Kraan: Zoup

Back in the days when I first discovered rock music I have always been struck by album covers, sometimes even buying a disc because of the artwork. This brings us to the Krautrock veterans Kraan and their 2024 release Zoup. This has to be one of the most striking and vibrant album covers I have ever seen.

Don’t laugh, but this is my first experience with Kraan’s music. Upon checking out the band’s history, all three members were there right from the start playing on their self-titled debut released in 1972. So rest assured their fifteenth studio album is the real deal and words like ‘tribute band’ do not enter the equation.

The disc begins with the title track, an upbeat but relaxed slice of jazz prog with its playful yet virtuosic musicianship and finely crafted arrangement. Floaty keyboards and subtle yet fantastic guitar work can be heard throughout, all driven by an outstanding rhythm section. The bass and drums are superb here. The psychedelic inspired “Rainy May� features nice and relaxed lead vocals and one of the tastiest bass lines on the disc. Wolbrandt’s guitar also stands out. The progressive fusion of “Überstürzter Aufbruch� is more urgent with its exuberant drumming and another wonderful guitar solo from Wolbrandt. The catchy “Weit und Breit� features heavier guitar with a rich tapestry of keyboards creating a smooth and fluid sound. The slightly off kilter “Twisted� is the other track to feature vocals and is perhaps the catchiest on the disc, sounding both retro and modern with an absolutely burning guitar solo. The tasty “Norwegen Dia� is another up-tempo number that showcases the band’s amazing chemistry.

Zoup is an impressive album, combining exemplary musicianship and high quality arrangements with melodies that will stick with you long after the music stops. Absolutely recommended!

Band members:
Peter Wolbrandt (guitars)
Jan Fride (drums, congas)
Hellmut Hattler (basses, vocals)
With:
Martin Kasper (keyboards, vocoder)
Johannes Pappert (saxophones on “Norwegan Dia� �" acoustic version)
Ingo Bischof (keyboards on “Aus allen Wolken�)
Juergen Schlachter (add ons and percussion)
Siyou (background vocals)

Track Listing:
1. Zoup (7:16)
2. Rainy May (3:35)
3. Überstürzter Aufbruch (4:46)
4. Weit und Breit (4:19)
5. Twisted (4:58)
6. Norwegen Dia (5:06)
7. A Skyful of Veils (4:26)
8. Plain Vanilla (4:40)
Bonus Tracks:
9. Bikinian Rhapsody (4:11)
10. Aus allen Wolken (4:09)
11. Norwegen Dia (Acoustic Version) (5:07)

Added: February 1st 2026
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 19
Language: english

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