MISSUS BEASTLY

Found in 1968 in Herford,Westfalen,MISSUS BEASTLY begun as a psych/jazz rock band,who recorded an eponymous album in January 70',featuring Hansi Fisher of ''Xhol Caravan'' on flutes and Dieter Serfas of ''Amon Duul II'' on percussions,they even extended their line-up to seven members,but soon they run out of money and disbanded.Surprisingly a new formation returns at the end of 1973,touring around Germany and finally releasing a new LP on Nova in 1974,entitled ''Missus Beastly'' as well (in 2005 the album was reissued by Garden of Delights on CD with four extra tracks)!

Their sound was very far from their debut and had nothing to do with the German Kraut/Jazz scene either.No stretched compositions,no ever-lasting improvisations.''Missus Beastly'' contains seven rather short-length tracks with a pleasant sound and a funky and spacey edge,influenced among others by PASSPORT, WEATHER REPORT,NUCLEUS or even PERIGEO.Saxes and flutes are on the front in here,delivering weird solos, dreamy, almost psych passages and soft interplays with the rhythm section.Dieter Miekautsch'es (later to be found on EMBRYO's line-up) keyboard parts play also a prominant role...some organ solos are so tasteful,but it's especially his electric piano that recalls heavily CHICK COREA of WEATHER REPORT.Actually what comes closer to Jazz-Fusion in this album is the tight and strong delivery of the rhythm section,featuring heavy and groovy bass lines by Norbert Doemling and impressive drumming by Lutz Oldemeier.Compositionally the album stands quite good next to monster bands like PASSPORT,KRAAN or EMBRYO with its rhythmic parts lasting as much as the individual solos in here.

Not the album of the decade,but nevertheless ''Missus Beastly'' is an enjoyable listening from the start to the end.Recommended and should easily appeal to followers of the aforementioned groups.