KÄNGURU

I my record collection I have a special place for new records. I listen to my new records for about 50% of the time and most of the time these records get listened to and reviewed within a month, before moving forward to the genre defined place in the collection. This third Guru Guru album has proven to be an exception, because I just didn't know what to do with it.

First of all, the band acquired some serious skills when comparing to their debut (the only other Guru Guru album I own). All three musicians are to be placed among the best of the progressive genre and the diversity of guitar-skills of Ax Genrich is almost unbelievable. The way he combines Gilmouresque slides and dreamy lines with Hendrix-like shreds and hard-rock vibes whilst still being able to find a place to showcase some classic rock'n roll techniques is really worth mentioning.

'Känguru' is a well recorded album with found compositions, all longer then ten minutes. The sound of Guru Guru is that of a krautrock band with much influences from Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix when it comes to the guitar sounds, reverbs, echoes and recording techniques. The drums and bass balance between rhythm and blues and heavier acid rock. What is to become a mind-blowing and spacy experience starts of pretty bleak and a bit un- interesting. 'Oxymoron' is a long low-paced track that fails to amaze me. The vocals are a bit strange, but that isn't the problem for me. 'Immer Lustig' continues these atmospheres that can't interest me to much, but it has many great guitar solo's and some heavy parts that do become interesting. The long drum and guitar-effects solo is only partly interesting, but the ending section is a great piece of spacey acid rock.

On side two Guru Guru makes a totally different impression on me. Both 'Baby cake walk' and 'Ooga Booga' are extremely brilliant takes on the spacey acid-rock sound of the band in this stage. They simple keep on throwing new themes and ideas and everything sounds simply amazing, the sound-scapes, the rhythms, the awkward vocals, the bombastic high- lights.. everything is highly original and must-have-listened-to-before-you-die.

Conclusion. I still don't know how to rate this album, but the second side is so impressing I won't give it lower then the four star rating. Perhaps this record needs even more time for me to grasp, but it the mean time I will recommend it to fans of krautrock, space rock and acid rock.

Perhaps some-one can send me some personal experiences on how to master this album?

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