43 MINUTEN

Heading for a second album, guitarist Udo Arndt apparently had explored the dynamics of Jazz and the rise of Fusion within the German borders and decided that his band should also move to that direction.For this reason the four-man line-up of Os Mundi was expanded to a sextet with the addition of Buddy Mandler on bongos, congas, bell and drums and Mikro Rilling on percussion and cello.The band was signed by the Brain label and the album ''43 minuten'' came out in 1972.Renowned producer Conny Planck also plays the guitar on this effort.

From the more Kraut Psych-styled debut now the band was sounding more like a typical Kraut Fusion group, although they never really quit on writing long, psychedelic instrumental moves with hypnotic edges, smooth grooves and the flute in evidence.In fact ''43 minuten'' sounds pretty balanced between the previous album and the new trend, which finds the group with a sax-dominated style, full of jazzy solos and light improvisations.THIRSTY MOON, KRAAN and PASSPORT are the best comparisons.The guys surely knew how to rock their fans at moments with these superb guitar leads and solos and continuous, metronomic Kraut-flavored rhythms, but they were doing it by throwing in a good dose of Jazz with the sweet sax moves and the slight Ethnic colors, as performed on the various percussions.Their music was very powerful and passionate with occasional organ injections and a heavy amount of changing climates, from doomy and dark deliveries to fiery rhythmic tunes.The addition of jazzy elements made their arrangements quite complex and you should be 100% there to fully appreciate their unclassifiable music.The three semi-long pieces at the end of the album are stunning, full of dramatic atmospheres, irritating guitars and isolated solo executions, a good example of how close Kraut Rock and Jazz were stylistically speaking.

Os Mundi existed with some brief pauses until 1980, but no official albums were actually issued after ''43 minuten''.''Sturmflut'' is a 2007 archival album, released on Garden of Delights and featuring material recorded by the band with different line-ups between 1973-75, this should be a good purchase for fans of the band and the style.

Very good jazzy Kraut Rock.Intense, psychedelic and dynamic with great instrumental variety and tempo variations.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.