TRIPS UND TRAUME

WITTHUSER AND WESTRUPP are a duo i've checked into many times over the years but I never pulled the trigger because each time I saw them listed under Folk and not Krautrock. Well then I saw Guldbamsen's review of this record and I was convinced I needed this. This band's music has been described as Cosmic Folk or Psychedelic Folk for a reason and check out the album cover for evidence of that. Also Witthuser was part of the insanity that was Walter Wegmuller's "Tarot" recording. Yes these guys liked to consume psychedelics and then play music much like the COSMIC JOKERS and many other bands back then. This was recorded at Dieter Dierks studio and released originally by the Ohr label.

Up first is "Lasst Uns Auf Die Reise Gehn" which is such a moving tune for me. Reserved vocals, picked guitar, flute, zither and more. The vocals are in German but i'm just so touched by this song. No words. "Trippo Nova" is almost 9 minutes in length and it starts off slowly and builds. It sounds like female vocal melodies helping out in an almost haunting manner throughout. Reserved male vocals after 2 1/2 minutes almost speaking the words in German. An outburst 4 minutes in as the acoustic guitars take the lead, some percussion too. The vocals remind me of Mooney(CAN) here when he's almost speaking the words. It picks up again as contrasts continue. "Orienta" opens with a flute solo for almost a minute then calming guitar notes join in as the flute continues. Strummed guitar also joins in before 2 minutes. It becomes Eastern sounding before the vocals join in speaking the words. Cool stuff. Backing vocals 3 1/2 minutes in including female vocals. This is transcendental music right here reminding me of POPOL VUH. Great tune !

"Illusion I" is an instrumental that opens with strummed guitar, soon we have two of them playing then bass. It continues to build including some organ. Nice. Another beautiful feel good tune. "Karlchen" is the longest track at over 9 minutes. Guitar expressions slowly come and go to start as flute and cymbals create atmosphere. This goes on for 2 1/2 minutes when spoken female vocals join in speaking in German. This is so good. A change before 4 1/2 minutes as she stops and the music changes to an almost waltz-like rhythm. Trumpet comes in and dominates. Those spoken female vocals are back as the trumpet stops before 7 minutes. Flute is added to the slowly strummed guitar as we get the same soundscape as earlier. Great tune ! "Englischer Walzer" is a short instrumental with piano and more. "Nimm Doch Einen Joint, Mein Freund" is a cover(sort of) of THE FRATERNITY OF MAN"S "Don't Bogart Me" made popular by it's inclusion in the film "Easy Rider". This version is such a blast as we get English vocals for the first time as they sing about sharing weed and singing about hash and lsd. Humerous stuff.

A must for you space cadets out there who don't mind folky music with a psychedelic twist. Probably closer to 4.5 stars.

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