CARNIVAL IN BABYLON

This album must have been a shock to AMON DUUL II fans back when it was released in 1972. Gone were the side long experimental tracks, having been replaced by more conventional song structures. Yet this is still very much what i'd call hippie music. It's trippy, folky and often 60's sounding. I really like the sound of this record. I even like the vocals as they suit the music perfectly. Speaking of vocals, Renate takes a much greater role vocally on this one.

"C.I.D. In Urik" opens with what sounds like vibraphone and violin. It becomes sixties sounding once the vocal melodies arrive. Male vocals before a minute that take turns with the vocal melodies throughout. A laid back guitar solo comes in around 2 1/2 minutes. Female vocals 3 minutes in followed by male vocals. I like the more aggressive guitar solo 4 1/2 minutes in. There is some good bass in this song that comes and goes. Excellent track. "All The Years 'Round" features Renate on vocals.This track is mellow and laid back reminding me of PINK FLOYD. It picks up before 2 minutes but calms right back down a minute later. This contrast continues. Cool song. Some dark sounding guitar 5 minutes in becomes louder as it continues to the end of the song. "Shimmering Sand" opens with gentle guitar and bass. The guitar becomes more prominant, then the male vocals arrive. Female vocals follow. Organ joins in as well. Spoken vocals after 3 minutes and sax. The guitar is outstanding in this one. The organ is also great as the tempo picks up 5 1/2 minutes in.

"Kronwinkl 12" has almost a reggae flavour to it. The guitar is raw sounding. Nice. Vocals join in. Ripping guitar solo after 3 minutes. "Tables Are Turned" has a 60's flavour like the first track as Renate sings. Lots of percussion in this one. "Hawknose Harlequin" is my favourite. I mean this is Krautrock ! Trippy with male vocals that bring CAN to mind. We get this intense atmosphere 3 1/2 minutes in that becomes haunting. The guitar rises out of this climate a minute later and takes over. Such beautiful guitar melodies. The song pretty much stops and starts again 7 minutes in with more prominant guitar and bass to the end of the song. Great tune. My version has 2 bonus tracks. "Skylight" and "Tatzelwurmloch" the first one in my opinion is better than the songs on this album. I think that's the first time i've said that about a bonus track, but it's true in this case. The first bonus song is almost 10 minutes and the second one almost 18 minutes. Both are instrumentals and the first one has some absolutely amazing drumming on it. Love this track.

So this is a solid 4 star record for me, despite their change in direction I think it all works.