KRAAN — Andy Nogger (review)

KRAAN — Andy Nogger album cover Album · 1974 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
Kraan’s third album is a bit singular and has a sound of its own, not to say it has ONE sound of its own: this is obviously due to the production, but my ever-lasting impression is that this is a very monotonous record, with relatively few dynamic range (as opposed to the first two albums) and limited inspiration. I realize that I may be going a bit against the majority current here (as it is widely seen as an important album), but I will certainly not deny the other qualities of this record, either

Lead-off track stars is an interesting up-tempoed funk beat tracks with Jack Bruce-style vocals and Wishbone Ash-tinged lead guitar lines (Argus period). Next up is a rather similar title track with fuzzed-out saxes (Canterbury-styled); I personally think this was a mistake to do two such similar tracks one after the other. The same can be said about the other two tracks on this side of the album, rounding up a rather lacklustre halftime result. But clearly better is to come. One of the weird things about Kraan is the rather atypical guitar sound since guitarist Wolbrandt uses mostly a Fender Telecaster (an odd choice since the Stratocaster is so much better suited for solos) as his main instrument although he also uses a hollow-bodied Gibson at times.

The second vinyl side starts with the highlight of the album, with the instruments clearly given a bit more space but guitarist Wolbrandt stealing the show, but again early W A sounds dominate, with saxman Peppert doubling up on his reeds to provide that twin lead effect. Home is maybe the track that breaks most away from the mould in which this record was cast, and its many instrumental prowess finally reveal the genius uncovered in the debut album (but almost absent in the next three vinyl sides) but moreover it has a soul of its own and a spacey ending. Final track Yellow Bamboo has a slight eastern influence sometimes Arabic-influenced sometimes Far-Eastern induced, but the main feature is its heavy psych-rock feel.

An album that finishes much better than it started, but cannot help but deceive the fan expecting a return to the first album. Clearly the second side of the album indicated they still had it, but if that first side had been as good, this might have been their best album!!!
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