Momentum is the latest release from Krautrock legends Agitation Free, and it's either their fourth or fifth studio album depending on whether you consider 1999's The Other Side of Agitation Free a true band effort or not. For this 2023 release, the line-up is comprised of:
Michael Hoenig / keyboards, synthesizers, electronic percussion
Burghard Rausch / drums, electronic percussion
Lutz Graf-Ulbrich / guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo
Gustl Lütjens / guitar, vocals
Daniel Cordes / bass, synthesizer
Mostly instrumental save for some occasional vocalizations, Momentum clicks off a few of the requisite boxes for any solid Agitation Free, those being the sizzling lead guitar solos, tight grooves, and layers of keyboards & synthesizers. "Nouveau Son" gives you all of those right off the bat, the guitar solos especially being quite spectacular. "Levant" adds some of those Middle Eastern elements that made their way on to a few tracks on earlier albums, "Nightwatch" drops in some fusion and prog into their Krautrock stew, "Lilac" features some slick but ripping guitar solos, and the menacing yet majestic "Shibuya" also blends those Middle Eastern flavors with dark progressive rock, the eerie synths colliding with searing guitars for a magical ride. And, the symphonic finale of " InDaJungl" is just terrific!
At nearly an hour, Momentum is a tad on the long side, and it does meander in certain spots, but there's plenty to recommend here for any fan of this legendary band, who, truth be told, came out of nowhere with this very solid release.
Track Listing
1. Nouveau Son (8:34)
2. Levant (7:53)
3. Nightwatch (9:25)
4. Lilac (6:18)
5. Momentum (9:18)
6. Shibuya (8:13)
7. InDaJungl (7:03)
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