LET IT OUT

In 1975 KRAAN not only released this studio album but their famous "Kraan Live" record. Just to show how popular they were in Germany at this point, a leading German music magazine called "Sounds" released their anual poll and KRAAN was voted favourite band followed by CAN, PASSPORT, TANGERINE DREAM and KRAFTWERK. They were also voted as the best concert to see that year followed by GENESIS, THE WHO, JETHRO TULL and SANTANA. Their two records they released that year were voted number one and two (the live one was number one). The estate they lived on (Wintrup) was a popular place for other musicians to visit, jam and party. One person who they particularily liked both musically and personally was keyboard player Ingo Bischof from the band KARTHAGO. And so they decided to add him as the fifth member for this recording. Once again Conny Plank would produce the record but this time he encouraged the band to record it at the estate instead of in his studio. Conny was always so impressed listening to KRAAN and other musicians jam at the farm, and he thought this would be a great idea to record in this enviroment. The house was too small for all the recording equipment and the band, so they went out to the barn to do it. It was cold and it smelled pretty bad but they carried on anyway, and the results were amazing. To my ears this for the most part sounds lighter and more commercial, but man it's so good, and it's infectious. Besides they play so well together, and it sounds like they were having so much fun. Pappert the sax player especially played his instrument in a unique way making it difficult to tell it's even a sax at times. This would be his last record with the band.

"Bandits In The Woods" features some excellent bass as usual from the bass maestro Hellmut Hattler. There's such a good, funky rhythm to this one. I like when he sings "There are bandits in the woods, look out !" Haha. "Luftpost" opens with what sounds like a jet taking off. Love the way they take turns instrumentally on this Canterbury flavoured track. The bass after 3 minutes is fantastic. I really just like listening to the sounds they create on this one. "Degado" has such a beautiful melody to it. The sax is so inviting. Vocals before a minute. Acoustic guitar before 2 1/2 minutes. A beautiful relaxed tune. "Prima Klima" is a light, uptempo jazzy song. Some screaming sax 3 1/2 minutes in.

"Let It Out" is a song where they are having a blast, you can tell by the way they play. I can't stop moving to this one. Some good guitar after 3 minutes. "Die Maschine" seems really out of place on here. Don't get me wrong I like it but it's very experimental Krautrock that was actually a left over track from the "Wintrup" album recordings. Very spacey and psychedelic. It's a trip. "Heimweh Nach Ubersee" has some atmosphere to it. Liquid keys and i love the sax 2 minutes in. Themes are repeated. Great tune. "Picnic International" is another cool track. I like the way bass then piano then sax lead the way as the song progresses.

A solid 4 stars and a very enjoyable listen from start to finish.