ERUPTION

Eruption were a Berlin-based, krautrock group, formed by, and, arguably, orbiting around Conrad Schnitzler, former Tangerine Dream man, and, at Eruption's release, current Kluster man. Though they don't follow the usual schematics of most popular kraut bands (I claim to know few), such as Amon Düül II, Can, or Faust, where simple beats with addictive and groovy bass lines were the foundation for sonic improvisation, and tempered tape manipulation and early electronics. Eruption moves in a realm outside that. The album circles around improvised themes, in a very spastic nature. It is an extremely free-form vein of music, with subtle droning electronics, silence, sudden bursts of agitated guitar, and minimal percussion rule.

Rhythmically, it doesn't exist. Melodies: none. This is genuine mush, escaping from common music conventions to reach a higher form of expression. That, or it's just nice marijuana music. Maybe the band were searching for a plateau between experimental, artistic, expressive innovation, and pure, primitive, spastic, psychedelia. If that was their goal, I think them successful. Bands demonstrating free form music this of this caliber win a great amount of respect from me. They are simultaneously beautiful in their originality, unsoiled in their flow, and densely atmospheric: three things I cherish.

However, I recognize this brand of music isn't highly regarded objectively. The average listener will be scared witless by the haunting array of squeaks, moans, crashes, and screams. They will also be bored by the sea of sound unbound by musical law. Or, they may be unimpressed the lacking of lingering melody, complex arrangements, nonexistent musicianship. To them, I would not recommend this form of sound, however, for the open listener, searching for purely music, that makes one think and feel, that removes them from earth, that is a genuine experience, Eruption is an apt recommendation.