IMPRESSIONS ON READING ALDOUS HUXLEY

Although RPI has lots of one-album-wonders, there are a few in Krautrock too and this is one of the better ones. The members are mostly German but there are two Irish members as well (my background is German/Irish so maybe that has something to do with me liking this so much). It's mostly instrumental but there are some vocals. On "Epilogue" you have someone reading a part from the book Brave New World(at least I think so, I haven't read the book).

The instruments here are mostly acoustic guitar, bass, drums, drum machine, synth, flute and sax. There is also some electric guitar, cello and recorders. "Soma", which you can listen to on PA, is actually one of the weaker songs here. This even has an epic in the almost 18- minute "The End". It's the most symphonic song here. Both this track and "Alpha Beta Gamma Delta" has some California-style late '60s boogie rock sections. You really aren't expecting these sections when you first listen to this album. A nice contrast to the rest of the music.

Speaking of "Alpha Beta Gamma Delta", this is one of the best Krautrock songs I've ever heard. The beginning sounds way ahead of it's time; it reminds me of Genesis circa Duke with the drum machine and synth. Nice acoustic guitar here. "Lenina" has some spoken female vocals. "Halpais Corn Dance" is mostly bass drum and percussion with recorders and acoustic guitar. It has some "la la la" type vocals.

The sound and production is really good for a Krautrock release from 1972. It's not as lo-fi and 'rough around the edges' sounding as other Krautrock releases from the early 1970s. Sure, that works for some groups but on this album it would take the music done a notch. Not a masterpiece but a great album nonetheless. A solid 4 stars.