LET IT OUT

Let It Out appeared when the German Fusion band was at the top of their popularity. Some line-up changes occurred during the process (keyboard player Ingo Bischof from KARTHAGO was added, and saxophonist Johannes Pappert left before finishing the album; he formed his own Fusion band ALTO). After the producer Conny Plank's suggestion, the recording was made in the country house where the band used to practise.

Near-instrumentals 'Degado' and 'Heimweh nach Übersee' feature some vocalising, as well as the Kraftwerkian, experimental 'Der Maschine'. There's only two songs with proper vocals. The deliciously funky 'Bandits in the Wood' is about paranoia. I enjoy especially Bischof's airy keyboards in it, but the stressed singing is rather bad. Good humoured instrumentals such as 'Luftpost' and 'Prima Klima' seem to mix CAMEL-like flexible melodies, the virtuosity of American Fusion (Return To Forever) and the lightly funky groove of STEELY DAN. An interesting and happy natured album by one of Germany's too forgotten jazzy prog bands that I should get some more. 3½ stars.