Amon Duul II - Vive La Trance (1973) [Expanded Edition, 2007]

Formed in 1968 in Munich, Germany - Disbanded in 1981 - Reunited on several ocasions

AMON D??L II (or AMON D??L 2) was born of an artistic and political community called AMON D??L (which recorded during the late sixties a long live session made around collective and free musical improvisations).

The band emerged from the underground German rock scene with a very original and eccentric album called "Phallus Dei" (1969). The musicians who participated to this delirious and psychedelic experience were (among others) Peter Leopold (ex AMON D??L), the front woman and singer Renate Knaup, John Weinzierl on the guitars... with guests as Holger Tr?tzsch who plays tribal percussions (original member of Popol Vuh). Then almost with the same musicians the band recorded the seminal "Yeti" (1970). An album in a similar vein than the previous but more accomplished (with a few structured songs and numerous pieces of epic improvisations). "Yeti" will launch AMON D??L II career outside Germany. The same year the bass guitarist Dave Anderson leaves the band to join HAWKWIND.

"Tanz Der Lemminge" which follows directly "Yeti" is an impressive work with a great diversity of powerful, emotional songs with some folk accents next to long free space jamming. Recorded in 1972, "Carnival in Babylon" announces a slight new musical direction taken by the band. This album is dominated by shorter songs with the omnipresent and beautiful Renate Knaup's vocals. A more conventional work with a few memorable prog-folk ballads. The classical period of the band will end with "Wolf City" (1972) and "Viva La Trance" (1973). After the departure of Renate Knaup who joins Popol Vuh in 1974 and the release of a few albums, AMON D??L II split up. In 1981, with the album "Vortex" Chris Karrer tried without success to reform the band.
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Vive La Trance is the seventh studio album released by the German Krautrock band Amon D??l II, which was released in 1973. Produced by Olaf K?bler and Amon D??l II and engineered by Peter Kramper, Vive La Trance was recorded and remixed at Bavaria Studios with additional remixing done at Union Studio M?nchen. The album sleeve's photography was done by Falk U. Rogner and Gena Zimmerman, with additional design and artwork by J?rgen Rogner. The song "Mozambique" is dedicated to the political revolutionary Monika Ertl.