KRAUTROCK FROM HELL

Yeah, they did it once more. While the forerunner album 'Morbus' was presented with a provocative album cover ... this time it's the title ... 'Krautrock From Hell'. If this stuff is really coming from the hell floor, why should we ever reach for something like a paradise, for the promised place in heaven, eh? So there's no other choice ... when you're caught between the devil and the deep blue sea you have to question all your habits when starting to listen. Behaving against the wind ... against the mainstream. This will be clear at the latest when you're wondering about this crazy narration, provided with an Austrian accent, which directs you into the album. Time to fasten your seatbelts ... sorry, headphones of course.

Tom Rückwald's repetitive bass line and the stoic drums steer the course on Bandwurm (tapeworm in English - which will ever find a way, right?) spiked with a bunch of effects, modified by a Leslie speaker I'm quite sure. An enthusiastic voice is encouraging the other band members for the following Sundos ... where it all surprisingly turns out to bear a reference to Bo Hansson's 'The Sun'. I don't believe in coincidence here - oh ... ELECTRIC ORANGE dare to work in my preferred song from 'Magician's Hat'! No - not as a simple rehash at all - it took some time until I began to wonder about the relation, especially because there is a hurry-up interlude placed which is really puzzling. The main theme though is decorated with Hammond, Josef Ahns' flute and decent guitar reminiscent to this excellent Swedish keyboarder - well done.

There is something new about the line-up - as for the the drummer we have one change here, compared to the recent albums. Georg Monheim is aboard (concerning the live performances since 2008 in fact). Don't want to compare or to complain why - he does a great job and is very present, even applying to the mix - and that's important in the end. For example speaking of his excellent percussion work including congas on Chorg - the first spacey ride and the first to cross the ten minute mark. Wonderful, especially the second half - hooked by a trippy drive soaring Mini Moog, Solina String Ensemble and guitar are wrapping you up - nearly working like a krautrock ballad (don't blame me for this term). Definitely a highlight because ELECTRIC ORANGE arrange such a gorgeous mood here!

By the way - Dirk Jan Müller uses a wide range of keyboard instruments, including diverse analogue synthesizers. Man ... this is surely responsible for much variety. On the other hand - the guitar work is more subtle in general - but important so much the more. Just listen to Hers and you will know what I mean. The song is provided with a hallucinogenic intro where synths and guitar are meandering seemingly aimless - and even more so the following short narration. Maybe something for the couch doctor ... wait, not really necessary though because they soon get you going with a groove - including good vocals surprisingly. And now we are on a really charming psych tune furthermore - hooooh, what a swirling organ!

The spacey Kunstkopf follows - a floating improvisation decorated with many analogue effects - just to prepare for Neuronomicon - the album's centerpiece. A grooving rhythm alternates with restrained gripping parts - this song holds a lot of variations. An acoustic guitar opens this twentyfive minute epic. You will find piano interludes, weird vocoder modified voice samples (uahhhh ... coming from the devil himself), fuzzy guitars ... especially for the use of varied keyboard/synth impressions they reach the top here - impressing! Wurmloch (wormhole - Einstein is convoying us) - kosmische musik - this makes you feel like gliding through a foreign galaxy. Using my imagination a bit ... a new episode of Star Trek probably ... whilst Captain Picard orders to broadcast Tangerine Dream over the board loudspeakers. It's the combination of an electronic beat, some flute here and there, weird effects ... and finally fulminant drums working like a timbal.

Available via Sulatron Records 'Krautrock From Hell' is caring for a compact flow - solos as such are (nearly) missing. You shouldn't expect a rollercoaster trip - as for that ELECTRIC ORANGE's arrangements are too spacey, hypnotic, repetitive. Anyhow - here we have an efficient proportion of composition and improvisation once more. Just another situation to think about a masterpiece rating. I'm sure now after some rehearsals - perfectly linking to the predecessor album 'Morbus', the band have reached for the innovative elite of progressive rock. You shouldn't miss a visit to hell!