Amon Düül II: 9 Krautrock Tales 1969 - 1976

 

Amon Düül was a German art commune whose members began producing improvisational psychedelic

rock music during the late '60s. The group's members released several albums, mostly recorded during a single extended jam session, beginning with 1969's Psychedelic Underground. Concurrently, some of the commune's more musically inclined members formed the longer-lasting Amon Düül II. Both acts proved to be a major influence on generations of experimental rock musicians to come, and are regarded as pioneers of the Krautrock genre.
                           

The original Munich commune group, formed in 1967, Amon Düül were not your normal outfit of political activists or hippies, they were much more than that. Living together, they were

constantly attempting to create or explore new genres in music. Psychedelic drugs, free-love, and a shared community were all factors,
as was the new psychedelic music from Britain and the USA, especially so Hapshash & The Coloured Coat. Inevitably, due to political and musical differences, tempers got frayed and just before a legendary concert they split into two separate bands. Founder members, including Chris Karrer and others, went on to front the internationally successful Amon Düül II.
                    

In sharp contrast, the original Amon Düül (who were more concerned with being politically active) recorded on very few occasions. A great part of their work was all recorded during the very same early sessions in 1969 within a matter of days. Typical of commune bands, Amon Düül were often quite wild

and free-form. They played a high-energy bare-bones aggressive rock that was totally over-the-top in the percussion department, with raw grating guitars and wailing vocals. Their debut AMON DÜÜL (originally untitled, but generally referred to as "PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND") and its follow-up COLLAPSING "Singvögel Rückwärts & Co.", both also displayed an eccentric use of studio effects, sound manipulation and sonic gags (like jumps, stuck-grooves, scratches, etc.), which gained them a curious notoriety. A total of four albums (two of them double LP's) were eventually released from those early sessions, and all are essential listening for fans of aggressive 1960's rock.
               

The later incarnation (which grew out of an association with the "Berlin Commune 1") were different, and only recorded one album and a single. Still a touch hippy-political in concept the album PARA

DIESWÄRTS DÜÜL was a more relaxed, albeit unusual, folky rock with the accent on multiple guitars, featuring lengthy improvised instrumental sections, closer to Quintessence or Popol Vuh, yet still quite unique. Members of this version of the band also guested on the similarly styled "Sandoz In The Rain" on Amon Düül II's YETI. The actual history of this incarnation of Amon Düül is virtually undocumented, though we do know that Karl-Heinz Hausmann of the "Berlin Commune 1" passed through and followed Peter Leopold to Amon Düül II. They also played live quite extensively when based in Berlin, and even Klaus Schulze is reputed to have played in concert with them!
                  

The band emerged from the underground German rock scene with a very original and eccentric album called "Phallus Dei" (1969). The musicians who participated to this delirious and psychedelic experience were (among others) Peter Leopold (ex Amon Düül), the front woman and singer Renate

Knaup, John Weinzierl on the guitars... with guests as Holger Trützsch who plays tribal percussions (original member of Popol Vuh). Then almost with the same musicians the band recorded the seminal "Yeti" (1970). An album in a similar vein as the previous but more accomplished (with a couple of structured songs always with numerous pieces of epic improvisations). "Yeti" will launch Amon Düül II career outside Germany. The same year the bass guitarist Dave Anderson leaves the band to join Hawkwind.
               

"Tanz Der Lemminge" which follows directly "Yeti" is an impressive work with a great diversity of powerful, emotional songs with some folk accents next to long free space jamming. Recorded in 1972,

"Carnival in Babylon" announces a slightly new musical direction taken by the band. This album is dominated by shorter songs with the omnipresent and beautiful vocals of Renate Knaup. A more conventional work with a few memorable prog-folk ballads. The classical period of the band will end with "Wolf City" (1972) and "Vive La Trance" (1973). After the departure of Renate Knaup who joins Popol Vuh in 1974 and the release of a few albums, Amon Düül II split up. In 1981, with the album "Vortex" and Renate Knaup rejoining Chris Karrer tried to reform the band without much success.
               

The band reformed again in 1995, releasing Nada Moonshine and performing in Europe and Japan.

Another comeback came in 2010 with the release of Bee As Such (later renamed Düülirium) with the band performing again until 2018 so far.
                 

Amon Düül II - PHALLUS DEI 1969

                 

Phallus Dei (Latin: God's Phallus) is the debut album by German band Amon Düül II. The album was

the result of the Amon Düül commune in Munich splitting. The album features layered guitars, abstract percussion, and chant-like vocals. It is often cited (alongside Can's Monster Movie) as the original Krautrock album. The 2006 re-remastered reissue on the German label Revisited Records contains two bonus tracks: "TouchMaPhal" (10:17) and "I Want the Sun to Shine" (10:32).  
                    

Amon Düül II - Phallus Dei
Label: Revisited Rec. – REV 050
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Jun 16, 2006
Country: Germany
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Krautrock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

01. Phallus Dei    20:49
02. Kanaan    4:03
03. Dem Guten, Schönen, Wahren    6:14
04. Luzifers Ghilom    8:35
05. Henriette Krötenschwanz    2:03

BONUS TRACKS           

                          

06. TouchMaPhal    10:17
07. I Want The Sun To Shine    10:32

LINE - UP

Bass – Dave Anderson
Bongos, Vocals, Violin – Shrat
Drums, Cymbal [Electric] – Dieter Serfas
Drums, Percussion, Grand Piano – Peter Leopold
Guest, Drums [Turkisch Drums] – Holger Trülzsch
Guest, Vibraphone – Christian Borchard
Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Soprano Saxophone [Sopran-Sax], Vocals – John Weinzierl
Organ, Synthesizer – Falk Rogner
Violin, Guitar, Saxophone [Sax], Vocals [Uncredited] – Chris Karrer
Vocals, Tambourine – Renate Knaup

Flac Size: 398 MB

Amon Düül II - WOLF CITY 1971

                      

Wolf City is the fifth studio album released by the German rock band Amon Düül II. Like its

predecessor, Carnival in Babylon, Wolf City is a more conventional recording than the band's earlier albums, with shorter track times and more straightforward song structures. This was likely due to the band's increasing commercial popularity, both at home and in the UK. Despite this, some of the album's tracks, such as "Jail-House-Frog" and "Deutsch Nepal", are still overtly experimental. The US LP has the sides reversed. Side one begins with "Wolf City" and side two with "Surrounded by the Stars".

Amon Düül II – Wolf City
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 4596-WY
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1996
Country: Germany
Released: 1971
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Krautrock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                     

01. Surrounded By The Stars   7:46
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner
02. Green Bubble Raincoated Man   5:04
Written-By – Weinzierl
03. Jail-House Frog   4:54
Synthesizer – Peter Kramper
Written-By – Weinzierl
04. Wolf City   3:20
Written-By – Karrer, Fichelscher, Rogner, Weinzierl, Meid
05. Wie Der Wind Am Ende Einer Strasse   5:42
Written-By – Karrer, Fichelscher, Rogner, Weinzierl, Meid
06. Deutsch Nepal   3:00
Written-By – Meid, Kübler
07. Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge   4:55
Written-By – Fichelscher, Rogner

LINE - UP

Bass, Synthesizer – Lothar Meid
Choir, Organ, Piano – Jimmy Jackson
Drums – Daniel Secundus Fichelscher
Guitar – John Weinzierl
Guitar [6 String, 12 String], Violin, Soprano Saxophone – Chris Karrer
Organ, Keyboards [Clavioline], Synthesizer – Falk-Ulrich Rogner
Vocals – Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz

Flac Size: 205 MB

Amon Düül II - CARNIVAL IN BABYLON 1972

                     

Carnival in Babylon is an LP by German rock band Amon Düül II which was released in 1972. It is

their fourth studio album. It was recorded at the Bavaria Studio (with Peter Kramper as the engineer) and remixed at Studio 70 (with Jürgen Koppers as the engineer). It was produced by Olaf Kübler and the band themselves. The original cover design and photos were by F.U. Rogner. All lyrics written in English, except on C.I.D. in Uruk written in German.

 

 

Amon Düül II – Carnival In Babylon
Label: Gammarock Records – GRR 83 802
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo 2000
Country: Germany
Released: 1972   
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                  

01. C.I.D. In Uruk    5:36
02. All The Years Round    7:23
03. Shimmering Sand    6:36
04. Kronwinkl 12    3:54
05. Tables Are Turned    3:36
06. Hawknose Harlekin    9:49

BONUS TRACKS           

07. Light    3:50
08. Between The Eyes    2:28
09. All The Years Round    4:11
10. Castaneda Da Dream    7:46

LINE - UP

John Weinzierl – electric guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, vocal
Chris Karrer – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, soprano sax, vocal
Lothar Meid – bass, vocal
Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz – vocal
Danny Fichelscher – drums, congas
Peter Leopold – drums, tambourine
Karl-Heinz Hausmann – keyboards, electronics

GUESTS

Joy Alaska – backing vocals
Falk Ulrich Rogner – organ
Olaf Kübler – soprano sax, door

NOTES

Falk Rogner was previously a band member, but listed as a guest for this album; he returned as a full member on the next album.
Written-By – Karrer (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 10), Fichelscher (tracks: 6), Rogner (tracks: 3, 5, 8), Weinzierl (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9), Meid (tracks: 6, 7), Knaup (tracks: 2, 9)

Flac Size: 341 MB

Amon Düül II - UTOPIA 1973

                     

1973 studio project by Olaf Kübler and Lothar Meid, with Kristian Schultze (keyboards), Jimmy

Jackson (organ) and Joe Nay (guitar), featuring guest musicians Chris Karrer, John Weinzierl and Renate Knaup. As it is related to Amon Düül II, the album was reissued as by Amon Düül II. Originally released as a Utopia album; being a side project by Amon Düül II producer Olaf Kübler; only re-releases credit the band as Amon Düül II. Renate Knaup, Falk-U. Rogner and Chris Karrer are featured in one song of the album each, John Weinzierl in two songs and Danny Fichelscher on four songs. Only Lothar Meid is featured on all eight songs of the album.

Amon Düül II – Utopia
Label: Gammarock Records – GRR 83 806
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2000
Country: Germany
Released: 1973   
Genre: Rock
Style: Krautrock

TRACKS

                 

01. What You Gonna Do?    6:40
02. The Wolfman Jack Show    5:05
03. Alice (O.P.)    3:06
04. Las Vegas (O.P.)    4:25
05. Deutsch Nepal    3:11
06. Utopia No. 1    3:59
07. Nasi Göring/ Goreng    5:34
08. Jazz Kiste    5:36
09. Surrounded By The Stars    7:15
10. Dancing On Fire    5:25
11. Deutsch Nepal  (Vocals – Rolf Zacher)   3:15

BONUS TRACKS           

12. Goldrush    2:59
13. Star Eyed    4:32
14. Dr. Stein    3:47

NOTES

The original album: tracks 1 to 8, was released in 1973 as by Utopia (United Artists UAG 29438)
Uncredited bonus material: tracks 9 to 11, are 1993 recordings from an unreleased demo (9 and 10 are similar to those on Surrounded By The Bars).

Flac Size: 406 MB

Amon Düül II - VIVE LA TRANCE 1973

              

Vive La Trance is the seventh studio album released by German Krautrock band Amon Düül II,

released in 1973. Produced by Olaf Kübler and Amon Düül II and engineered by Peter Kramper, Vive La Trance was recorded and remixed at Bavaria Studios with additional remixing done at Union Studio München. The album sleeve's photography was done by Falk U. Rogner and Gena Zimmerman, with additional design and artwork by Jürgen Rogner. The song "Mozambique" is dedicated to the political revolutionary Monika Ertl.
                     

Amon Düül II - Vive La Trance album cover
Label: Belle Antique – MAR 071266, Revisited Rec. – REV 081
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered May 25, 2007
Released: 1973    
Genre: Rock
Style: Krautrock, Avantgarde, Prog Rock

TRACKS

            

01. A Morning Excuse    3:17
02. Fly United    3:30
03. Jalousie    3:26
04. Im Krater Blühn Wieder Die Bäume    3:06
05. Mozambique    7:37
06. Apocalyptic Bore    6:34
07. Dr.    2:58
08. Trap    3:33
09. Pig Man    2:35
10. Manana    3:20
11. Ladies Mimikry    4:15

BONUS TRACKS       

    
12. Hands Up Fool   6:18
Written-By – Weinzierl, Knaup
13. Pink Purple   7:09
Written-By – Weinzierl
14. Look   4:58
Written-By – Karrer, Kahlert, Weinzierl, Meid
15. Bomb   4:11
Written-By – Meid

Flac Size: 441 MB

Amon Düül II – HIJACK 1974

               

Hijack is significant in the band's history, and perhaps for posterity as well, for three reasons. The first of these is that the recording of this album signalled a short-lived reunion of sorts for most of the

members of the original Amon Düül -- vocalist Renate Knaup-Kroetenschwanz, guitarist/vocalist Chris Karrer, guitarist John Weinzierl, drummer Peter Leopold, bassist and string arranger Lothar Meid, and synthesizer guru Falk U. Rogner (sisters Helge and Angelika Filanda and Ulrich Leopold were lost ion the world of hippie communes and did not return for this outing). The second reason is for the opening cut, "I Can't Wait, Pts. 1 & 2," which has to be the first boogie rock cut in rock & roll history. Elements of Krautrock, German prog, and a full-on Los Angeles-style horn section turn this loopy, 11-plus-minute cut inside out more than once with the lower than dirt growl of Meid's "singing," electric violin

solos, and party band blues progression done in full-tilt boogie mode. In other words, it's the least Amon Düül II sounding cut on the set. "Traveler," another Meid penned cut, may be better known since it was a single, but it pales in comparison. The final reason that this set is distinctive is for the band's cover of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman," done as a tango with some fluttering samba backbeats anchoring the wispy synths and piano work. Knaup sings dramatic original lyrics written by Karrer. It is followed by the dreamy but actually quite beautiful "Liquid Whisper," that contains some very inventive acoustic guitar and synthesizer work.
              

Amon Düül II - Hijack
Label: Garden Of Delights – CD 079
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2003
Country: Germany
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                

01. I Can't Wait    6:18
02. Mirror    4:44
03. Traveller    4:23
04. You're Not Alone    6:53
05. Explode Like A Star    4:00
06. Da Guadeloop    7:03
07. Lonely Woman    4:44
08. Liquid Whisper    3:30
09. Archy The Robot    3:30

LINE - UP

Renate Knaup — vocals
Chris Karrer — guitars, violin, vocals, tenor saxophone
John Weinzierl — guitars
Falk Rogner – synthesizer
Lothar Meid — bass, guitar, vocals, string arrangements
Peter Leopold - drums, percussion, acoustic guitar

Additional Personnel

Chris Balder — strings
Ludwig Popp — French horn
Lee Harper — trumpet
Bob Chatwin — trumpet
Bobby Jones — saxophone
Rudy Nagora — saxophone
Thor Baldursson — keyboards
Olaf Kubler — flute, soprano saxophone
Herman Jalowitzki — marching drum
Wild Willy — accordion, percussion, vocals

Flac Size: 293 MB

Amon Düül II - LEMMINGMANIA 1974

 

Compilation, released in 1975. Originally released in 1974, 'Lemmingmania' is a compilation made up

of, mostly rare AD II singles. Vocalist Renate Knaup's vocals are  astounding, especially when guitarist Chris Karrer jumps in and shares the vocal duties with her. Brings to mind [sort of] like Germany's reply to Jefferson Airplane.

             

Amon Düül II – Lemmingmania
Label: Revisited Rec. – REV 053
Format: CD, Compilation, Enhanced, Reissue, Remastered 2006
Country: Germany
Released: 1974   
Genre: Rock
Style: Krautrock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                  

01. Archangel Thunderbird
Written-By – Rogner, Weinzierl
02. Light
Written-By – Meid
03. Between The Eyes
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner, Weinzierl
04. Green Bubble Raincoated Man
Written-By – Weinzierl
05. Tables Are Turned
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner
06. Rattlesnakeplumcake
Written-By – Rogner, Weinzierl
07. All The Years Round
Written-By – Rogner, Weinzierl, Knaup
08. Jail - House Frog
Written-By – Weinzierl
09. Burning Sister (Excerpt From "Soap Shop Rock")
Written-By – Rogner, Weinzierl
10. Lemmingmania
Written-By – Weinzierl
11. Pig Man
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner, Weinzierl, Leopold, Knaup, Heibl
12. Mozambique
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner, Weinzierl, Leopold, Knaup, Heibl
13. Manana
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner, Weinzierl, Leopold, Knaup, Heibl
14. Ladies Mimikry
Written-By – Karrer, Rogner, Weinzierl, Leopold, Knaup, Heibl
       

LINE - UP

             

Acoustic Guitar – Chris Karrer, John Weinzierl
Bass – Dave Anderson (tracks: 1 to 9), Lothar Meid, Robby Heibl (tracks: 11,12)
Bongos – Shrat (tracks: 1 to 9)
Drums – D. Secundus Fichelscher, Peter Leopold (tracks: 4, 11 to 14)
Electric Guitar – Chris Karrer, John Weinzierl

Electronics – Karl-Heinz Hausmann (tracks: 5 to 7)
Guest, Backing Vocals – Desmond Bonner (tracks: 12), Keith Forsey (tracks: 12), Olaf Kübler (tracks: 8), Rolf Zacher (tracks: 8)
Guest, Organ [Choir Organ] – Jimmy Jackson (tracks: 4 to 8)
Guest, Piano – Jimmy Jackson (tracks: 4 to 8)
Keyboards – Karl-Heinz Hausmann (tracks: 5 to 7)
Organ – Falk-Ulrich Rogner
Soprano Saxophone [Soprano Sax] – Chris Karrer
Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – Falk-Ulrich Rogner, Peter Leopold (tracks: 4, 11 to 14)
Violin – Chris Karrer
Vocals – Chris Karrer, John Weinzierl, Lothar Meid, Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz, Shrat (tracks: 1 to 9)

NOTES

Tracks 1 to 10 originally released on LP in 1975.
Tracks 11 to 14 are bonus tracks.

Flac Size: 332 MB

Amon Düül II – MADE IN GERMANY 1975

             

Made in Germany has to be one of the best Amon Düül II albums the way it starts and ends is great its even got a bit of brass on this,the first song overture starts like an orchestra[violins and stuff]which is

great. There is a lovely moment in "La Krautoma," after the surf music intro gives way to a strange Peter Leopold drum solo and moves on, that the sound begins to mutate into early-'70s Hawkwind, a gleeful nod from one notable space rock outfit to another. "La Krautoma" is more than that, though; it's a six-minute distillation of acid rock, space rock, and Krautrock that shows the band's knowledge of their own history. It is also an eyebrow-raising moment in the midst of this particular, which spends more time getting into the same space as mid-'70s Europop,  

Amon Düül II – Made In Germany
Label: Garden Of Delights – CD 099
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2004
Country: Germany
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock

TRACKS

                

01. Overture    5:11
02. Wir Wollen    1:33
03. Wilhelm, Wilhelm    3:10
04. SM II Peng    2:17
05. Elevators Meet Whispering    1:26
06. Metropolis    3:37
07. Ludwig    2:33
08. The King's Chocolate Waltz    2:29
09. Blue Grotto    3:33
10. Mr. Kraut's Jinx    8:44
11. Wide-Angle    4:06
12. Three-Eyed Overdrive    1:17
13. Emigrant Song    3:21
14. Loosey Girls  (Saxophone – Bobby Jones)   5:13
15. Top Of The Mud    3:45
16. Dreams    4:08
17. Gala Gnome    3:52
18. 5.5.55    1:39
19. La Krautoma    6:08
20. Excessive Spray    1:41

LINE - UP

Drums, Percussion – Peter Leopold
Guitar – John Weinzierl
Keyboards – Thor Baldursson
Synthesizer, Organ – Falk-Ulrich Rogner
Timpani, Gong – Karlheinz Becker
Trumpet – Lee Harper
Violin – Fritz Sonnleitner
Vocals – Renate Knaup
Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Violin – Robby Heibl
Vocals, Guitar – Nando Tischer
Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Violin – Chris Karrer

Flac Size: 448 MB

Amon Düül II – PYRAGONY X 1976

         

Amon Duul II's 'Tenth' album. This one is not to be compared to ANY of their albums prior to this. The

band is down to a 5 piece here - only original members being guitar/sax/violin player Chris Karrer, guitarist John Weinzierl and Drummer Pete Leopold, with new members Stefan Zauner (Keyboards/vocals) and Klaus Ebert (Bass/vocals) providing a more stream-lined approach to composition and the tendency to head towards commercial territory.

Amon Düül II – Pyragony X
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 4632-WY
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1996
Country: Germany
Released: 1976
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Krautrock

TRACKS

             

01. Flower Of The Orient   6:01
Written-By – Amon Düül II
02. Merlin   4:26
Written-By – John Weinzierl
03. Crystal Hexagram   5:39
Written-By – John Weinzierl
04. Lost In Space   4:14
Written-By – Klaus Ebert, Stefan Zauner
05. Sally The Seducer   3:05
Written-By – Klaus Ebert
06. Telly Vision   4:07
Written-By – Klaus Ebert, Stefan Zauner
07. The Only Thing   7:30
Written-By – Chris Karrer
08. Capuccino   3:09
Written-By – Klaus Ebert

LINE - UP

Drums – Peter Leopold
Guitar, Vocals – John Weinzierl
Liner Notes – Chris Welch
Vocals, Bass, Guitar – Klaus Ebert
Vocals, Guitar, Violin, Soprano Saxophone – Chris Karrer
Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar – Stefan Zauner

Flac Size: 259 MB 

 

Amon Düül II - Yeti : 1970) On Urban Aspirines HERE

Amon Düül II: Tanz Der Lemminge 1971 On Urban Aspirines HERE