Monday, May 24, 2010

Deaf - Alpha (1970-1972)
"The Swiss import LP reissue of Alpha brings one of the most interesting, obscure German progressive albums of the early '70s back into print, with all its excitement and intrigue intact. Side one, recorded live between 1970 and 1972, offers some of the wickedest, most chaotic Krautrock moments ever, aside from the one rather conventional (and, by comparison to the rest of the music, rather blasé) blues-based rock number. "No Time" is built out of hypnotic, tribal Can-like beats and free jazz freakouts, while the highly melodic prog keyboards keep the song moving forward. The vocals on "The Galactic Pack of Fönds Kari" are virtually indecipherable (not unlike Damo Suzuki's with Can), but the song speaks volumes on its own, with jump cuts between pop melodic moments and a section stripped to minimalistic Middle Eastern flair. The mammoth title track that takes up the whole second side of the LP (appropriately labeled "The Psychedelic Journey") is where the band turns especially ambitious. At an astounding 22 and a half minutes, the track does its inspiration -- Ravel's Bolero -- proud. It is psychedelic in the true sense of the word, conjuring up an imminently strange wind. The jam sets and maintains an acid-inoculated tone that meanders through demonic medieval chants, exotic Arabic rhythms, strains of organ exorcised from a dark Christian fugue, harnessed feedback, Renaissance orchestration, some progressive Brit-folk strumming, spacy sound effects, and accelerated circus music. Although it does occasionally drift out of focus and is virtually without melody or motif, the song is surprisingly deliberate. By creating a wealth of space, it even provides a sort of disorienting, long-form narrative that a lot of music passing for psychedelia never manages. Since Alpha was only pressed in a limited run the first time around, even most devotees of Krautrock have probably never heard this music. Needless to say, if you can find the 1994 Black Rills reprint, it's well worth it." (Stanton Swihart, All Music Guide)

A few years back I was lucky enough to get a mint copy of the 1994 LP issue from Black Rills Records, and last year I had it professionally transferred to CDR. Aside from one small private forum this is the first time that a quality lossless version has ever appeared on the internet - this is a special gift to my visitors, some of whom have followed this blog for almost five years! I'd still like to keep this kind of rare so I'll delete this post in one week.

1. No Time
2. Run You Off The Hill
3. The Galactic Pack Of Fönds Kari
4. Alpha

Dany Rühle - Guitars, Vocals
Bert Buchmann - Bass
Jack R. Conrad - Flute, Vocals
Jelly M. Pastorini - Organ, Vocals
Güge Jürg Meier - Drums, Percussion

EAC-Separate FLACs-Log-Cue-Covers (Photos) 270MB

Part 1__Part 2__Part 3

Bye!

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually, every post in your blog must be considered as a gift for us. Thanks for this gem!

Ricardo,
Belo Horizonte, Brazil

7:31 PM, May 24, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hello Ricardo, you're welcome!

9:21 PM, May 24, 2010  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This reissue at the time was hard to get,thank you so much for sharing this,it's a true rarity.
GarColga your a Real collector,rather then keep this treasure locked away for years,you have chosen to share this with your blog followers.
I respect the fact you want to pull the post too - onya mate!(hotroder).

10:56 PM, May 24, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hello hotroder!

6:35 AM, May 25, 2010  
Blogger NK666 said...

Thank you for such a rare gem!

10:01 AM, May 25, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

You're welcome Neon Knight!

11:50 AM, May 25, 2010  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for the opportunity to listen to such a rare album.
And thank you very much for all the wonderful music you kindly share with us.
Thanks.
Enzo (Italy)

12:44 PM, May 25, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hi Enzo, you're welcome!

2:39 PM, May 25, 2010  
Anonymous Spatje said...

Wow man,never expected this to ever show up again!!!I bought my copy back in 94,and I treasured it ever since,500 copies were pressed and I treasured it ever since!A true classic,Love Ravell's Bolero bit ,thank you so much for the high quality rip man!

8:46 AM, May 26, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hi Spatje!

6:06 AM, May 28, 2010  
Blogger censusloss said...

As a newish visitor to your blog this post is another big reason to keep reading it often- i am always on look out for obscure kraut rock gems
Thank you Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C

3:55 PM, May 28, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hi censusloss!

4:40 PM, May 28, 2010  

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