WOLF CITY

Wolf City is the most expensive vinyl I ever bought. And I bought it today, after listening to it in a digital format for five times in a row last week. On this record German Krautrock act Amon Duul II sounds like a drugged up version of Jefferson Airplane with a 'Hawkwind - Warror on the Edge of Time'-sound. Throw in some Radio Gnome-era Gong. 'Wolf City' is a short but wild ride. Going from dark & ominous symphonic prog to happy hippy-folk without warning whilst discovering totally new pallets of sounds. Never quite finishing a song, the band is already into the next catchy-as-hell moment. Amon Duul II has often made a hit-and-miss impression on me (whilst writing this review I'm listening to the mixed 'Carnival in Babylon') but on this album the 'hits' are fantastic and the 'misses' add to the unpredictability - a unique feature that adds to the psychedelic feel. Furthermore the band finds times to really rock out on this record. I'm very much a fan of the original chord progressions of the opening song 'Surrounded by the Stars'. I like the hellish vocals of Renate Knaup, especially sinds she can also sing the folky second song quite beautifully - if not a bit druggy. The last track 'Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge' stands out as a surprisingly structured and harmonic piece with folk guitars (acoustic and electric) and classic synth tones. On every song the band fails to cash out the huge potential of the material. Like children in a candy shop they jump around from shelf to shelf. As I a listener I really feel like I'm standing on the cradle of creative creation and I guess that's precisely why I'm so addicted to this record. Its also one of my favorite cover artworks ever made.