SUN ROTATION

I can't say Free Jazz does a lot for me and this album flirts with it throughout but somehow it works. A four piece band of bass, guitar, organ, electric piano and drums and each member composed two tracks each. Interesting as I though maybe some of these were improvs, done in the studio. Speaking of the studio, Conny Plank engineered this baby released back in 1971. This is studio album number two of the three they recorded. They released a couple of live ones as well.

"Idee A" opens with laid back electric piano then it kicks in before a minute with the bass and drums dominating before the guitar joins in. The electric piano is the most prominent instrument here although the guitar will lead for a bout a minute. "Scorpion" opens with atmosphere and experimental sounds that will go on for some time. Random drumming and tuneless sounding guitar eventually join in then electric piano. This is Free Jazz sounding. So not very melodic at all. Violin sounds and atmosphere late as it winds down and blends into the next song.

"Neuteboom" might be my favourite. Percussion and organ dominate the sound then the electric piano starts to solo over top then guitar after 2 1/2 minutes. It blends into "Scorcussion" where a drum solo takes over quickly. Distorted guitar before 3 minutes then electric piano which becomes discordant. Insanity! A calm before 5 minutes then pulsating sounds end the three song suite.

"Silence" is a brief uptempo piece of piano, drums and guitar sounding crazy at best. "Don Paul" opens with a bass solo before guitar and shuffling drums arrive around a minute. Not very melodic. "Totemism" is the almost 17 minute epic on here. Nice guitar intro as drums and piano start to come and go. Bass and a beat join in before a minute as the organ arrives then some guitar. This one seems to trip along as each guy seems to be doing his own thing(haha). A calm arrives before 7 1/2 minutes. Soon it speeds up with drums, electric piano and bass as the guitar comes and goes. Another calm before 15 minutes.

"Frau Theunissen" is the short closer. It opens with organ sounds I believe along with drums as electric piano joins in then guitar. Hey this is melodic and it sounds great! All one minute of it. Still I really like this one as these guys really know how to play and despite the Free Jazz vibe it's an album I really enjoy.