HIPPIE

"Hippie" is the 3rd official physical A.J. Kaufmann release, following 2011's "Second Hand Man", and 2014's "Stoned Gypsy Wanderer" (re-released on vinyl in 2021). The set kicks off with "Alleygates Of Sin", which sounds like a lost late Hawkwind or Gong track to my ears. The lyrics are funny too, and suggest that maybe Mr. Kaufmann has been listening to Motorhead and Amon Duul II while writing them. The title track and "1970 Avenue" is simply punk, and not my favorite at all. "Hippie" is followed by "Spaceless" which sounds like Neu! on downers, or a less handsome cousin of Opa-Loka. Boring, really. "Brain Devastator" is like an unnecessary 21st century comment on "Brainstorm". "1 City 2 CIty 1" and "Sonnenengelküsse" are both like psychedelic industrial jam sessions. "Behind The Veil Of Isis" with its lo-fi sounding drums is my favorite track on the album. "Premature Burial" seems to borrow its main riff from Amon Duul II's "Eye Shaking King". The ADII influence on this album is rather big, because as stated in a recent interview, both artists actually met in London back in 2015, where some tracks for "Hippie" were recorded. I don't know what to make of this album, really, but I think overall it's a thing for lovers of ADII and Hawkwind and Chrome and Butthole Surfers, and maybe space rock and punk and psych rock in general. But weird and not everybody's cup of tea for sure.