ALTONA (GER)

"Feigenblatt"opens with the rain falling, funny the wind is howling outside right now but we're more likely to get snow than rain. Melancholic sax and electric piano arrive then drums and bass join in. I like this! And hey it's an instrumental! Thankyou. The closer has vocals but this almost 10 1/2 minute title track is so impressive.

While the debut is 3 stars and nothing more this album is 3.5 stars and maybe even closer to 4 stars, a big improvement.

Keeping all the energy of Thrice Mice, Altona focused on filling their sound with dominant sax attacks and dynamic grooves,like if CHICAGO were actually a Kraut Rock band.Present also some psychedelic influences here and there.With the absence of a keyboard player more than evident,the style became more rhythmic with leading sax solos and Blumenberg's voice in great shape,not particularly complex, but definitely powerful and rich.Very interesting are the dual sax parts often delivered under sudden breaks and the dynamic bass/drums duo of Kahl and Gossler.When the saxes remain silent, Von Gosen's fuzz guitar playing comes on the forefront in a typical Heavy/Kraut Rock style.The sound of Altona though did not break any new grounds,plenty of Kraut Rock bands played this specific style much earlier,but the album keeps a good consistency between the song-based parts and the more jazzy instrumental parts.

If you like your Kraut Rock menu to have some good dose of Jazz taste, ''Altona'' should be among your main preferences.Decent proggy Jazz-Rock,not very personal but well-executed and performed and for this reason recommended.

The album starts with a swinging heavy rock groove. The brass section and Beefheart-alike vocals give it a nice twist. It's a bit of a stretch but the brass instruments somehow remind me of Morphine. Altona's mood isn't morose though, this must be the most energetic and vivacious music I know. Oh yes this is prog you can boogie to!

Cocopus partially continues the upbeat pace, but also adds some more reflective bluesy pieces that could have been from Pink Floyd's More or Ash Ra Tempel. Uberlandfarth shifts up the gear another notch. One day I'll throw in this song at a party at home. Guaranteed swinging and air-guitar fun. 7/4 is a bit of an old-fashioned rockabilly track but from here on the album doesn't let go of its tight rocking energy anymore.

Is it kraut? Is it acid-rock? Jazz-rock? It's sure heavy energetic fun!

Sound is very dynamic, full of heavy rhythms, sax soloing and some vocals ( Karl-Heinz Blumenberg is ex-Thrice Mice vocalist). It's a bit pity, that this album is rarity, because it represents krautrock at its best.

All compositions are different, has own melodies and complex and very competent musicianship. Happily, this album was re-released on CD in 2000 ( by Disconforme), so it is possible to find it for listening.

If you like jazz-rock ( in best Colosseum style) and heavy energetic krautrock, this album is excellent addition to your collection.

Really 4,5!