| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Zargus 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 08 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3491
|
 Topic: The Guru Guru appreciation thread
Posted: February 13 2010 at 16:08 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Zargus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 08 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3491
|
Posted: February 13 2010 at 16:02 |
 Sean Trane wrote:
Enjoy
this still sends shiver down my spine soùe 30 years later.... |
That was the first song i heard by em, it got me intrested right away, damn awsome! 
|
|
|
|
moshkito
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 04 2007
Location: Grok City
Status: Offline
Points: 18005
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 19:26 |
| ... Unfortunately I suspect I would probably loathe their earlier 'kosmisch hippy ding' as a live version of Elektrolurch Mutation is the bonus track on Psy. (and frankly, I've heard better from air conditioning units - but it's my loss) ... |
I never once thought that there was anything "kosmic" about this band ... or Amon Duul 2 (who made fun of it even!) ... in my book, and all the way past Tango Fango and Dance of the Flames ... this was ... for all intents and purposes, what you would like to hear from a Jimi Hendrix or a Stevie Ray Vaughn (for example) ... music that provided a backdrop for the expanding of the music ... to experiment ... and you can listen to all of these guitarists that have worked with Mani ... and they all have flourished and done some excellent and amazing work ...
But all of this is not so much a "dope" or "cosmic" thing ... which is a totally American thing, as much as it is a measure of the artistic trends in that time and place in Europe ... dude ... all of these bands were doing experimentations and improvisations, and we love them all (just about) ... and still talk about them 40 years later ... what more can you ask for ... from a piece of music?
In the end, Mani deserves his name amidst the great experimenters and flow drummers around ... and unlike the majority of rock drummers out there ... you will rarely get bored with this guy ... he simply doesn't repeat himself that much ... and that awful and non musical snare drum every 4th beath! ...
The only other rock drummer that comes to this level as Mani ... is the late Pierre Moerlin ... you're dealing with people with insanely high musical IQ ... and they are/were not afraid to trip around and experiment ... and this is what music had in those days, that is missing today ... and badly! ... too much "prog" has no "soul" in it ... because it is composed music that is just like all the other music out there ... and some lyrics make you "THINK" that it is important.
It's like saying that Jimi's meandering is not what ended up defining a lot of prog and music that is more than just pop music today ... and the main reason why we remember Jimi today ... crazy, experimental, original ... and yeah .. .he was a bit of a showman ... but he knew what he was doing ... and for the first 10 years ... Guru Guru stands out as some of the best ... very best ... and deserves that credit ... and their venue ... you could say was "rock'n'roll" ... not some ... imaginary drug trip or cosmic thing, as Ash Ra Tempel kinda did ... (some ... not really!) ... nearly all of the guitarists in any Guru Guru album are probably going crazy ... because Mani is probably telling them ... I heard that already ... I want something else!
One more comment here ... Mani comes from the highly evolved communes that were involved in a lot of things and he knows and remembers well what it is to have a "sceance", or "meditation" or "play drums" ... which for him is probably the same thing. He also knows that politics in his field and country is ... dangerous business ... but he knows that he can entertain and get people to appreciate a trip and enjoy it at the same time ... and a Guru Guru concert was about that a lot of times, even a long time ago ... see the picture ... and the fun for it ... and then ... go hear "Das Lebendige Radio" from the Tango Fango album ... it really says it all ... they mixed a little this and that and this and that ... and you have some german cooking ... and you don't like the food?
... and when you hear this ... find it in your heart to remember that the Wall was still up ... and that folks across the way could not get a Beatles album or Rolling Stones ... much less even hear anything else as controversial/subversive ... as an anti this or that ... and Mani and his group did really well ... and should be respected as artists ... that stood up for what is right ... the same freedoms that you fight for ... (hopefully) ... and talk about in America ... but some of us seem to not give a damn when you see someone else in the same predicament.
Edited by moshkito - February 04 2010 at 20:04
|
|
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
|
|
Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 13:43 |
|
Completely wacked! Do these guys look like neo-nazis? Not. There's more of that on their first two albums.
|
|
Sean Trane
Special Collaborator
Prog Folk
Joined: April 29 2004
Location: Heart of Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 20403
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 11:00 |
Enjoy
this still sends shiver down my spine soùe 30 years later....
|
|
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
|
|
SaltyJon
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 08 2008
Location: Location
Status: Offline
Points: 28772
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 10:44 |
|
Off the topic of Guru Guru secretly being neo-Nazis, I as well got my first album, UFO. I think it's pretty awesome, definitely going to be picking up more.
|
|
|
|
Syzygy
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 16 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 7003
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 10:24 |
BaldFriede wrote:
Vibrationbaby wrote:
They made it in the year 1988. It features a female vocalist who sounds like Lene Lovich at times. I don't think the album has anything to do with neo-nazism.
I wish people would pay more attention to some of the later Guru Guru albums because there's some freaked out stuff on albums like Wah Wah and Shake Well. Even Guru Guru 88 has some wacky stuff on it despite a more poppy sound. |
To believe that Guru Guru secretly support Neo-Nazis is absolutely absurd. Mani has often voiced his opinion about them and often played on festivals that were organised by anit-Nazi movements.
They probably called the album "Guru Guru 88" because of a German expression, "Egal ist 88". "Egal" literally means "it doesn't matter", and since it does not matter which way you look at 88, it will always remain 88, this expression came up.
|
On the other hand - GG is one letter in the alphabet before HH; When Guru Guru sing it's usually in German, which is the same language that Mein Kampf was written in; Mani Neumaier plays the drums, a popular instrument with 3rd reich marching bands. Clearly Mani und seine freunde are slightly to the right of Christian Vander  .
|
|
'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'
Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom
|
|
BaldFriede
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10266
|
Posted: February 04 2010 at 03:18 |
Vibrationbaby wrote:
They made it in the year 1988. It features a female vocalist who sounds like Lene Lovich at times. I don't think the album has anything to do with neo-nazism.
I wish people would pay more attention to some of the later Guru Guru albums because there's some freaked out stuff on albums like Wah Wah and Shake Well. Even Guru Guru 88 has some wacky stuff on it despite a more poppy sound. |
To believe that Guru Guru secretly support Neo-Nazis is absolutely absurd. Mani has often voiced his opinion about them and often played on festivals that were organised by anit-Nazi movements. They probably called the album "Guru Guru 88" because of a German expression, "Egal ist 88". "Egal" literally means "it doesn't matter", and since it does not matter which way you look at 88, it will always remain 88, this expression came up.
|
 BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
|
|
Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 14:41 |
They made it in the year 1988. It features a female vocalist who sounds like Lene Lovich at times. I don't think the album has anything to do with neo-nazism.
I wish people would pay more attention to some of the later Guru Guru albums because there's some freaked out stuff on albums like Wah Wah and Shake Well. Even Guru Guru 88 has some wacky stuff on it despite a more poppy sound.
Edited by Vibrationbaby - January 31 2010 at 14:46
|
|
Rottenhat
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 14 2006
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 436
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 14:07 |
Did Guru Guru make a album called 88??? Isn't that a neo-nazi code word for HH (Heil Hitler). the eight letter in the alphabet?
Edited by Rottenhat - January 31 2010 at 14:10
|
|
Language is a virus from outer space.
-William S. Burroughs
|
|
Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 14:03 |
|
Listen to Guru Guru 88 and it doesn't even sound anything like the early stuff. There's even a female vocalist. That's the beauty of Guru Guru. No two albums the same. But there's always that tinge of wackiness from Mani. I'm listening to Kanguru right now and after over 30 years it still blows my mind. Those who are into the early stuff should also check out Ax Genrich's solo albums Psychedelic Guitar and Wave Cut. I haven't heard the Psychedelic Monsterjam albums but they must be pretty freaked out. Limited pressings though.
|
|
Rottenhat
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 14 2006
Location: Finland
Status: Offline
Points: 436
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 14:02 |
Listened to Guru Guru's self titled (third?) album. It was better that I remembered. Even liked the Rock' Roll medley :)
Damn fine musicians.
Edited by Rottenhat - January 31 2010 at 14:04
|
|
Language is a virus from outer space.
-William S. Burroughs
|
|
micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 10:23 |
|
|
|
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
|
|
Tuzvihar
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: May 18 2005
Location: C. Schinesghe
Status: Offline
Points: 13536
|
Posted: January 31 2010 at 05:32 |
|
|
|
"Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent."
Charles Bukowski
|
|
micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
|
Posted: January 30 2010 at 19:32 |
|
|
|
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
|
|
Tuzvihar
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: May 18 2005
Location: C. Schinesghe
Status: Offline
Points: 13536
|
Posted: January 30 2010 at 19:27 |
|
|
|
"Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent."
Charles Bukowski
|
|
micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
|
Posted: January 30 2010 at 19:20 |
|
|
|
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
|
|
Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
|
Posted: January 28 2010 at 15:55 |
|
Something to look out for is Uncuts. It pops up now and then on rare album sites. I dug it out of a 2nd hand shop in Montréal for $20. It's got ex Gila guitarist Connie Viet taking the place of Nejadepour and he does a suprisingly good job on a few tracks from Dance of The Flames plus some jamming. Quality isn't that great because it was recorded from a radio broadcast but it's the only live stuff that I know of featuring material from Dance Of The Flames. Nejadepour only stuck around for a few months and left just after the album was completed and he did very few live gigs with them. I think I reviewed it as well some time back.
|
|
Zargus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 08 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3491
|
Posted: January 27 2010 at 15:54 |
I yust got my first album by them today "Känguru" found it in a second hand music shop for a very nice price, sounded very nice on the first listen.  Looking forward geting more stuff by em later...
Edited by Zargus - January 27 2010 at 15:56
|
|
|
|
TODDLER
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: August 28 2009
Location: Vineland, N.J.
Status: Offline
Points: 3126
|
Posted: January 27 2010 at 06:46 |
One of my all time favorites. Guru, Guru live in 1978 is just an amazing cd. I bought it back in 2001 and it might be out of print I'm not sure. But anyone who is fond of the band and has not heard this concert is re, truly missing something great. Some of the instrumental tracks with Sax, guitar, bass, and drums are in the Passport vain. I don't even like to compare but, it's vital to bring out the diversity of this band in that fashion. My God! They are such a tight unit on live 78'. They do an excellent job performing the early material.
Dance of the Flames, where they had a guitarist on board that was influenced by McLaughlin. Early Mahavishnu style. But the album itself shines through with Guru, Guru sensibilities. Guru, Guru, Mani and some Friends is a classic for me. Kanguru is my favorite from the early period. I have a double disc on the Purple Pyramid label titled "The Very Best Of Guru, Guru. It's a great collection for a person who wants to hear the band for the first time. The Mask is a strange collection of odds and ends. I paid about 50 dollars for it. I found out later that I was paying for the mask mostly and not the disc. Some of the material was obviously transferred from vinyl as you can hear the pops.
I was told back in 1980 that this band was krautrock with a sense of humour. It made me more than interested at that time and so my first purchase was "The Very Best of Guru, Guru' on vinyl. A kind of flimsy import jacket with a photograph of the 3 piece line up on the front. It contained about 4 or 5 tracks. Back in 1974, I used to see albums in the bargain bins at Wilmington Dry Goods. Lucifer's Friend, Jane, Epitaph etc. Krautrock bands on the Billingsgate label. A domestic label. That was the very first time I saw the name Guru, Guru and it was advertised on the inner sleeve jackets of Billingsgate albums. Don't Call Us, We Call You is a strange album. Tango Fango and Globetrotter had some material that I would personally consider filler. Although those albums did have some beautiful instrumental tracks. Even though the jazzy period of the band was one of my favorites, I didn't rate or associate that period with the Tango Fango and Globetrotter output. They were lack-luster in sections and did not fully represent the band's potential in jazz/rock fusion. Mani and Friends and Live 78' did more for me in that particular area of style. Both titles are a true representation of the band's exploitation into a jazz/rock feel. The band was also very spaced out and made me laugh quite a bit. 1970 to 1978 was very magical for me.
|
|
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
The Guru Guru appreciation thread
