KRAAN - PSYCHEDELIC MAN - 2007

Where is the Psychedelic Man?

This band is fascinating not only because they are on the top for more than 35 years. Studio and live appearances are always differing a lot with KRAAN. If you own the special edition of 'Psychedelic Man' you can hear both facets of the band and therefore it gives a very good overview.

First of all the CD is consisting of 11 new tracks - not very psychedelic as the album title is suggesting. Rather a combination of dynamic fusion and more relaxed, jazzy parts, even sometimes in a chillout mood. Vocals are much better than on other releases. Some songs are if they were dedicated to a wellknown musician resp. band. The guitars are dominating like on every other KRAAN release. Peters Wolbrandt's playing remembers much at the 70s. Together with drummer Jan Fride Helmut Hattler cares for the necessary drive.

Come back sounds like they are hoping to climb into the charts. The song has a simple rhythm and a compatible refrain. Not bad but polished to mainstream (better than any other No.1 hit anyhow). With Silver Buildings Wollbrandt mutates to Randy California and dominates this excellent song. Even the vocals are similar to SPIRIT. Dakkar against is with impressive guitar work but the following Miracle Days somewhat disappoints. Not more than a nice try to play a new BEATLES song.

Title track Psychedelic Man is another dynamic highlight which really contains some psychedelic elements and crazy vocals. A very interesting trippy song indeed with simple but effectual keyboard patterns. Inner Circle with a second bass line and Feierabend are NuJazz/Lounge. I like them very much - relaxed and smooth. Disbanned Shake is a heavy break because this track is a homage to JIMI HENDRIX whereas Colourcave gets very near to the slowtempo part of Nam Nam.

DVD offers 6 songs performed at Finkenbach Festival/Germany in 2005. The band is very concentrated and it's really amazing to watch Hattler's bass playing. Not to compare with the concerts of the first half of the 70s (you have to listen to 'Kraan Live') without keyboards. But nevertheless just an excellent one - Jazz Rock at its best! I always was a fan of KRAAN as a live band and this DVD confirms my expectations. They play the songs with great power, an enormous groove and Ingo Bischof finally is very present and cares for a fusion feeling.

Yaqui Yagua and Vollgas Ahoi have been first released 1977 on 'Wiederhören' when Johannes 'Alto' Pappert had already said goodbye. Both are funky groovy including highspeed jams - fabulous. Kraan Arabia is a live standard of the band. Before it starts Helmut Hattler is remembering at the 70s when many german bands worked together in a special community. Afterwards he introduces Mani Neumeier - known as the drummer of GURU GURU and one of the organizers of the Finkenbach Festival - who has a percussion guest appearance. Bischof substitutes Johannes Pappert's alto sax excellently.

Hallo Ja Ja, I Don't Know starts with the wellknown guitar intro and Borgward convinces with a long and very jazzy keyboard solo. At the end we have a stunning 18 minute Nam Nam at this time with a special fusion touch mainly caused by Bischof. So you might recognize CHICK COREA's RETURN TO FOREVER for a while near the end which then suddenly is replaced by a very short Sarah's Ritt durch den Schwarzwald. Helmut Hattler's trademark is the use of his bass as a solo instrument which he always demonstrates during live gigs.

As for a summary this is an excellent addition if you order the special version. 3 stars for the CD because it is consisting of very good but also some mediocre songs and 5 stars for the DVD offering an excellent live performance to your ears and eyes.
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