CARNIVAL IN BABYLON

Quite possibly the most underrated Amon Düül 2 album. By this point the band were in a near constant state of flux-Renate Knaup was back full-time, but organist/electronics technician Falk Rogner was more or less on sabbatical, replaced on most of this by Karl-Heinz Hausmann.

For whatever reason, this sounds rather more like a typical prog-rock album than anything that came before it. Remember "Syntelman's March of the Roaring 70's"? Imagine a whole album like that, and you'll begin to get an idea what this one is like. Certainly a stronger emphasis on folkish guitarwork and vocal melodies than previous albums. Originally, this too was slated to be a double, with the obviously edited "Hawknose Harlequin" apparently trimmed down from its original length: 35 minutes!

None of this album is bad, despite what some folks might have told you about it. "All The Years Round" is one of Renate's most lovely showpieces. "Kronwinkl 12" offers an off-kilter 9/4 rhythm. Both feature some superb guitarwork, as do "C.I.D. In Uruk" and the haunting "Shimmering Sand".