^ Andy Nogger was my gateway to this wonderful band (it's probably the most likely LP you'd find in the 2nd - hand shops) after hearing Ed Wynne's (Ozric Tentacles) high praise of them in the mid-90's.
Live '75 is one of, if not THE best, live albums around.
Live '88 is no slouch either (with Joo Krause)
(p.s. - screw spellcheck, often have to edit my post......)

Edited by Tom Ozric - February 19 2016 at 23:49

Thanks for posting this thread as I have not heard of them before - shame on me .  Just listened to a few samples and have get some of their albums. 

Hi,

Lewian wrote: Kraan played one of the best gigs I've ever seen in the early 80s. The instrumental skill of these guys is nothing short of incredible. I think I've never seen any other guitarist play at the speed of Peter Wolbrandt, and Ingo Bischof on keyboards is also a force of nature. Helmut Hattler was a regular winner of best bass player polls in German music magazines for a decade or more; apart from pure skill he also has a very original and individual melodic style of bass playing. I have only to say good things about the drummers they had, too, and the sax player they had in the 70s. Their music generally was (and is, I think they're still touring occasionally) not only about speed and skill, it had a very light and relaxed and groovy atmosphere. This was very different to the darker music that you get from many other prog bands including most of the 70s krautrock greats. That said, composition only ever played second fiddle in what Kraan was about. Consequently, I recommend to listen to the live albums. Kraan Live is one of the greatest live albums there is, and I also love Tournee, which is not very well known. Quite different from "Live" with keyboards replacing the sax and a very different selection of songs. There are occasionally great songs on their studio albums but by and large they were never consistent enough for me to be among my favourites. This is a top notch live band, so try their live albums!

Kraan played one of the best gigs I've ever seen in the early 80s. The instrumental skill of these guys is nothing short of incredible. I think I've never seen any other guitarist play at the speed of Peter Wolbrandt, and Ingo Bischof on keyboards is also a force of nature. Helmut Hattler was a regular winner of best bass player polls in German music magazines for a decade or more; apart from pure skill he also has a very original and individual melodic style of bass playing. I have only to say good things about the drummers they had, too, and the sax player they had in the 70s.

Their music generally was (and is, I think they're still touring occasionally) not only about speed and skill, it had a very light and relaxed and groovy atmosphere. This was very different to the darker music that you get from many other prog bands including most of the 70s krautrock greats.

That said, composition only ever played second fiddle in what Kraan was about. Consequently, I recommend to listen to the live albums. Kraan Live is one of the greatest live albums there is, and I also love Tournee, which is not very well known. Quite different from "Live" with keyboards replacing the sax and a very different selection of songs. There are occasionally great songs on their studio albums but by and large they were never consistent enough for me to be among my favourites.

This is a top notch live band, so try their live albums!


Edited by Lewian - January 06 2016 at 07:15

I have four Kraan albums on original vinyl and they were not as good as some of the other German bands I was into at the time (Gift, Satin Whale, Birth Control, Jane, Grobschnitt, etc,).

I have one Kraan record somewhere. I don't remember any of it, so it didn't leave much of an impression on me, and I don't spin records much (mainly CDs). Glad to know that they're available via iTunes. Does this come with a recommendation that I give them a second listen?

Well....I have the first 3 albums and that's enough Kraan for me.