HINTEN

In hindsight - pun intended - this is perhaps the best acid-rock album by German krautrock group Guru Guru. Though this album is probably one improvised affair, it still reaches depth when it comes to exploring the (tape- manipulated) electric wah wah guitar. Needles to say Jimi Hendrix is the main inspiration here, but the music hardly evokes that soul-infused rock style of the sixties. In stead 'Hinten' evokes that psychedelic krautrock feel with hints of early doom influences from Black Sabbath and the wild early hardrock of MC5 . The album also reminds me a bit of The Human Beast, a rarity fans of this album should look for. The recording sound is quite superior to the especially rough debut album of the band ('UFO', 1970) and the stereo effects add to the spaciousness of the music. The heavy distorted guitar of Ax Genrich is the main attraction, but in the rhythm section the drums of Mani Neumeier are starting to show his tremendous talent. On 'Hinten' the band introduces more composed parts, but the largely structured riffing of follow-up 'Kanguru' is still quite far away. Whereas that record would have a brilliant second side, 'Hinten' is actually quite balanced and enjoyable from start to finish. It does sound like a lot of the same at first spin, but when it grows on you the way of thinking and distinct creativity of this record starts to reveal itself. The last track 'Space Ship' is a track in which the band expands on its use of delays, 'out there' vocals and tape manipulations. It could therefor attract some Hawkwind listeners and space rock fans in general. In conclusion, this is a well-recorded acid-rock & krautrock gem that can't be bested in what it does.