EUROPEAN SPASSVOGEL

4.5 stars. I was so excited to see Germany's own EX OVO PRO recently added here that I interrupted my Symphonic Summer to spend some time with this. They were a Jazz Fusion band who released two studio albums in the second half of the seventies before calling it quits. This is the debut from 1976 and I had the pleasure of actually spending time with this record in the Summer of 2020. A five piece with the guitar, electric piano and sax usually leading the way.

This reminds me of early NUCLEUS but more sedated. Still it sounds old school and traditional with some incredible musicians. Mandi the sax/bassoon/flute player previously guested on MARSUPILAMI's second album "Arena" and not long after this record was released he would be part of a band called GEBARVATERLI. Yeah the bassoon is awesome and really it's Mandi who brings the dissonance with the sax and of course the nasty sounding bassoon to spice up the proceedings.

What I love about this album more than anything is the electric piano, it just sounds perfect but as said before these guys are players and for the most part keep within themselves.There is a short drum solo though on the longest track "In A Locrian Mood" at just under 10 minutes and even the synths are mean here but each musician gets to step out on this one. A top three.

The closer "Happy Sounds" is also a top three and Mandi really goes dissonant here with the sax, some crazy stuff, I like the guitar as well here. Some funk on "Don't Forget The Master" and the other top three is the title track to open the record and checkout the bassoon after a sax driven start. Guitar later. Gotta love the inappropriate sounds from the bassoon on "It's Rainin' In My House" as it trips along.

Just a wonderful sounding all instrumental album that I rate very high.