SPERRMÜLL

Not Sperrmüll in any case ...

SPERRMÜLL offer a solid bandwith of styles with their eponymous album - not absolutely unique or experimental but interesting anyhow. The band name is somewhat obscure because 'Sperrmüll' is the german expression for bulk rubbish. But the music is fairly far off being poor or useless. The english vocals are not that overtopping but instrumentally the band has a plenty to offer. Predominantly heavy rock with many prog additions - also good guitar and organ work. The LP version consists of 6 songs and additionally two digitally reissues are known - the Second Battle version with two bonus tracks and the Universal Records one with the original tracks.

We have a pop folky begin with Me and my girlfriend controlled by mandoline and piano, organ and synthesizer contributions whereas the song gets heavier at the end. The following No freak out is the bestknown SPERRMÜLL excerpt because it was placed on several krautrock sampler. A good choice because there are used psychedelic ingredients a la PINK FLOYD combined with a monotonic rhythm. Rising up contains noticable spacy contributions which are remembering me at ELOY respectively GROBSCHNITT. Right now is starting as a hard rocker but evolving with an unusual behaviour - only guitar and drums are duelling each other for some time. After several minutes the song is changing into a mellow grooving part with jazzy e-piano and a strong bass guitar - finally ending as a hard rocker again - definetely the best song because the most innovative with much variety. The last tracks Land of the rocking sun and Pat Casey are not really important - typical rocking pieces whereas the latter has a distinctive boogie woogie rhythm.

Nice album - not spectacular - for collectors of early german efforts it's a good find.

For some reason this obscure tripped out Krautrock classic one off from Sperrmull ( meaning garbage dump in German ) on the Green Brain label commands ridiculous prices over the internet. More of a novelty item, for the most part the record sounds like a commune of groovin` hippies who missed the slow boat to the `70s with psyched out tracks like Me And My Girlfriend and Right Now. Well produced by Dieter Dierks, there are, however, actually a couple of tracks like No Freak Out, which features some really cool extended Hammond and guitar sections, that are interest to those into early Krautrock freakouts a la Amon DuulII, Xhol Caravan and Jane though. Also of interest is the use of acoustic guitars and mandolins as rhythm instruments. Reminds me of a few other German bands that never managed to get off the ground such as Dies Irae that would have had more potential had they appeared earlier on in the German kosmische musik scene. Really only for hard core Krautrock connoiseurs or fanatical vinyl collectors who like dishing out the bucks for that long lost rock`n roll artifact.

SPERRMULL formed in 1971 but went through various lineup changes until they recorded this their only album in December of 1972. It was produced by Dieter Dierks and recorded at his studio. Dieter also played some synths on the opening track. What I love about RPI from Italy and Krautrock from Germany is that these obscure albums keep popping up over the years that are true gems to lovers of these two unique styles of music. Yes i'm really happy about finding this one.

"Me An My Girlfriend" is my least favourite and most commercial sounding yet I do like it. Especially when it gets intense late with that guitar solo. Some mandolin early in this one and a synth solo after 2 minutes followed by piano. Catchy stuff. "No Freak Out" is the closest we get to that Krautrock spirit. Great sound to start with lots of atmosphere. Vocals around a minute. Killer instrumental section starts before 2 1/2 minutes with the organ leading the way. The guitar takes over before 4 minutes lighting it up. The intensity settles back after 5 minutes then the vocals return in that trippy soundscape. "Rising Up" opens with drums as it builds. The organ is ripping it up here. Vocals 2 1/2 minutes in followed by guitar. The organ is back just killing it. Vocals are back late followed by guitar to end it.

"Right Now" has this intense sound with vocals until before 1 1/2 minutes. Nice percussion / drum section 3 1/2 minutes in. Great sound ! It changes before 5 minutes then a calm takes over. It proceeds to build again. How good is this ! This is the longest song at over 9 minutes. "Land Of The Rocking Sun" has a nice heavy soundscape with organ runs as the vocals join in. Nice guitar work before 2 minutes when the vocals stop. Vocals are back. "Pat Casey" features more heaviness with vocals. Catchy stuff.

A low 4 stars but man I love this early seventies flavour.

Eloy's "Inside"'s little brother

Although "Sperrmüll" is the German word for "Garbage", the only self-titled studio album released by this German quartet is well worth listening. The music of SPERRMÜLL is is quite similar to what their fellow countrymen ELOY were offering at the time: an efficient mixture of seventies hard/heavy rock in the vein of DEEP PURPLE with an early space rock and psychedelic flavor.

Don't rely on the opener "Me An My Girlfriend", this lively folk-rock ballad at mandolin is a bit of an intruder here. Dieter Dierks also makes an apparition on synthesizers. Maybe intended as a radio single, the song itself is pleasant but tends to become a little repetitive and lengthy. The journey really starts with the mystical "No Freak Out". Much in the style of ELOY's "Inside", this floating German mixture psych / space hard rock is very nice. The 70's heavy "Rising Up" possesses a trippy galloping bass line, like on Bornemann and co.'s "Dawn". It rocks!

Longest composition of the record, the 9 minutes "Right Now" is a powerful heroic hard rock with important jam section and drum solo. Although a bit more poppy and conventional, the heavy psychedelic blues of "Land Of The Rocking Sun" and "Pat Casey" are quite cool and energetic.

The CD remastered version includes two bonus tracks. "Have To Leave You" is mainly a flute-based improvisation, with a sung part at the end. Not memorable but enjoyable. Influenced by classical music, the organ-dominated "To Be Satisfied" is rather average and out of place.

It's a pity the band split after this promising debut album. SPERRMÜLL could have been a serious competitor for the band of Frank Bornemann. Although neither very original nor unique, the songs are punchy, dynamic and trippy, with an overall constant quality.

If you enjoy space rock and ELOY, especially their early albums like "Inside" or "Floating", be sure to give "Sperrmüll" a listen!