bringing complicated anti-pop melodies and phrases seasoned with folksy atmosphere and jazzy taste to the forefront sounds like a late-60s Krautrock superstar Xhol Caravan meets another obscure German psychedelic combo Air ' in the first track 'Der Gro'e Rote Vogel', delicious oriental flute melody opens the cage of the 'big red bird', and the melodic texture is leaning towards Air's folksy one. Their jazzy flavour is in the similar vein to Xhol Caravan (but not so improvised nor passionate as Xhol). Their soundscape is not so dissonant as other Krautrock acts but well-composed and crystallized.

Anyway, the following one 'Die Angst' or the third track 'Der Frosch In Der Kehle' is cool jazz rock tinged with psychedelic organ sounds harmonized with tight rhythm sections. Brilliant saxophone movements are crazy strict and sharp-edged especially in the second track ... just like "Yeti" by Amon Düül II. On the contrary, the first shot upon B Side 'Der Blaue Wind' is kinda warping floating keyboard-stream-oriented psychedelia without any rigidity. Very charming are heavenly xylophone footprints and distorted air. 'Die Nachtmusik' is slightly pop-flavoured but rhythmically tight like ones upon A Side, The last 'Der Traum' is potentially critical in the former part but fascinating and lovely in the latter, with complex sentences all over the track. Totally mentioned, Krautrock fans might get immersed in their strict, tight sound reaction and feel it be a pity that they had soon disappeared. Worth having a listen.