ABACUS

For someone who had previously only heard this band's later material, this album came as quite the surprise. The two-part "Pipedream Revisited" is the very quintessence of the album, bursts of symphonic organ/synthesizer and touches bordering on avant-garde weirdness in a sort of holdover psych/Krautrock framework. Topped off by the charming, clear-toned voice of British singer Chris Williams, this is for sure something for sure to enjoy.

There are nice little touches throughout the album; from the energetic Hammond organ workout on the instrumental "Capuccino" to the sitar on "Song for Brunhilde". "Chestholder" sums things up aptly with a sound collage re-capping the rest of the album. One of the less-appreciated, yet more inspired, Krautrock obscurities.