14.01.2008.
Amon Duul II - Carnival in Babylon (1972) (@256)
(Review from progreviews.com)
As the 70s progressed, Amon Düül II put the kibosh on their lengthy, side-long improvisations and the meandering psychedelic madness that flowed from their previous albums. Carnival in Babylon saw them with tighter musicianship and, for the most part, following standard rock song structures and length. Despite these concessions to accessibility, however, one still couldn't really call the band conventional. Their brand of psych-rock looked to the West Coast for inspiration, and seems particularly to fit in nicely as across-the-Atlantic companion pieces to the early Paul Kantner-led Jefferson Starship albums: layered acoustic and electric guitars; a distinctive lead woman vocalist playing off male vocals; and the free-spirited, cryptic lyrics that were the currency of the counterculture.
All of the songs on this album have something to offer. "All the Years 'Round"'s verses sound almost like Knaup is submerged in fog or waking up from a dream. There is some fantastic lyrical imagery. In the final moments, however, the song shifts gear into a great, electric jam centered around a simple, ascending E-minor scale. "Kronwinkl" is also built around strong riffing, this time in a 9-beat. "Tables are Turned" is another strong point of the album, an acoustic song that puts the listener on safer footing with its gentle, tuneful atmosphere.
"Hawknose Harlequin", the final track, comes closest to the looseness that harkens back to the earlier albums, seemingly cobbled together from three different ideas. The first section has vocals, apparently recounting the legend of the title character. This leads into the middle section, a mellow, legato jam. Finally, in the last third of the song, the band disconnect the fuel rockets and jump into the stars never to return, with a more laid back jam characterized by echoing lead guitar and glistening organ.
"Carnival in Babylon" is generally underrated, coming off after the great space exploration of their first three (Phallus Dei, Yeti and Tanz der Lemminge) albums. When you've "freaked out" enough for one day listening to their earlier stuff, check this one out and prepare for a perfectly chilled-out musical gem.
Line-up :
- Danny Fichelscher / drums, congas
- Karl-Heinz Hausmann / keyboards, electronics
- Chris Karrer / acoustic & electric guitars, violin, Soprano sax, vocals
- Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz / vocals
- Peter Leopold / drums, tambourine
- Lothar Meid / bass, vocals
- John Weinzierl / acoustic & electric guitars, vocals
with
- Joy Alaska / backing vocals
- Olaf Kübler / Soprano sax, door
- Falk U. Rogner / organ
Track List :
01. C.I.D. In Uruk (5:36)
02. All The Years 'Round (7:23)
03. Shimmering Sand (6:36)
04. Kronwinkl 12 (3:54)
05. Tables Are Turned (3:37)
06. Hawknose Harlequin (9:50)
07. Light (Bonus) (3:50)
08. Between the Eyes (Bonus) (2:28)
09. All The Years 'round (Single Bonus) (4:10)
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