HINTEN

Guru Guru. I LOVE Guru Guru. I'm probably not the right person to refer to, but most of their albums I would rate as 4's or 5's. This one is a 4.5 coz the next one is better. Hinten may not offer anything revolutionary, but their passion and vibrant energy levels surpasses that of many other bands. I'm not a fan of Hendrix, I couldn't even hum any tune by him (banished.... oh, maybe 'Are You Experienced ? - but that's thanks to the Magic Mushroom Band's cover of it ) but if any Hendrix is like this, I'd like to know, as JH is often cited as a reference point for this model Guru Guru. From the opening blast of 'Electric Junk' (10.58), the musicians waste not a second ; abrasive guitaring and heavy drumming instantly smashing your ears like a jack-hammer to a sidewalk - from this cacophonous intro the main riff kicks in (yes, Hinten is more riff laden than their debut, U.F.O.) with a rockabilly guitar on crystal, relentless in execution and complimented with Mani's incredibly creative and meticulous drum-work - even though their music is highly improvised, it's as if every part of the drum-kit he hits was carefully planned in advance. Bassist Uli Trepte underpins this madness with solid grooves, simple maybe, but methinks his Bass is the anchor for all the percussion and guitar histrionics. There are no keyboards, but there is an interlude that must've been snatched from a galaxy far, far away because it's really 'out there'. Who needs drugs when we have Guru Guru ??? The last section of this piece jams out with guitarist Ax Genrich sounding like he's been doused in fuel and set alight, Mani's rumbling, double-kick drumming powerful enough the crack the foundations of your humble abode, and Uli's orange Fender P-Bass keeping it all together. Great stuff to crank up first thing in the morning !! Similar descriptions can be applicable for the remaining 3 tunes as well, as Ax, Mani and Uli jumped on this formula of shredding, lysergically aided jams and got away with it. They refined this approach for the masterpiece album 'Kanguru'. James Blunt, anyone ??? - Didn't think so.....