KRAAN

KRAAN's beginnings date back in 1967 in Ulm with the meeting of teenagers Peter Wolbrandt,Helmut Hattler,Johannes Pappert and Jan Friede.The four young guys started jamming in a Free Jazz form,before getting serious about music and move to the small town of Wintrup.There is when they adapt the name KRAAN around 1970 and devote themselves to the success of their band.1972 sees the release of their debut self-titled LP on Spiegelei (the same album succeeded several re-issues in the future).

From the very first notes you will realize that you have to do with a hell of a talented band here! The first couple of songs is a haunting and rich mix of deep bass,strong drumming, very complex guitars,some light organ sounds and melodic saxes,which works extremely well.Classic Rock meets Psych meets Jazz Rock!''Kraan Arabia'' is even more attractive:here the track is built around furious Arabic tones through Pappert's sax and you should notice the fantastic rhythm section with great pounding bass by Hattler and energetic drumming by Friede.The style of the previous songs returns on the long ''Head'',a 18-min. Psych-Jazz paradise with a very spacey atmosphere at moments.Here a distinctive drum/bass duo and some light organ sounds support the magnificent work of Wolbrandt,who's style alternates between jazzy chords and rockier solos, and the unique sax parts of Pappert,which maintain a smooth Arabic feeling.Not that experimental but certainly an intricate piece of music.The album closes with a short psych 2-min. track,featuring every instrument in its smoothest sound,definitely a good way to close such a dynamic work.

The EMI re-issue on CD features also four out of the five compositions in their demo version,mainly with shorter running time,which have a historical importance,as with these tracks KRAAN achieved to gain their first contract,along with a short story about the band from the very beginning to the release of their first album.At the end I find myself surprised with this original blending of Rock,Psych,Jazz and Ethnic music by KRAAN and ,though I'm not a devoted fan of the German Kraut-Jazz scene,I can only recommend this album highly to every serious music fan out there.A great release indeed which deserves 4 stars!