★GERMANOFON
AR3
Available again with improved mastering! For Achim Reichel's 1973 release, and first on his vanity label Zebra, the talented Okko Bekker and noted Krautrock producer Thomas Kuckuck were invited along with many others, with the results being a higher-level mix of echo-guitar excursions, imaginative ensemble playing and kosmische folk-blues. Essential A.R.!
AR5 - Autovision
From 1974. A.R.'s fifth excursion with echo-guitar, a collection of group and solo recordings, would be his last studio album in the mind-blowing style. Available again with improved packaging.
Let It Out: Poems In Words And Music
Gray-area reissue. From 1971. Incredible Kraut/funk meeting of U.S. expatriate and the cream of the German rock scene: Achim Reichel, Conny Plank, Wolfgang 'Zabba' Lindner (drums, ex-Wind), Peter Hecht (piano, from Lucifer's Friend) and many others. Dymon, probably better known for his role as 'Black Power Militant' in Godard's Sympathy For The Devil and as director of the super-obscure Death May Be Your Santa Claus, mellifluously rants on subjects such as past sexual conquests, racial injustice…
Ralf & Florian
Kraftwerk's third album Ralf und Florian was released in November 1973 and its title is almost synonymous with a nickname for the duo. The front cover was taken by Florian's then-girlfriend Barbara Niemöller. The LP is a continuation of the ideas on the first two LPs, but the music has a much cleaner sound dominated by electric piano and soft electronic percussion. The first track 'Elektrisches Roulette' (Electric Roulette) is a rhythmically repetitive piece and I think that you can trace the la…
2
When the Kraftwerk 2 LP was released, Ralf and Florian had rejoined forces to continue Kraftwerk's music ideas. The LP was recorded at their own studio in Düsseldorf (KlingKlang) and the Star Music Studio in Hamburg. It was produced in just seven days between the 26th September and 1st of October 1971. It was co-produced by Conrad (Conny) Plank who once again played an important role. The Kraftwerk 2 album was originally released on the Philips label and is a musical extension of the first Kraft…
Jesus Makes You High
A very strange 'paycheck' project for Conny Plank and Achim Reichel's Gorilla Musik production company. Wonderland-esque German rock with heavy Christian lyrics! A.R. is nowhere to be seen on the sleevenotes, but his fingerabdrücke are everywhere. You can make up your own punchline for the album title. First-ever reissue includes full lyrics and two bonus tracks from their only 7" release