Just before he started the successful jazz fusion outfit Passport, Berliner saxman Klaus Doldinger had this early-Deep Purpleish heavy prog band on the go for a couple of albums, of which this is the second. If you were looking for a German comparison, I suppose Xhol Caravan wouldn't be a million miles off. Lots of grungy organ (Doldinger handled all the keys as well as the reeds) and fuzz guitar make for a typical late 60s psych-tinged hard prog sound, particularly effective on the lengthy opener Devil Don't Get Me, and on Song Of Dying which follows - that one suggesting they might've been listening to early Black Sabbath. Side One is rounded out by a brief novelty instrumental, aptly titled Circus Polka.
The album's second half might start on the album's low point with Men's Quarrel - seriously, there's lyrics here that even Spinal Tap might have drawn the line at - but it picks up again. Turning Around and the closer Yesterday's Song are really nice psych-pop efforts at giving the album a bit of light and shade, and in between is another groovy workout, Degeneration. Yet another one of these albums that's very much of its time, but as longtime readers will know, I love digging out little snapshot-of-the-era curios like this every so often - plenty of great fun to be had giving this a spin.
pw: sgtg
I got 'Looking Thru' from a remainder bin in '74 (yes, it was the cover at first) and played it constantly thereafter. Even that had a couple of trax on side 2 I didn't play much, but I admired their craftsmanship. Eventually got all the P'port albums and regard Doldinger as a favourite with his own style in different genres. Didn't know this one.
ReplyDelete"Turning Around" sounds quite a bit like Amon Düül II during their mid-70's period, and why wouldn't it, with Lothar Meid handling bass & vocals? Overall interesting but somewhat hit and miss, and without knowing it was German I would think it came out of the UK during the same period. Very outside the box and some definite chops going on (though without Xhol's sublime lysergic haze, so for me there's no comparison). Thanks for posting this one.
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