Agitation Free: 2nd

It is that time again to revisit, or in my case, listen to an underrated classic album for the first time. It wasn’t that long ago I reviewed Agitation Free’s debut album Malesch, and what an eye opening experience that was. Hearing a pivotal Krautrock classic for the first time, a mere near fifty years after the fact. In the words of Porcupine Tree, ‘time flies’. The first effort was highly influenced by the band’s exploration of Egyptian sounds but on their sophomore effort simply titled 2nd, those elements are much less emphasized.

This band could jam with the best of them, oozing jazzy psychedelic Krautrock with an experimental edge that must have been seen as quite groundbreaking at the time. Some real spacey/freaky soundscapes and effects, including synthesizers, organ and Mellotron all help to transport you to another dimension, because that’s what this music sounds like. The disc begins with the eight minute “First Communication� as a wind effect takes hold. The eeriness is soon interrupted with a gently shimmering guitar, very clean and psychedelic. Jazzy bits of keyboards and guitar and a laid back groove soon settles into a mesmerizing jam where Hammond sweeps along at a leisurely pace and the guitar work is both elegiac and spell binding. The short “Dialogue And Random� is a free form avant-garde piece of synths and percussions, followed by the two part “Laila�. Fuzzy psychedelic guitar defines “Part I� whereas “Part II� breaks out into a real trippy jam. Nature sounds and more wonderful electric guitar, again at a gentle pace makes “In The Silence Of The Morning Sunrise� another great track. Absolutely intriguing stuff.

It’s too bad Agitation Free were only around for three albums and there is no doubt the band didn’t get the just do they deserved. All I can say is have a listen for yourself and be prepared to melt with the music. At least that’s what happened to me. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. First Communication (8:11)
2. Dialogue And Random (1:51)
3. Laila, Part I (1:41)
4. Laila, Part II (6:46)
5. In the Silence Of The Morning Sunrise (6:37)
6. A Quiet Walk (9:17)
a. Listening
b. Two ��" Not Of The Same Kind
7. Haunted Island (7:10)
Bonus Track:
8. Laila ’74 (7:42)

Added: July 14th 2020
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 889
Language: english

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