AUF AUF

"Auf Auf" was one of Christian Burchard's favourite expressions, meaning "up up" with the idea of "keep on going". Their 1973 album "We Keep On" is a reference to this. Christian founded this band in 1969 and EMBRYO proceeded to release six straight gold standard albums. The perfect blend of ethnic/jazz/fusion and krautrock. Christian had this passion to learn new styles of music, to hear new sounds which of course led him to the music of many nations. EMBRYO have a unique discography as a result, from African, Indian, Chinese and on and on.

My personal favourite of the World music albums that followed their first six classic records is "Zack Gluck" from 1984. I still can't get over how much I like that one as I'm just not normally into that style. A credit to the band. Most will point to their 1979 album "Embryo's Reise" as their best in that style. Christian passed in 2018 and his daughter Marja has taken the lead role. She has been part of the band recording with them since 2008's "Freedom In Music" and certainly knew her father's vision for the band going forward. They last recorded an album together in 2016 with "It Do" and "Auf Auf" from 2021 is the first studio album with Marja leading the band.

The one musician who has been right there with Marja helping to lead the way is Maasl Maier. A multi-instrumentalist but maybe known more for his bass work and studio work. He mixed this record plus helped produce and record it. He composed the title track and helped with some others, though Marja is the main composer here. I actually picked this cd up after being so impressed with this young German band called KARABA and in particular their 2018 release "Schwester Mondreal" which had Marja on it leading me to check the lineup on "Auf Auf" and seeing four musicians participating on both of these albums. So I had to get this, and while "Auf Auf" is different, with the strong ethnic vibe, I do have a appreciation for it, I just prefer that KARABA record a lot more.

So there's a couple of those very ethnic sounding pieces that I really have trouble with including the opener "Besh" but this one has it's moments including long time EMBRYO member Roman Bunka playing an oud solo, his only participation on this record. "Baran" is the one I have skipped which I really hate doing. It's a traditional Afghanistan song. Modal music re-arranged by Marja. On a very positive note, the traditional song "Yu Mala" is incredible with those vocals and that bass line. Marja adding vibes, and it's cool when the tempo picks up over the last 30 seconds.

I love the title track, it's like psychedelic jazz with the horn and trippy sound. It turns powerful at 3 minutes then the tempo picks up, some dissonant horns too and active drumming. It calms right down at 5 minutes with bass only and then some cymbal clashes before it builds. So good. Vibes before 7 1/2 minutes then the horn leads again as we trip along. "Januar" is trippy too at times and by far the longest track at almost 17 minutes. Digging the electric piano here from Marja as well as the sax and flute from others. "Alphorn Prayer" ends it and I like this one. Minimalistic and dark, with a menacing atmosphere and flute over top.

Some call this arabic jazz. All I know is that EMBRYO is in very good hands, and I will follow this version of the band much closer than I had been prior.