Krautrock
Latest: Gap (2023)
Misophonia (2016)
Misophonia is Electric Orange's 11th proper studio album. They were one of the first Krautrock revivalists from the Fatherland, and have more or less stayed on script throughout their 25+ years career. I started with the band at the beginning, and have dutifully picked up all their albums to date. And the all instrumental Misophonia definitely has the right sounds, with rumbling drums, and grungy Hammond organ to the fore. So it comes as a surprise to me that I really don't enjoy this album very much. It's certainly good enough, but for Electric Orange, it's a sub par effort. I picked up the CD upon release, and heard it last year for the first time - and have stuck with it now for over a year. But the needle isn't moving.
So what gives? Well... I've struggled to put my finger on it, but for one thing there is no songwriting. Now with Krautrock that certainly isn't de rigueur, but most at least intersperse a few melodies among the chaos. Electric Orange did not do that either. But if there aren't any songs, then one would look for a climatic payoff of some sort - a build up to an intense jam for example. Nope, not here. Then there's the lack of tonal diversity. A flute, saxophone, or more electric guitar would have helped immensely. The latter is there primarily to set the tone, but doesn't play a major role in the album. In effect, Misophonia is one of those albums that has all the right ingredients, but doesn't taste right. To be honest, it's a bit dull. If I were to characterize the album - it would be something of a new genre - Ambient Krautrock. Not electronic in the slightest - definitely a rock based album. But it's very static. I do think that's what the band was striving for. To create the mood of the original early 70s Krautrock movement. To that end, they succeeded then. But that's all they did. Overall, I expected more.
---4/29/18
Netto (2011)
In 1993, Electric Orange almost single-handedly restored the cosmic Krautrock genre back to greatness (with the exception of some truly obscure outfits like Attempt to Restore, Nova Express, and Der Kampf Gegen den Schlaf). They took a detour shortly thereafter into the realms of electronica, realized the error of their ways, and returned back to form in 2001 with Abgelaufen!. Since that time, Electric Orange have gone from amateur to professional status, added more band members, and have released a number of quality albums with consistency. I've gone back and forth on this title, but in the end, it's too static for my tastes. A lot of rumblin' and bumblin' but it never seems to take off or go anywhere. It's a fine effort for developing a particular kind of atmosphere, yet I couldn't identity what that is.
---2/13/12
Krautrock from Hell (2010)
As the title suggests, this work is meant to be a purest Krautrock effort. Most of it is very good, but without any highs for the first six tracks, and kind of drifts by without notice. They would benefit by adding more dynamic and metric shifts, similar to how Titan executed this on Raining. No matter, the Hammond organ takes center stage, and is a delight to hear in this kind of setting. The album closes on a high with 'Wurmloch', which is also the only atmospheric piece. This composition truly captures the 1970 German experimental underground. Lots of organ, flute, and pounding drums. All that's missing is the freakout psychedelic guitar. Something akin to Tangerine Dream's Electronic Meditation and Annexus Quam's Osmose. Can't think of too many modern groups who have accomplished this aura so perfectly.
---2/20/24
Morbus (2007)
So here I sit with Morbus, an album that immediately brought to mind the earlier Platte, except it’s even more heavy, intense, and relentless. And I don’t mean that in the I-can’t-take-it-anymore-noise-fests of Acid Mothers Temple, but rather this is far more measured, where they capture a groove and expand upon it, rather than destroy it to the last note. When the group started, they were more or less an extension of Dirk Jan Muller’s one man show. Now it’s a fully fledged 5 piece group, armed with the latest in technology and a pile of vintage gear (especially in the keyboard department). I like the addition of the German narration, the wordless female vocals, and even the occasional lyrical song in English. Electric Orange are getting better as each year passes.
---11/13/07
Abgelaufen! (2001)
I've often referred to this album, their 4th (proper), as their "return to form" work. After a couple of diversions into the world of electronica, Electric Orange go back to their Krautrock roots. At times I feel this is more show than content, but that might be a bit of a cynical outlook. Their stock in trade is atmosphere, and they do truly capture the kosmiche kouriere in us all. Rhythms galore, wah wah guitar, heavy Hammond, mellotron overlays, and phased voices all play a role in this. There's even some Klaus Schulze styled electronic rock here. Orange Peel meets Can? Sure, why not.
---5/19/24
Orange Commutation (1996)
Essentially a Krautrock techno album. Taking their debut album as a blueprint, Electric Orange dives into electronica and adds beats and other modern devices to make for a wholly unique release. I'm favorable to albums that mix real analog instrumentation with computerized digital enhancements. It's the former that is rarely heard in music such as this.
---1/31/24
Other albums heard: Electric Orange (1993); Tonbandreste (1994); Platte (2003); Fleischwerk (2005); Electric Orange & Sula Bassana (2006); Volume 10 (2014)
9/21/17 (new entry)
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