HINTEN

Hinten is one of Guru Guru's most consistent efforts and easily my favorite of the band. It's a perfection of the debut, with the same freshness and inspiration but with a better sound and a sharper focus during the jams. It sits chronologically between UFO and Känguru and also musically it takes a position inbetween the total freedom of the debut and the more structured and catchy improvisations of Känguru

All tracks have a loose rocking structure, with loads of soaring guitars, tons of imagination, a healthy bit of madness, and an overdose of hash. The music may be quite out there but the musicianship of all members is stunning. Obviously, I'm a total fan-boy of Mani's drumming and of Ax Genrich's raw and fuzzy guitars, but also Uli Trepte on the bass should not be overlooked. With Mani's loose improvisational drum style, Uli is the one who's tying everything together with his tight bass grooves.

Guru Guru never delivered a better take of their Jimi Hendrix inspired jam freak-outs, and I would promote this album as a fine and fairly accessible introduction to Krautrock. But strangely, that's not what the average rating says. 4.5 stars for sure.