1. Variety
2. Watercorps
3. Drops
4. Draw Conclusions From...
5. Last Door
The album cover shows two figures who appear to have some psychedelic imagery projected over them, reminiscent of the Merry Prankster's liquid projections in the late 60s.
The title 'Variety' is quite apt, since the LP consists of elaborate rhythms and melodies that change drastically. There is a beautiful communication between musicians. Each track appears to occupy it's own complex space, a quality I always admire in a well constructed album. Rather than coming from the more bluesy side of things, which much of Psych rock derived from, this musicianship seems to come from a more classical standpoint, ala Yes or ELP.
The opening self-titled track is very memorable, with the lyrics "sitting in my room, drinking a glass of wine." I like how the flute and violin really play off each other.
The third track Drops really rocks out, reminiscent of early Jethro Tull. Guitarist Gerd Pohl shines in this one with some epic blues soloing. The vocals have a sort of haunting quality to them. The rock-out chorus riff has an interesting offbeat "fall apart" rhythm in the second measure that I like a lot. Overall, the song gives off an apocalyptic sort of vibe. The end provides an insight into early delay effects as it fades out with a trippy loop.
Hard panning is a common aspect of old vintage recording studios, and not something I'm a particularly huge fan of.
It is readily apparent how technically proficient Think were, the violin/organist Kajo Sandrick being credited with effects (a man of many talents!). Everything has a well rounded, mellow quality to it, particularly with the vocal's soft reverb.
In the epic 4th track, there is some great interplay between flute and organ that reminds me of Stereolab. There is also some mad acoustic guitar picking in the final track, Last Door.
Variety is always a delightful listen for me every time, one of my most cherished finds. Recommended as a good starting point in the krautrock legacy. 8/10
