The Austrian ‘krautjazz’ septet Shake Stew are celebrating ten years of heavy, rhythmic improvisational jazz this year with an outrageously ambitious double album called ‘TEN ONE TWO’. This isn’t a ‘Best Of’ record, Lukas Kranzelbinder’s outfit have recorded sixteen new compositions (plus a third edition out later in the year) and they are a powerful reminder of their status in European jazz circles. Not unlike the great Sons Of Kemet (RIP), their lineup of two bassists, two drummers and three horns make a serious statement - hypnotic grooves, intense interplay and a trancelike attitude to improvisation. It’s amazing. Read / Listen.
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Web Web ‘Plexus Plexus’ (Compost Records) - a review
The ridiculously prolific Munich outfit Web Web return to Compost Records with yet another album but this time around, they’ve enlisted the fuzz guitar heroics of JJ Whitefield, ensuring that their hybrid collage of krautrock and revolutionary era jazz has an even more pronounced psychedelic edge. It absolutely works. Read / Listen.
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Web Web 'Apotheosis' (Compost Records) - premiere
Always a thrill to premiere a new track to the world and this fizzing, jazzy krautrocker from the Munich-based jazz outfit Web Web certainly deserves highlighting. From their forthcoming sixth album ‘Plexus Plexus’, special guest JJ Whitefield (The Poets Of Rhythm / Karl Hector & The Malcouns / Syrup) lays down his fuzzed-up guitar line all over ‘Apotheosis’, the end result resembling a focussed mash up of cosmic Neu!, Os Mutantes and the electric Miles Davis energy that permeates the rest of the album. Listen here…
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Trees Speak 'TimeFold' (Soul Jazz Records) - a review
With nineteen tracks segueing into each each over two sides of vinyl, Tucson duo Trees Speak continue their earthy yet intergalactic run of albums (6 in 4 years!) for Soul Jazz Records. ‘TimeFold’ is a krautrock Blade Runner set in a doomy 1970s horror film castle (filmed on Mars) but with powerful arpeggiated Tangerine Dream synth weapons and disembodied spoken word amongst their heavyweight blend of influences. Intoxicating stuff. Read / Listen.
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Future Sounds Of Kraut Vol. 1 - Compiled by Fred und Luna (Compost Records) - an interview / review
Fred und Luna are two plastic mannequins who live in Karlsruhe, Germany and are the creative muses for their human Rainer Buchmüller, who has compiled this forthcoming and inspired compilation of international artists who make music inspired by the varied ‘Krautrock’ sounds of the 60s and 70s. Psychedelic, groove heavy tracks that are as fun as they are weird-funky. I asked Rainer a few questions about the release but it was Fred und Luna who replied. Read / Listen.
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