TOUR DE TRANCE

EMMA MYLDENBERGER were a Psych-Folk band from Germany who went from playing on the streets to full houses in a short period of time. Lots of good information in the liner notes including some pictures of the band and even a concert poster advertising a gig they did with GURU GURU on April 27th 1979. In the book "The Crack Of The Cosmic Egg" they say this about this band..."The second album,"Tour De Trance", with considerably longer tracks and much more instrumental interplay, broke even more ground with a uniquely styled music that even went beyond the pioneering music of BETWEEN or the THIRD EAR BAND, mysteriously ethnic and medieval, not really rock but with a lively rock energy, and an abundance of solos, surprising for what was still a totally acoustic ensemble."

I'm not big on traditional Folk music but this does have that Krautrock spirit kind of like fellow Germans WITTHUSER AND WESTRUPP. Heck it was re-issued by the "Garden Of Delights" label so you know it has a Krautrock flavour. They were a six piece band with two ladies as part of the group plus there are three guests helping out. Lots of different instruments including harp, zither, glockenspeil, flute, aboe, violin, mandolin, sitar, crumhorn, tablas, tambure and more. All six members sing and it is in the German language. One of the bonus tracks(which are all live and from the same concert in Berlin) is a cover of a GRATEFUL DEAD song. I love the album title and the album cover is what I'd call mystical.

"Ein Bisschen" opens with percussion as other sounds are added. Flute and violin are prominent here then we get multi-vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. Vocals only for a brief period but this will come and go. Very folky. "Regenreigen" is the over 19 minute epic and a top three track for me. Percussion, picked guitar, flute and more in this retrained start. I like it! Faint vocal melodies build before 3 minutes in this Krautrock flavoured section. It kicks into gear and picks up speed after 8 minutes including banjo. A calm after 10 1/2 minutes as male and female vocals take over in this melancholic and laid back passage. Vocals stop before 12 minutes as picked stringed instruments, violin then aboe and more take over. It's catchy but restrained after 14 1/2 minutes. The multi-vocals are back after 18 1/2 minutes and the singing is staggered.

"Lenyas Fantasie" opens with acoustic guitar and aboe but it builds rather quickly. It settles right down as the violin replaces the aboe. It kicks back in as contrasts continue. "RAA" is a top three tune. This is catchy with so much going on. The interplay is incredible. A calm after 2 minutes as percussion, strummed guitar and more take over. The aboe is back then we get another calm 4 minutes in before it slowly builds. Man I dig this one, they really shine when they can stretch out a song. "Wassensteyns Hochzeitsnacht" is the final song and the last top three for me. It sounds like vibes to start then before 1 1/2 minutes we get lots of strummed guitar and aboe. Vocal melodies take over before 3 minutes, sitar too. The adventerous vocal expressions continue and flute joins in as well.

I may not be the biggest fan of this style of music but it's easy to appreciate the compositions and band interplay. A solid 4 stars and Folk fans need to hear this.