WOLF CITY

In 1973 the two foremost space rock bands on the scene decided to push on their progressive side. One were Hawkwind (with "Hall of the Mountain Grill"), the other Amon Duul II; and Amon Duul II really did it! So, put aside the long pointless improvisations that stretched on (too) long parts of their previous albums, our favourite band concentrated on shorter pieces. They did something similar also in "Carnival in Babylon", but this time they also regained the anarchic spirit of their earlier efforts (Yeti, most of all), melting genius to extravagance. In doing so, they got closer to Frank Zappa's music, but with a far rockier approach. The result is this masterpiece: psychedelic passages turn into epic mellotron- driven anthems, Jefferson Airplane turns into cabaret, Nepal becomes German, and once you get lost inside the Wolf City, you'd never want to find your way again. Definitely one of their fines albums (my favourite one will always remain Yeti) and a masterpiece of the juicier and less cerebral Krautrock.