MANI UND SEINE FREUNDE

This album was released in 1975 and although it bears the name of GURU GURU, it is actually more of a Mani Neumeier's solo effort. Even the title "Mani and his Friends" suggests so. The drummer, percussionist and singer and the only constant member of the band gathered a group of collaborators, including some former and future GURU GURU members. The music style is quite different from the well-known Kraut experimentation of the previous albums, and it is ever closer to pure jazz-rock territory. Typical nonsensical humour is still present, however, like that in "Chicken Rock". The first half of the album is an excellent jazz-rock rendition filled with funky bass, guitars, lively percussions and saxophones. The second half is more ambient and experimental in nature with another unexpected humoresque "Woodpecker's Dream". The only obvious mistake is the closing "1, 2, 3, 4 Marsch'n' Rock" - a total filler with unneeded take on a rock'n'roll sample sounding like taken from radio. It reminds of the weakest moments of the album "Guru Guru"... Still, this is very good album in spite of some minor inconsistencies. 4 stars!