LIFE

Significant German progressive Jazz-Rockers from Hamburg,Release Music Orchestra was actually the jazzy reincarnation of Tommorow's Gift.By the disbanding of the later the main core,that is keyboardist Manfred Rürup, bassist Bernd Kiefer and drummer Wolfgang "Zabba" Lindner, remained stable, while wind-instrumentalist Norbert Jacobsen (formerly on Achim Reichel's projects A.R.Machines and Frankie Dymon Jr.) joined for the recordings of ''Life''.This debut saw the light in 1974 on Brain Records,with a CD re-issue following some 20 years later on Germanofon.

While most of Kraut/Jazz-Rock bands of the time were tending to deliver one-dimensional improvisations and sometimes monotonous solo performances, ''Life'' remains on a great balance from the very first to very last minute.Yes,the sound is typical of jazz-tinged 70's German bands with KRAAN and PASSPORT being the closest reference points,yet what simply amazes the listener here is the endless number of fantastic interplays and the constant alternation of instrumental sections. Lovely work by Jacobsen on clarinet and even better performance by Rürup on his electric piano, which has almost a Canterbury-edge at moments.What is even greater is the majestic use of Mellotron in a couple of tracks,offering a haunting atmospheric background, rarely met in the typical Kraut-Jazz releases.The rhythm section delivers a series of furious and strong grooves and often some very complex individual performances.The whole package is more than attractive,compared to the best works of KRAAN, EMBRYO or PASSPORT.

An impressive mix of Kraut Rock, Jazz and Progressive Rock, ''Life'' is a monstrous work with a variety of moods, different passages and professional interplays and a great starting point into an endless Kraut Rock journey.Highly recommended.