WIR BEDAUERN...

GINGA RALE BAND from Austria released two albums in the 80's and this is the debut from 1980. They were a five piece band with the usual instruments but sax and electric piano certainly stand out. All of these guys can play, I mean this is complex and the thing that moved me to give it 5 stars is just how adventerous this is. The Krautrock spirit is strong here and I'm just so impressed with all the twists and turns and surprises. They clearly put a ton of time and effort to do this right. While many have this listed as Jazz/Rock I consider this Krautrock and that's where it will be kept in my collection. Some say Jazz/Kraut others Kraut/Fusion, well you get the picture. There are some vocals in their native language and man the guy can be off the wall at times. Lots of humour too bringing DR. DOPO JAM to mind. The drumming is incredible, the bass is upfront and the electric piano is all over this as well. My kind of music right here.

"Nigger" and the third track are both called "Nigger". I don't know if this was the band being immature or what but it's not acceptable that's for sure. The keyboard player composed those two tracks while the other two tracks were a shared composition by the bass player, guitarist and drummer. This one is somewhat funky to start with that bass and drum groove as electric piano plays over top. Some in your face guitar starts to solo just before a minute. Vocals before 2 minutes and they almost shout the lyrics as he holds the notes. Some intensity in the instrumental work. It turns silly 2 1/2 minutes in with the bass and mood. It's building after 3 minutes as the deranged spoken words continue. It settles before 4 1/2 minutes with some nice synth work as the bass and drums support with electric piano. Distorted keys before 6 minutes. Some crazy yelling comes and goes after 6 minutes. Insanity before 7 1/2 minutes to the end including glass breaking.

"Bugleisch" is also funky to start but like the opener the funk doesn't last long. Sax comes in and then guitar as it starts to solo before a minute as the sax has stepped aside. An energetic jam here it would seem with electric piano too. The tempo speeds up before 1 1/2 minutes. Crazy! Back to the sax driven sound from earlier. Fuzz before 3 minutes. Oh yeah there is! Lots of atmosphere too, great section. And listen to those dark sounding guitar expressions. Acoustic guitar rises out of the atmosphere after 5 minutes. Percussion to the fore around 6 minutes as the acoustic guitar continues. Sax at 6 1/2 minutes as it picks up. Great sound here! Love the drumming and electric piano. Some sarcastic sounding spoken words that can be theatrical too as the drums and electric piano continue. Melancholic synths after 9 minutes sound really good as the vocals stop but yes the drums and electric piano continue. Oh my!

"Nigger" is the only song on here that to my ears doesn't have that Krautrock flavour but is pretty much Jazz/Fusion. It's upbeat with guitar, bass and electric piano to start. The guitar starts to solo before a minute then it's the synths. A calm after 1 1/2 minutes as electric piano, bass and drums lead the way then percussion and guitar join in too. The synths and guitar trade off before joining forces. I like the drumming after 3 minutes and they lead a minute later as it settles right down with bass, guitar then synths. The guitar and synths arrive after 5 1/2 minutes repeating a theme from earlier. Nice.

"Gugug" is the closer and longest tune at 17 1/2 minutes. This one truly is epic. It sounds like they are warming up to begin with as electric piano, bass, drums and guitar all come and go in a relaxed setting. It kicks in just before 1 1/2 minutes, sax too. It all sounds so complex and intricate. Impressive stuff! Sax leads after 3 minutes. Some walking bass in the Jazz tradition with electric piano and drums although the guitar joins in too. The sax blasts after 4 minutes then some intensity before 5 minutes, synths too. The sax cries out 6 1/2 minutes in as it settles down. Drums then electronics lead as we get some intensity as the sax comes and goes.

Spoken words after 8 1/2 minutes with electronics and experimental sounds. This is all insane. Some freak outs 10 minutes in with the vocals and soon he sounds like he's in a lot of pain. Atmosphere only after 10 1/2 minutes, thunder too. Soon like the intro we get what sounds like them warming up in a laid back manner until it kicks in with guitar 12 minutes in. Spoken words after 12 1/2 minutes with outbursts of sound. It all gets louder then the vocals stop after 13 1/2 minutes. I like the rhythm section here as sax plays over top. Some cool guitar before 15 minutes with drums only then it kicks back in. Insane vocals come and go. Love that guitar that goes on and on.

Right now I have this in my top three for 1980, it's that good! I have two bands now from Austria that I consider Krautrock with PATERNOSTER being the other one and its amazing as well.