A YOUNG MAN'S GASH

Is this a Krautrock classic or is this obscure for a reason? Well that depends on who you talk to I suppose. Thanks to the guys on the ProgEars site for their many opinions. Most feel that side one is average to bad with those three fairly straight-forward tracks while the three part suite on side two is considered by many to be Krautrock at it's finest. Apparently LUCIFER'S FRIEND member Peter Hecht did the orchestral arrangements on side two. My opinion is that side one is pretty good, it's grown on me while side two isn't as amazing as I had hoped. Overall I'm very comfortable giving this 4 stars and I look forward to hearing this everytime I put it on.

"Angel And Mother" is a ballad-like tune with vocals that remind me of Joe Cocker mainly because they are rough sounding. I don't know why but this one kind of pulls me in even though I think my jaw dropped open the first time I heard it thinking what is this? Floating organ, piano and drums and it's all quite relaxed as those rough yet reserved vocals join in. The words are meaningful I must say and there is emotion in those vocals. A nice piano interlude starts before 4 minutes then the vocals return around the 5 minute mark. "Twenty One Days" has some good guitar early on as the vocals arrive a minute in. They are dual or double tracked vocals as well. Catchy stuff that reminds me of THE BAND. Some passion before 3 minutes including organ. A guitar solo follows then vocal melodies before 4 1/2 minutes as the drums, guitar and organ standout. Vocals are beck 5 1/2 minutes in. "In The Sea" is an uptempo vocal track and maybe the best of side one. I like it. The guitar and drums are prominent on this one. They slow it down some before 2 1/2 minutes as the organ joins in. Vocals continue. Lots of water sounds late after the vocals have stopped.

"A Young Man's Gash Part 1" opens with vocal melodies as the drums and guitar follow. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes including backing vocals. We get organ here as well and I like when it feels like it's starting over again 3 minutes in. Strings arrive before 5 minutes then late in this part but before they return we get some excellent guitar after 5 1/2 minutes then an organ solo a minute later. "A Young Man's gash Part 2" opens with floating organ as we get some brief vocals then it turns powerful before slowly winding down to a calm 2 minutes in. Atmosphere and spoken words that echo follow reminding me of the PLJ BAND. Freaky stuff then this heart beat arrives, organ, processed laughter and freak outs as the heart beat continues. Fantastic! "A Young Man's Gash Part 3" opens with lots of atmosphere and floating organ as the vocals come and go. It's haunting after 1 1/2 minutes then the drums, vocals and guitar kick in at 2 minutes. The guitar starts to light it up after 3 1/2 minutes then strings before 5 1/2 minutes including what sounds like aboe 7 minutes in. It all turns avant-garde before 8 minutes including the orchestral bits.

Well worth checking out if your a Krautrock fan but it's not the 5 star classic I had hoped for. I'm so glad I own this though.