Another favorite of mine. Here we have some psych/prog with lots of bluesy elements. The things I remember most about this album are its stellar guitar and keyboard solos. Sperrmüll started in 1971 as a trio with Harald Kaiser on bass/vocals, Helmut Krieg on guitar/vocals, and Reinhold Breuer on drums, soon adding keyboardist Peter Schneider. It's really quite the gem to come from beloved Krautrock label 'Brain'. Another unique one-of-a-kind band destined for only one LP.
1. Me and My Girlfriend
2. No Freak Out
3. Rising Up
4. Right Now
5. Land of the Rocking Sun
6. Pat Casey
A memorable and catchy first track, Me and My Girlfriend has what I'd consider the most conventional song structure, establishing a proficiency in writing a solid psych rock number.
It is the next track, No Freak Out which has always captured my imagination. It's got these haunted vocals, intense acoustic backed by a wailing electric guitar. The meat of the song has the most wonderful keyboard and electric guitar solos. It's an absolute winner in my book.
There's a pretty good variety of grooves throughout this album. All the sections have a good length to them. In Rising Up we get some fantasy prog, with a memorable sort of rolling bassline. Right Now is a high energy psych rock track with storms and tempests of driving basslines and a soulful electric guitar with an awesome buildup. I also really enjoy the uplifting vocals in Land of the Rocking Sun, rocking out in its epic progressive way that is reminiscent of early Eloy.
Sperrmüll are refined in what they do, maintaining a good balance of psychedelic, blues, and prog elements in a way that seems to come naturally to them. Their song structures are concise and well balanced. They have memorable solos, and really know how to rock out. The English vocals are accented, but seem to compliment what they're trying to do better than other bands that have tried. In short, it is an excellent release that I would highly recommend. 9/10
