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Guru Guru — Moshi Moshi
(Think Progressive TPCD 1.705.001, 1997, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 1998-02-01

Moshi Moshi Cover art

Krautrock lives! Original drummer Mani Neumeier is joined in a four piece configuration by longtime sax player Roland Schaeffer, returning bassist Peter Kuhmstedt, and guitarist Luigi Archetti, with Hans Reffert guesting on pedal steel and six string bass. This is another solid effort that pushes those late 80s attempts at pop further into the past and recalls the spirit of their mid-70s eclecticism. The album kicks off with a couple solid hard rockers — the title track with its wailing sax and smoking guitar leads, capped off by Neumeier's lyrical humor, and the more straight-ahead rocker "Jet Lag" with its intensely psychedelic overtones. The third track, "Tamil Nadu," is where things start to change and the more explorative side of the band takes over for the balance of the disc, interspersed with rockers that nicely tie together the instrumental psychedelicism and Middle Eastern / world influences that permeate the remaining tunes. A lot of territory is covered: the psychedelic fusion of "XL Generation," a late-60s-ish blues-rocker "Incarnation-Stomp," the laid-back instrumental shuffle "Jonny Filter," and the group-penned space-out "Skylab" with its allusions to Hendrix. Neumeier even plays koto on one the introspective and aptly titled "Don't Worry about the Koto." More than anything, this is a fun album with a good sense of balance; cruise control for the open-minded space traveler. Recommended!

Filed under: New releases, Issue 14, 1997 releases

Related artist(s): Mani Neumeier, Guru Guru

 

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