Krokodil: 50 Years Anniversary Releases (3 Albums 1969 - 1970 - 1971)

 

Krokodil (German for "Crocodile") were constantly promoted by the labels they signed to as a

Krautrock band, yet though they had the spirit of Krautrock in their veins, the truth was that they were Swiss! Naturally, Liberty tried to present them as the Krautrock answer to The Groundhogs. Well, Krokodil did have blues origins, they really knew how to rock-it and had a flair for the experimental, so they did have the same sort of attitude as The Groundhogs.
                                       

But, all that aside, Krokodil were innovators in their own right, not at all copyist, except for maybe their

John Mayall type roots. Like most Swiss bands, Krokodil were an unlikely combo, mostly of German-Swiss extraction, with one Englishman: Terry Stevens. Early on, the quoted "Swiss Bob Dylan" Hardy Hepp seemed to be in control, his softer folk and blues mix, and Mojo Weideli's harmonica, gave them a more down-to-earth sound.
                                         

Krokodil emerged in the late 60's as a blues-rock band that put progressive touches into their

music. They were of German-Swiss extraction with bassist and guitarist Terry Stevens being the only foreigner in the band, coming form England. They were regarded as the Swiss version of the Groundhogs due to their first album.
                           

However, from their 2nd album Swamp they started to introduce a psychedelic sound to their

music, a sound which is very much dominant on Invisible World Revealed. In that album they make use of mellotron, organ, harmonica and flute all backed up by an acoustic guitar which give the album an exotic and stoned feeling to it. The eastern and Indian influences in this album are present through the sitar and tabla in the 15 minutes suite Odyssey In Om.
                        

The blues here gives way to the psychedelics, ethnic sounds and vocal harmonies, but it is still there. Getting up For The Morning continues the same style (in a new label, Bacillus) but they became more succinct in their approach to composition and it was more of a song oriented album than its predecessor.
                         

A band not to be missed by anyone who likes blues, psychedelic and ethnic in his music and does not mind them being mingled together. Even though they are tough to find, their 3rd album is very much worth the bother.

KROKODIL 50 Years Anniversary Releases

[Merlin] FUGA Aggregation (on behalf of the record company Swiss Treasure Recordings)
                                                                             

1. Krokodil
LP Liberty LBS 83306 (1969)
CD Second Battle, Germany, SB 052 (1998)

2. Swamp
LP Liberty LBS 83417 (1970)
CD Second Battle, Germany, SB 053 (1999)

3. An Invisible World Revealed
LP United Artists UAS 29250 (1971)
LP Gold 11160 (Switzerland, 1982)
CD Second Battle, Germany, SB 054 (1999)
                                

1969 - KROKODIL [44:02]

                                       

The 1969 debut opens with a hard blues version of Morning Dew. The Swiss band was often labelled as

krautrock but here they just play hard psychedelic blues like many other bands of the era. The focus is on guitar and blues harmonica over a dynamic rhythm section.
Only on the last track - appropriately named Dabble in Om - things get slightly experimental, including violin and sitar and longer improvisation.

TRACKS

                                           

01. Morning Dew (4:41)
02. You're Still A Part Of Me (6:29)
03. All Alone (3:57)
04. Mis Blues (3:20)
05. Prayer (4:14)
06. Watchin' Chain (6:59)
07. Dabble In Om (9:39)

Bonus Tracks:

08. Don't Make Promises (4:00)
09. Hurra! Live (3:05)
10. Camel Is Top (2:56)

LINE - UP / MUSICIANS:
                                

Hardy Hepp  (violin, piano, vocal)
Düde Dürst  (drums, percussion, vocal)
Walty Anselmo  (sitar, lead guitar, vocal)
Terry Stevens  (bass, guitar, vocal)
Mojo Weideli  (harmonica, flute, percussion)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 117 MB
FLAC  Size: 308 MB

1970 - SWAMP [42:08]

                                                

This record opens with a sort of stoned/bored monotone vocal track set to a fairly nondescript musical track, not a very auspicious beginning really but a bit misleading. The band quickly improves their

sound on the next track "Light of Day" with what sounds like both a piano and organ, plus some sitar, flute, violin and harmonica set to a hazy vocal track (in English no less). Like I said, this one sounds closer to progressive folk than Krautrock as far as I'm concerned. This impression is further strengthened by the easygoing "Sunlight's Beautiful Daughter" with its languid male vocal harmonies, soft harmonica and simple beat. This is actually one of the better tracks on an overall solid album even if it does sound every bit as dated as it actually is.
                            

Same goes for "Tell Me What You Want" which sounds more like a post-Beat late sixties band in

transition. Come to think of it, that's probably what these guys were at the time. Not unlike the first couple of Moody Blues albums except for the harmonica.
                          

The next couple of tracks ("Blue Flashing Circle", "Snow White & Blue") have a Byrds-like soft psych folk vibe to them that is endearing even if it isn't very progressive or original. Makes me want to paint a peace sign on my shirt and go pick flowers in the park. Nice stuff but again - very dated.
                           

"Human Bondage" is the longest and most unusual track on the album. I'm reminded of Van Morrison

by not only the vocals but also the introspective and 'wizened old sage' tone of the lyrics. The plain piano and quiet semi-falsetto backing vocals also sound like some of the stuff Van Morrison did in the early seventies. The piano and flute dominate musically here, and again I'm having as tough time understanding how this is a Krautrock record.
                          

The CD reissue has three bonus tracks that are a bit rougher than the rest of the album, and also show a stronger blues-rock influence than the original works. These are okay tunes, I just don't quite get why they were included here.

TRACKS

                                        

01. Get Your Personality Together (3:13)
02. Light of Day (5:23)
03. Sunlights Beautiful Daughter (5:46)
04. Tell Me What You Want (3:02)
05. Blue Flashing Circle (3:30)
06. Snow White and Blue (4:12)
07. Human Bondage (8:03)

Bonus Tracks:

08. Gipsy Man (3:51)
09. That's What I Do (3:00)
10. Stehaufmädchen Trailer (2:08)

LINE - UP / MUSICIANS:
                         

Walty Anselmo  (bass, sitar, vocals)
Düde Dürst  (percussion, drums)
Veit Feiden  (keyboards, vocals (backing vocals)
Herdy Hepp  (violin, keyboards) (guitar)
Terry Stevens  (bass, guitar, vocals)
Mojo Weideli  (flute, harmonica)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 102 MB
Flac  Size: 264 MB

1971 - AN INVISIBLE WORLD REVEALED  [1:17:43]

                                      

Progressive rock from Switzerland with blues-rock, folk, heavy prog and minor symphonic

elements. The band is often listed under krautrock, but it lacks the psychedelic, free and obscure feel that most bands from this genre have. This third album by Krokodil is actually pretty well produced (thinking of it, this record aged really well for a recording in 1971) and sounds therefore more like Grobschnitt (albeit way less symphonic). The artwork is great, with a nice inlay and a booklet added to the recent Second Battle vinyl reprint.
                                      

'An Invisible World Revealed' has two longer tracks and four short tracks. In their longer compositions the band explores different atmospheres, but thrives during intense heavy rock progressions with great sounding guitars and a harmonica to give to music its own vibe. Some of

these parts sounds ahead of its time, which I find pleasurable for no apparent reason. During the folky parts the band explores tribal folk, American folk/country (perhaps mostly because of the harmonica) and a bit of psychedelic folk. On the shorter tracks we can also find more straightforward tracks like the moody opening track 'Lade of Attraction' and the blues-rock ending 'Last Doors'. The main weakness of the band are the vocals, that often have dull melodies and a dubious tonal quality. Luckily the vocals aren't off-putting and absent during most of the time.
                                

Conclusion. Very well produced progressive rock with great heavy prog moments and some interesting folk moments. Not 'highly recommended' because of the lack of really memorable songs or melodies, but pleasant for perhaps a large range of listeners of the progressive rock genre - I certainly can think of no reason to actively dislike it. Recommended to collectors of heavy prog/psych, folk prog, krautrock and early seventies rarities with great artwork.
                                

An eclectic Swiss quartet who mix acoustic, Eastern mysticism, Jazz, Funk and Psychedelia into a chill, laidback brew. Regular ditties alternate with epic tracks featuring loose, somewhat unfocused but able playing. Thin production and inconsistency mar what could have been a compellingly adventurous platter but the strength of the best make this one of the more spin-worthy relics of obscureland. An interesting and representative artifact of its time.
                           

Krokodil is an brilliant band that created a mesmerizing blend of psych, prog, blues, and early

jazz fusion. Fans of Hawkwind, Can, Ash Ra Temple, Yes, and early Pink Floyd should check out this album. The best thing about the music is that it stays rooted in the blues and uses the mellotron, harp, sitar, congas, harmonica, and flute to provide gorgeous accents that never overpower the music. The whole album has a groovy laid back vibe that is very listenable. Highly recommended!
 

TRACKS

                                       

01. Lady of Attraction (4:21)
02. With Little Miss Trimmings (1:42)
03. Oddyssey In Om (15:19)
04. Green Fly (4:23)
05. Looking At Time (14:03)
06. Last Doors (4:00)

Bonus Tracks:

07. Pollution (3:41)
08. Krokodil Session Part 1 (11:26)
09. Krokodil Session Part 2 (11:42)
10. Don't Make Promises (4:00)
11. Hurra! (3:05)

LINE - UP / MUSICIANS:
                                       

Walty Anselmo  (guitars, sitar, bass, vocals)
Terry Stevens  (bass, guitar, mellotron, vocals)
Mojo Weideli  (flute, harmonica, vocals)
Düde Dürst  (drums, percussion, vocals)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 164 MB
Flac  Size: 488 MB

A KOALA WITH  A JOINT

A Koala was sitting on a tree smoking a joint
when a little lizard passed under,
he looked up and said:

                                         

"Hey koala what are you doing?"

                                       

The Koala said:
"I'm smoking a Joint, Come up and smoke with me."

                                                    

And so the lizard climbed on the tree, he sat next to Koala
and smoked some joints.
After a while, the lizard said that his mouth has dried up
and he will go to drink water from the river.

The little lizard was so stoned,
he leaned over and fell into the river.
A crocodile saw him,

                                             

The Crocodile swam next to him
and helped him to get out of the water.
Then he asked the lizard:
"What is happening to you?"

The lizard explained to the crocodile that he was sitting
with a Koala on a tree, they smoked a lot of joints
and he was soooooo much stoned, that he fell into the river
as he drank water.

The crocodile said: "OK! I will go and see"
So, he went into the forest, found the tree
where the Koala was sitting smoking the joints.
The crocodile looked up and said:

                                

"Hey! You !"
And the Koala looked down and said:

                                     

"Wow! Hey lizard!"
How much water have you drunk?