Search - GURU GURU :: Very Best of

An excellent and inexpensive introduction to Krautrock

Worgelm | United States | 08/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you have any scholarly interest in Krautrock, then you'll want to own this low-priced wonder. It contains a very good overview of GG's prolific musical output. Most of disc one is noisy, cacophonous, spacey extended jams, heavy on guitar noise, light on structure, and typical of what the scene was like in Germany at the time. This period covers albums such as _UFO_, _Hinten_ and _Kanguru_. With song titles like "Der LSD Marche" you are pretty much assured of what lies in wait. I don't like GG's first period (most of disc 1) at all, however with disc 2 their music becomes much more accessible. This music, taken from such albums as _Tango Fango_, _Mani et Seine Freunde_, _Globetrotter_, _Moshi Moshi_ and _Dance of the Flames_ is much more well-constructed, spacey jazz/world fusion. During this period GG worked with Kraan and Cluster and the music benefits from impressive musicianship, funky rhythms and bizarre, zappa-esque vocal interludes. On the excellent disc 2 alone I would recommend the purchase of this set, although fans of psychadelia and acid rock may find disc 1 very diverting and enjoyable."

Something for most everyone experimental

09/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This ever changing German band is well represeted by this two cd overview. The price can't be beat and the selections are representative of the many phases of this band. The first few songs on Disc One are experimental "space rock." I can't listen to them, but some people quite like this stuff. Next is their "deconstruction" phase. Here, GG takes recognizable riffs (at times sounding like something Chuck Berry or Jeff Beck might play) and over the course of 10 minutes deconstructs and rearranges them into far more experimental realms. It is fairly interesting stuff that is played with utter sincerity. By Disc Two members of Kraan and Cluster (two other fairly well known German bands) had joined double G and the music alternates between smooth fusion, world music/soundscapes (this was in the mid 70's but tracks like From Another World and Globetrotter would sound right at home played next to bands like Orb, Tortoise and Stereolab) and more intense fusion (ala Mahavisnu Orchestra). You can't beat the price on this one, and while most of this stuff is fairly obscure if you have any interest in space rock, fusion or soundscapes you'll probably find something here to peak your curiosity."