BEAR'S BANQUET

OPOSSUM were a six piece band from Germany operating from 1971 to 1974 before disbanding. They never did release an album, but these recording were taken from a session they did in their rehearsal space in 1974. This is surprisingly good until you realize that four of these musicians would form MORPHEUS after this band broke up. "Rabenteuer" the debut from MORPHEUS in 1976 is in my "best of" Jazz and related list. So yes I love these guys, and this OPOSSUM record "Bear's Banquet" makes a nice companion with "Rabenteuer".

"Bear's Banquet" is rawer sounding, looser too. I'm just so into that jazz/kraut style though, like early EMBRYO or MISSUS BEASTLY, and there are many more. It would actually make sense for me to have a jazz/kraut section. Peter Blomeki who is on the album's cover playing flute is also a drummer and keyboardist. So of course when they formed MORPHEUS he became their bass player. Just saying. Talented guy. I have to mention how important the sax and clarinet are here to the sound. The sax in particular really brings KRAAN to mind and makes me warm and fuzzy.

"The Sun And Moon Have Come Together" is the 11 minute opener. A mid-paced trippy affair where the sax, electric piano and clarinet lead early on before we get some jazzy bass then more electric piano before the sax returns at 10 minutes. "Mittelstreifen" is the 10 minute second track and we get some energy here. Horns and flute standout before the keyboards arrive a minute in. Drums only before 3 minutes and soon it's like free jazz or an improv with no structure until that changes 7 1/2 minutes in. This is so good when it kicks back in. That sax especially.

"Amina" is a great 6 1/2 minute track where we get some solos and intensity. I'm not big on the silliness to start and end "Opossum Novum" but man this sounds so much like KRAAN when it turns serious with the sax leading. The title track ends it and it's 15 1/2 minutes long. The guitar really gets a chance to show off here with some raw and explosive solos. But early on it's the drums and electric piano leading before that calm at 2 minutes. There's a drum solo too that goes on for too long later on in this track. A jazzy piece overall though that has it's moments.

Easily a 4 star record in my space. Yes it has it's issues, but I look forward to playing this.