GOODBYE FUTURE

On "Goodbye Future", TOMORROW'S GIFT has been reduced to a trio (drums, keys and bass) and also opted for a more improvised progressive sound with harder edged keyboard and bass interplay. Of course the engineering and production were handled by Konrad Plank. "Goodbye Future" is indeed a very varied album and contains a certain strange ZAPPA-esque wierdness throughout. This album contains some simply mind numbing space explorations carrying a certain improvised Canterbury-influenced jazz-rock feel throughout. I would certainly consider this to be classic Krautrock for sure as it carries that underground German prog sound that we have all love. An excellent album full of grand percussion, keyboard and bass interplay.

This is TOMORROW'S GIFT's second and final album released in 1973. It apparently sounds nothing like the debut which had a Folk vibe to it with female vocals. The band completely broke up after that one. The bass player and keyboardist decided to keep it going by adding a drummer and carrying on as a trio. This album is one of those releases I felt I took a gamble on and hit the jackpot. This is pure Krautrock my friends and I love it ! Sure it has a Jazz flavour and some Zappa-like humour, but this one album of their's is Krautrock all the way. In the liner notes this record is described as being "... a varied album : Canterbury influenced Jazz-Rock with improvised Free Jazz parts". Great sound as well with Conny Plank doing the engineering and production.

"Jazzi Jazzi" opens with keys as a beat comes in with silliness going on all around it. "Der Geier Fliegt Vorbei" opens with keys and bass as flute-like sounds comes in. It's building as drums come in. Check out the fuzzed out bass ! Amazing sound here. A change after 3 minutes as the tempo slows and it becomes experimental. It sounds better after 4 minutes as it becomes darker and more solemn. Great sound the rest of the way. Fantastic ! "Allerheiligen" opens with deep bass sounds and synths with drums. Some fuzz a minute in (and later) as drums pound away. It settles after 2 1/2 minutes with intricate sounds.

"Wienersatz" is just over 2 minutes of pure psychedelia. People are talking as drums and bass sounds come and go. Synths come in as silly vocal melodies arrive. Haha. "Naturgemass" is the almost 17 minute epic. This also is very psychedelic to start out as sounds come and go with no real melody. Drums and bass start to make some sense as dissonant piano comes and goes after 8 minutes. It settles and then starts to slowly build with synths and a trippy beat. You can hear water and nature sounds in the background. The last minute of the song is powerful and dissonant with some fuzz. "Didden Fur Dunden" is very strange and psychedelic. This song is one freaked out trip man. For some reason I see a connection between the fried egg on the album cover and this song. Haha.

A must for Krautrock fans. Easily 4 stars. I have to comment on the 2 bonus tracks. I must say I usually don't say anything about bonus material because it's not part of the original album but for these two 20 minute jams i'll make an exception. Both tracks are live and from two different concerts. They also were recorded before their first album was released. So we get a taste of the female vocalist. Yikes ! The first track though is beyond incredible with the fantastic organ runs and trippy sound.The guitarist as well rips it up for a long time. The second song isn't as good but it sure has it's moments.