SWF SESSION 1973

Of all the top tier Kraut-fusion bands that emerged on the German scene in the early 1970s, TORTILLA FLAT was undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and talented bands to enter the scene in the same league as class acts such as Embryo, the Ginga Rale Band, Eiliff, Brainstorm and Sunbirds although never gaining the recognition it deserved for its accomplishments. The band existed for a relatively short time from around 1972 to 1974 and managed to release a sole studio album in the form of the 1974 classic "Für ein ¾ Stündchen" which showcased the band's outstanding compositional fortitude of seamlessly blending the world of progressive rock, Canterbury jazz, classical influences and Krautrock into a delectable slice of musical ecstasy.

Emerging from the Aachen region near the Dutch border TORTILLA FLAT was one of the tightest fusion acts on the scene with memorable crafty tunes that were backed up some of the most impressive instrumental interplay of the era. During the band's short run it experienced two distinct lineups each with a different emphasis of style and musicality. The band started out as the sextet of Hans Friedrich Basten (drums, glockenspiel), Heribert Schippers (bass), Manfred Herten [Manni Hollaender] (guitar, vocals), Werner Knauber (violin), Hermann Josef Basten (flute, guitar) and Albert Schippers (congas, drums) and the first rendition of TORTILLA FLAT showcased a rare blend of flute dominated prog in the vein of Jethro Tull mixed with the unusual instrumental accompaniment of the violin which due to the departure of Werner Knauber wouldn't find a place in the second coming of the band which switched the violin for the more keyboard oriented sounds of Franz Brondt.

While the band only released one studio album, on December 20, 1973 TORTRILLA FLAT was invited to a studio in Baden-Baden to record a number of tracks for the underground broadcast stations that specialized in experimental music including a program specifically dedicated to the world of Krautrock and all its offshoots. Destined as a bonafide release the recordings that documented the band's original lineup remained in the vaults for almost a half of a century until they finally emerged in 2019 as this archival release SWF SESSION 1973 on the French label Long Hair Music. While the first rendition of the band had remained a mystery for all that time, these recordings revealed a completely different approach which featured a crystal clear production and a set of eight tracks that would appear on the vinyl addition as well as a CD release that featured an additional three bonus tracks.

Most notably different is the dominant presence of the phenomenal violin playing of Werner Knauber whose virtuosic skills spent a great deal of time trading off with Hermann Basten's flute playing prowess. The mostly instrumental album also featured a distinct difference from the band's studio album in that it featured several vocal tracks that allowed Manfred Herten's whimsical musings in the German language to take the forefront. These humorous absurdities coupled with the jazzier touches that would become more prominent on the band's studio album showcased its connection to the greater world of England's Canterbury Scene only much closer to their neighboring Dutch counterparts Supersister in terms of musical virtuosity and moments of silliness than the world of Soft Machine or Carvan. This album is a testament to the brilliance of TORTILLA FLAT in this lineup and how these brilliant musicians could convey the most complex jazzy prog composiitons with a relative ease and virtuosity on a whole other level from the majority of their German contemporaries.

These recordings while still in the same vein as the studio album "Für ein ¾ Stündchen" exhibited a very different overall sound that displayed an almost unheard of pairing of the violin and flute as the dominant forces making this one sound even more unique than the more streamlined Kraut-jazz musical mojo of the studio album. The violin and flute in tandem added a touch of folk infused flavors to the mix however the band excelled as a cohesive unit with an equal brilliance displayed from Manfred Herten's guitar skills, Heribert Schippers snappy bass grooves and Albert Schippers phenomenal drumming prowess.

Even though the band is considered Teutonic in its stylistic approach, TORTILLA FLAT delivered all of this flawless virtuosity with an airy nonchalant way that really did take them to an entirely new level of competency. One of my favorite bands of all time and these long lost recordings are a welcome addition to the band's all too short career. Although brilliant music is presented here, the vocal tracks drag down the quality and flow overall. Not the masterpiece that the studio album would become but an excellent addition to those who can't get enough of this top tier band.