IN-KRAUT VOL.2 (2LP) | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Hip Shaking Grooves Made in Germany 1967-1974. Willkommen to the second installment of the In-Kraut, lovingly researched and assembled by Stefan Kassel and Frank Jastfelder, who also compiled the first volume. Once again we take a deep trip into the funky musical spheres of 1960s and 1970s Germany - an undiscovered universe full of Hammond-heavy grooves, tight big band arrangements and fuzz guitar enhanced dancefloor nuggets. Dip into a motherlode of 20 rare soul, beat, now sound, mod and soundtrack gems. While the musical climate in Germany of the late '60s and early '70s was still dominated by schlagers, many other records of outstanding class were being cut - most of them never reached mainstream success, yet today these punchy tracks sound more "now" than ever before. Just listen to Hugo Strasser, Germany's first ambassador of swing, tackling Deep Purple - with a truly rocking cover version of "Black Night." Or Hazy Osterwald Jet Set with a fabulous uptempo stomper sounding almost like acid jazz veterans Corduroy. Even James Last got funky once with his incredible "Soul March," a rare B-side from 1969 (finally rescued from oblivion here). Mary Roos, one of Germany's best vocalists ever, delivers a great German version of Jorge Ben's "Mas Que Nada." Another special treat is Hildegard Knef's psychedelic proto-rap. The guys behind these recordings were the best jazz, big band and studio musicians of the country. Paul Nero, who kickstarts the compilation is none other than German jazz legend Klaus Doldinger. Germany's best studio drummer Charly Antolini rocks the house with his breakbeat monster "Nofretete's Headache" - a rare groove inferno. Kraut-a-delica.