FRUMPY 2

German band Frumpy started as a four-piece with Inga Rumpf (vocals), Carsten Bohn (drums), Karl-Heinz Scott (bass) and Jean-Jacques Kravets (organ). They were emerged from the ashes of the City Preachers, who played folk music. In 1970 they released a debut album. A year later they were joined by guitarist Rainer Baumann and they released a second album, Frumpy 2.

This album contains four long tracks. The music is typical seventies rock: a part bluesrock, a bit soul mixed with some progressive parts. Most notable is however the masculine voice of Rumpf and the heavy organ sound of Kravets. The tracks are not very complex. It usually starts with the melody sung by Rumpf, a middle part which is either a jam or more structured with guitar and organ solos, and then it returns to the melody. This however works really well.

The first tracks is a slow track with a more structured centre part and is mostly an organ based track. The second track is the most bluesy of the album with great vocals by Inga Rumpf. She definitely is a great vocalist. This track is more devoted to the guitar, with a good double guitar solo. Probably the best track of the album, especially because with the ending of the song the pace changes dramatically. The third track is the most dynamic of the four with some dramatic themes. The last track is the longest and starts with a strong melody. After about 2 minutes however it is jam time. First, a long (wah-wah) guitar solo and to the end of the track an organ solo influenced by the classics and then a return to the vocals.

There are some errors concerning length of the tracks as listed on the CD. According to my player they should be: 1. Good Winds (10:11) 2. How The Gipsy Was Born (8:53) 3. Take Care Of Illusion (7:39) 4. Duty (12:14)

All in all a good album, and from the information I gathered on the internet probably their best album. But it is not a classic progressive album, it is mainly the voice of Inga Rumpf that makes this album worthwhile.