KNALL

Hmmh ... I had this band in mind offering a more acid rock style, but this new album also features some excerpts with a really trippy cosmic sound. Yes, they are rather deep in space here, which particularly reminds me of Interkosmos or Zone Six with Dave Schmidt (Sula Bassana) on board. There have been already released some albums under the moniker KNALL, but a case can be made that this identically named production means to state the real official start for this project in some way. Moreover it's the first one to be released on vinyl and on a label, I believe so. Tonzonen Records have undertook this task, a fine address in Germany, dedicated to bands and music fans which are underway when it comes to space and kraut rock terms.

KNALL have recorded uncounted hours of sessions in the meanwhile, totally improvised as this always has been an important trademark for them. Changing companions are caring for the solid rhythm backbone on bass (Slim Nezquik, Buddha Jonas) and drums (Chris Becher, Clockwork Berno), where guitarist Baal Brain gives us full virtuosity with his guitars. This within a little more than fourty minutes due to the limited vinyl length. Thus you have to recognize (hopefully not to regret) that most of the five songs are faded out. No surprise really that again Eroc is involved in the mastering hereby, like it is the case with a lot of other new genre related productions too.

As the songs are provided with multi-tracked guitars in regular, KNALL are stepping away from the unpolished live character atmosphere a bit on the album, this though for the benefit of a vibrant and multi-faceted sound. They are starting with the grooving Zongazonga which forces some head banging, you bet, and hurry up with great dynamic, where Kartoffelsuppe follows as the entree for Schweinshaxe and KRAUT, if you will. What really strikes here is this sort of in-between, I mean besides the regular bass and guitar there seems to be another string instrument played which just deliberately fills the middle. Innovative!

Another topnotch exemplar is Cuddle which shows a somewhat similar meandering behaviour, this time with tribal drumming as well as different guitar variations in coexistence with ease, as for instance soaring space, heavy riffing, lively psychedelic and sawing glissando. Furnace finally grooves again, includes some typical raggae/dub and guitar synth alike moments plus extraordinary bass presence. Here we go! Excellent sound quality, an inspired band ... if however someone might say 'nothing new here basically', while speaking from experience I would counter: veto - it only may take some time to explore the unique characteristics of the KNALL sound.