LIVE 69-71

ERNA SCHMIDT was an active live band in Germany for many years first under the name R & B CORPORATION before changing their name and style of music, but they never did release a studio album. The drummer was an original member of R & B CORPORATION which formed in 1963 with the guitarist here joining in 1965 and the bass player in 1967, leaving the flute and horn player as the last piece of the puzzle. So the music here is live and covers 1969 to 1971.

They were a well oiled machine at this point and I would mention in particular the guitarist as being very talented. The music is led by the guitar or flute almost all of the time and I really dig their sound. Something about that flute in psychedelic music that just does it for me, then add a killer guitarist and I'm sold. A couple of the tracks here would end up on those famous Krautrock compilations from back in the day. I'm surprised at how much they mix it up when it's really a guitar, drum, bass and flute setup. The guitarist is very gifted changing styles and sound often. Love when he does the echo thing with the guitar.

A great example of that guitar echo is at the start of "Woischwiemon" one of the older tracks on here from the late summer of 1969 where he opens with that beautiful sounding guitar that echos so beautifully. He does amp it up including distortion and the bass stands out more before it settles back again. A top 3 for sure. The opener is another big highlight where the flute and guitar offer up some memorable melodies. They are on fire late.

Tough picking that third tune but man "Rulaman" is so Krautrock especially around the 5 minute mark. They really kick some large butt on "La Folie D'espagne" where the guitarist sets the soundscape ablaze after some lightweight flute led music. Love the contrast. So many highlights here but there's a couple of tracks that don't do a lot for me like the longest track at 9 1/2 minutes and the closer surprisingly. Surprising because usually I'm right into the longest tune and the closers.

This is a solid 4 star album no doubt, glad to own this one.