ÜBERFÄLLIG

After years of having acquired once and lost later, this Gunther Schickert's "Uberfallig" work on a cheaply manufactured European "original" cassette tape, I am now, the proud owner of the remastered CD edition, at last and again. If it had to do with me, Mr. Schickert's work could be figured in both, " Progressive Electronic" and 'Krautrock" Prog sub-genres.

Anyway, how 2 minutes of a lower inventiveness, can affect an almost 'masterpiece" is my only regret. And this, I remember, was like that, since my first owning of the tape. But do not feel discouraged, I am talking about an almost flawless "jewel". To pinpoint the flaw (IMO), the last 2 minutes of the awesome and dynamic first song, are this work's only underachievers (the guitar riff is quiet silly and boring).

The rest is pure gold, as the first song could have been if it had been cut short. Each song is unique in its own way and yet, it all feels like a single structure. (In a far- fetched comparisson, like a highly, "reloaded" Steve Hillage's 'Rainbow Dome Musick' , of course with Schickert´s own musical idiom.)

Gunther Schickert's main "feature" is the electric guitar work, which then and now, still sounds daring and way ahead of the times, music-wise, without any, really any, kind of "flash" or "speed racing-fireworks". No, no!.

Every inch this project ascends, is achieved by great song writing and inventive experimentation, which in fact, creates the "uniqueness" of all the songs, by fierce and dynamic "soberness" in the approaches of the performances. This may sound eventually, quiet "un-Kraut" and closer to the droning effect of early "electronic music" as such. That is why, it is really hard to sit him only in one chair.

The songs are well written, but also are openly experimental, very "Kraut" like, and the "apparent" simplicity they display, in the long run, will turn out to be a "lesson" in a electronic/ Prog- guitar/drums/tapes/voices, compositions and performance. Way ahead in many ways and as "valuable" as the first "Ash Ra Tempel" project, (which sits comfortably in the "Krautrock" sub-genre). A perfect blend of both "worlds" into one unique project.

98% *****5 PA´s stars.