AFFENSTUNDE

This POPOL VUH music is hailing from the electronic experimental side of krautrock. 'Affenstunde' represents the very early times in 1970. Besides the initial KRAFTWERK line-up they surely have been an inspiration for other bands - groundbreaking for the use of the Moog synthesizer and the upcoming 'Kosmische Musik' with protagonists like TANGERINE DREAM for example. And especially there is to mention Florian Fricke of course, the creative head and mentor.

But nevertheless personally I have problems to get the spiritual or artistical essence. The same problem I often also have trying to examine several pictures or sculptures. What does the artist want to express with his workout? And so it is hard for me to digest this ... electronical sort of thing - accompanied by some percussion work. Is there any definable structure or did they simply treat their percussion instruments, buttons and controls at random with the help of some mind-expanding stuff? Who knows?

The moderate Ich mache einen Spiegel suite consists of some swirling pulsating sounds with minimal variations except Dream part 5 which is dominated by tribal congas, bongos and cowbells. This partition is well done by all means but not very innovative on the other hand. The title song Affenstunde is more interesting because consisting of some variations and indications of melody. They get started with a dull deep-toned electronic session later gliding into a long meandering sentimental part.

For the musical content this is an album dedicated to diehard collectors only. But I'll add one star because it must be considered as an important historical document for the development of krautrock and progressive electronic music.