ALBUM REVIEW - Deutsche Elektronische Musik 2 - Various Artists

Deutsche Elektronische Musik 2:

Various Artists:

Soul Jazz Records:

Out Now

8/10

Following on from the successful first volume from the same stable, Soul Jazz Records continues its journey through the realms of progressive-rock and psychedelic Krautrock, unearthing some real gems and rarities along the way. 

Those with an affection for seeking out breaks, riffs and beats from unlikely sources will dig the likes of Can’s Halleluwah, Michael Hoenig’s Sun and Moon and D.A.F.’s Co Co Pino – the latter was sampled by Meat Beat Manifesto for their rave-tastic club-hit Helter Skelter – while mellow-heads will probably savour Roedelius’ Le Jardin or his collaboration piece Base and Apex (with Brian Eno and Moebius).

The iconic Sky Records label has been milked throughout – it’s great to see the under-rated (and sadly deceased) Wolfgang Reichmann getting a nod with the motorik Himmelblau, taken from his Kraftwerkian Wunderbar album – while Neu, Amon Duul, Faust and Popol Vuh fly the flag for the more familiar old guard.

Pretty much all of it sounds like it would have sound-tracked episodes of Tomorrow’s World (pre-Maggie Philbin era) or Tom Baker’s Dr Who tenure, by turns hypnotic, repetitive and absorbing, while Asmus Tietchens’ unworldly electro-stomp wouldn’t sound amiss at a fetish club – just saying. The usual attention to detail by Soul Jazz is heightened by the inclusion of an informative brochure.

Head to Soul Jazz Records for more info here