EMBRYO'S RACHE

One of Germany's premier experimental outfits, Embryo have carved out a long and colourful career out of blending psychedelic and jazz flavours into a whole world(literally) of ethnic styles and sounds, something they've been doing now for four decades. However, whilst their love of African, Indian and Asia music would come to characterise their later works, Embryo's earlier albums would prove to be some of most innovative examples of the burgeoning 'krautrock' movement that stretched across Germany during the heady days of the late-sixties and early-seventies. After the difficult, mysterious and, at times, rather inaccessible 'Opal' - the group's debut - came 'Embryo's Rache', a wonderful, hyper-kinetic mixture of jazz, afrobeat, avant-garde soundscapes and psychedelic rock, an album that has come to be regarded as one of the best representations of the outstanding Embryo ethos. Similar to the superb, cosmic fusion albums 'Steig Aus' and 'Rocksession', this 1971 album weaves a dense and intoxicating tapestry of exotic flutes, fuzzy organs, lysergic saxophone breaks and tribal percussion, almost as if someone had shoehorned the likes of Miles Davis, Fela Kuti and Amon Duul II into a smoky, incense-filled room for a never-ending jam. Those with an ear for free-form sounds should find a world of happiness here, the only real disappointment being that 'Embryo's Rache' has to, unfortunately, come to an end. An effortless, flowing collection of long, trippy and vibrant compositions filled with all sorts of strange instrumental detours, this is a wonderful album from a much underrated group. Fabulous late-night entertainment.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012