Electric Orange - Misophonia (2016)

Fantastic krautrock music from this ever progressing band whos music always grabs you, much like the music of 'Can'. Would have to agree that this is probably their best overall album since 'MORBIUS'

As someone who remembers the classic era albums as new releases, I firmly believe some of today's 'retro' bands rival their Old Masters in quality and, paradoxically, originality. And this new Krautrock release from the 21st century's leading practitioners of the sub-genre is a prime example. I simply haven't heard a more beautiful Krautrock album since 'Future Days' in 1973. It doesn't sound like any other Krautrock exemplar, but this is definitely, definitely Krautrock.

Nothing has impressed me more about Prog Archives than the 'hit' status accorded to Electric Orange's excellent 2014 release 'Volume 10'. This is testament to the open-minded cultural vision of fans on this site. The only thing that has held me back from reviewing 'Volume 10' is the fact that my own rating would drag down its consensus score (slightly). Well, with 'Misophonia', Electric Orange have taken an artistic quantum leap - and it has the 'Wow!' factor I look for in awarding 5 stars. Their best album since the brilliant 'Morbus' of 2007 - and musically the two albums hardly sound like the same band. As others have said, Electric Orange never stop progressing.

Krautrock is not everyone's cup of tea, and I would not pretend there is any special musical cleverness required to appreciate this off-the-wall sub-genre. Really it is more a question of one's psychological state. But if you enjoyed 'Volume 10', you should love 'Misophonia'. And these albums are all on Bandcamp to hear - there is no excuse to avoid checking them out.

Verdict: A 21st century Krautrock MASTERPIECE.Review from Progarchives

Songs / Tracks Listing 

 1. Organized Suffering (18:09)
2. Bottledrone (11:48)
3. Demented (7:51)
4. Misophonia I (8:58)
5. Shattered (4:40)
6. Misophonia II (1:19)
7. Opsis (5:25)
8. Misophonia III (17:36)

Total time: 75:46

 Line-up / Musicians -

 Dirk Jan Müller / Farfisa compact, Hammond, Erebus, Solina string ensemble, MU modular synthesizer, Roland system 1
- Tom Rückwald / electric bass, fuzz bass, synthesizer bass, bottle bass
- Dirk Bittner / guitars, zither, mandolin, trumpet, phonofiddle, congas, bongos, cajon, voice
- Georg Mohnheim / drums, percussion, cymbals, beerbottles on carpet

Electric Orange - Abgelaufen ( 2001 )

This was released in 2001, but was based on sessions recorded July 1999-August 2000,and was mastered by Eroc at The Ranch. This is very much a hit and miss affair for me. Maybe i was spoiled by starting with their "Morbus" release which is simply amazing. This one is trippy,repetitive and fairly laid back overall,it just doesn't have those outstanding moments that "Morbus" does. "Off" opens with hammond organ as a beat comes in.Then a different,more uptempo beat takes over.The organ is back ripping it up, and it takes turn with the guitar the rest of the way.Great start. They slow things down on "Dym".A relexed beat leads the way until a complete change after 3 minutes.Then we get spoken words as the beat has stopped.The rhythm returns after 4 1/2 minutes with organ.More spoken words 6 minutes in.Mellotron before 7 minutes.Nice. "Zwiestuck" has this catchy beat as vocals come in reminding me a lot of Damo Suzuki.This sounds so much like CAN! "Bandeins Swingklar" is experimental early with different sounds coming and going.Farfisa organ 5 1/2 minutes in and some mellotron.This is a dark soundscape. "Golden Lake" opens with percussion and a dark mood.The tempo picks up with hammond, then vocals join in.The organ becomes prominant after 2 1/2 minutes.Guitar before 4 minutes.It settles 4 1/2 minutes in for a couple of minues then the organ and vocals lead the way once again. "Gruff" features a mid-paced dark rhythm with faint vocals for 11 minutes. "Hydrat" is more upbeat and faster paced than the previous song.An infectious beat to this one. "Ganus Abgelaufen" is the 15 minute closer.This is slow moving and dark throughout.There are these faint spoken words and some organ. Lots to like about this record,but they will improve upon this with "Morbus". ELECTRIC ORANGE Abgelaufen! music reviews and MP3(Review from Prgrchives.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Off (5:03)
2. Dym (9:55)
3. Zwieback (6:35)
4. Bandeins Swingklar (9:20)
5. Golden Lake (8:17)
6. Gruff (11:10)
7. Hydrat (6:30)
8. Ganus Abgelaufen (15:11)

Total Time: 72:01

Line-up / Musicians - Dirk Bittner / vocals, voices, guitar, drums, samples, Leslie, bass, vocoder, Rhodes, synthesizer
- Dirk Jan Müller / hammond, farfisa, Rhodes, synths, samples, Leslie, tapes, loops, Mellotron, beatbox
- Tom Rückwald / bass
- Eric Karow / drums, trash percussion

electric orange - hydrat live 2005

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Electric Orange - Krautrock From Hell ( 2010 )

The latest release from these  german krautrockers, and a really great one too deserving of a track by track synopsis.


'Bandwurm' has rock solid bass and drums with swirling organ and effects diving in and out of the mix. A fantastic psychedelic track whch is really out there.

'Sundoa'  starts off kind of space boogeish with some great flute , reminds me a little of some 'Brainticket' with its psychedelic eastern flavor. Incidentally this has a remarkably similar riff in the middle to Bo Hanssons ' The sun ' from his 'Magician Hat' album. Superb track here ! .

'Chorg' is another spellbinding psychedelic rock track which incidentally is totally diferent to say ' Ozric Tentacles' ..... nowhere near as flashy and far more inventive. Electric orange never go in for hi flying guitar solo's which makes there music in my opinion more standout. This track is a fine example. Probably my favourite track this one!

'Hers' starts off very spaced out with guitar feedback and electronics. With vocals on this track it reminds me of some 'Porcupine Tree'.

'Kunstkopf' starts in a similar vein with swirly organ, rolling drums and guitar. Definitely some 'Can' influence here and a touch 'Pink Floyd'.

'Neuronomican' is the longest piece on the album, clocking in at over twenty five minutes. This again has some 'Porcupine Tree' even ' Anglagard'  type sound with it's intense progressive rock structures juxtaposed against more subtle psychedelic moments. Some bizzare vocals in here too! This is a remarkably hypnotic piece which builds in power and strangeness.

'Wumloch' is the most improvisationally  psychedelcly spaced track which surprisingly sounds for the most part like some early 'Tangerine Dream' Aka 'Electronic Meditation'.

Classic album then on the whole and almost as good as ' Morbeus'.

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Bandwurm (5:44)
2. Sundos (5:00)
3. Chorg [Cpt. Gyrok's] (10:51)
4. Hers (9:38)
5. Kunstkopf (6:29)
6. Neuronomicon (25:02)
7. Wurmloch (15:40)

Total Time: 78:24

Line-up / Musicians

- Dirk Bittner / guitars, voice, percussion, tapes
- Dirk Jan Müller / organ, synthesizer, piano, mellotron, tapes
- Tom Rückwald / bass
- Georg Monheim / drums, percussion
- Josef Ahns / guitars, flutes

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Electric Orange - Cyberdelic (1996)

Somewhat of a disjointed album musically with far too many dissparate styles on offer, but does contain some hidden jewels for the Krautrocker.

Not on a par with later works such as "Morbius" but still worth a listen though!




Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Cyberdelic/Unaffected Fruit (5:06)
2. A Vaporized Dance (6:42)
3. Funny in the Bathroom (5:52)
4. Kirschen (4:51)
5. Sweet Absurd (8:54)
6. B-Movie (5:42)
7. Steal No Egg (4:35)
8. Mother's Cake (8:12)
9. Tartisma Zemini (7:21)
10. She-Wah (7:04)
11. More End/Cyberdelic (8:50)

Total Time: 73:09

Line-up / Musicians - Dirk Bittner / vocals, voices, Leslie, guitars, trumpet, Darbuka
- Dirk Jan Müller / Hammond, farfisa, rhodes, synths, samples, Leslie, tapes, loops, Mellotron, drums, bass

Guest musicians
- Robert / bass (3,7)
- Joost / drums (3,8)

- Tunay / guitar (1,3,7,8)

                                                      

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Electric Orange - Morbus (2007)

The latest and greatest offering from "Electric Orange". They really seem to have gotten it together on this one. Comes across to me like a mix of early "Amon Duul II" and "Can" but suffused with a uniqueness which is now becoming only "Electric Orange". They are finding there sound here for sure.

Krautrock and spaced grooves with heady swirling keys and riffing guitars collide into the ether, but this is is no  "Ozric Tentacles" though, and with none of those high flying guitar solos as such and no bombast. Here we have some very inventive kraut spacerock indeed which takes all the best elements from there previous albums and splces them all together into a spellbinding mix, all with a pinch of "Tangerine Dream" "Can" "Amon Duul II" and even early "kraftwerk".

Classic bass lines and guitar riffs set up many of the pieces in almost minimalistic fashion which repeats itself and really gets under your skin the more you listen.

Take "Errorman" a fantastic tripped out song which takes us to the pyramids and beyond with strange vocals , mellotron and a mighty riffing psychedelic groove.

"Flohfunknest" has a jazzy bassline/ drums and voice with organ all swirling into quite the mix.

"Traumama" begins with swirling organ and dives into a "Santana-esque" percussive rhythm then choral like voices join in. Very interesting indeed with a hint of "Dead Can Dance" maybe.

"Krautschock" as the title suggests is some super laid back "Krautrock" with slowly building drums, organ, flute. Reminds me of some "Brainticket" with a touch of "Gong". Fantastic song here!

This is one highly impressive album from a band which just seems to get better and better.

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Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Einwahn (7:51)

2. Rote Flocken (5:02)

3. Span 5 (7:55)

4. Morbus (5:53)

5. Errorman (8:10)

6. Flohfunknest (3:31)

7. Traumama (4:56)

8. Krautschock (7:01)

9. Wald (10:17)

10. Reaching (4:26)

11. Schöhl 2 (4:18)

12. Sarau (8:32)

Total Time: 77:52

Line-up / Musicians

- Dirk Jan Müller / organ, synthesizer, Flügel, Mellotron, samples

- Dirk Bittner / guitar, voice, percussion, harmonium, samples

- Tom Rückwald / bass, contrabass

- Silvio Franolic / drums, percussion

- Josef Ahns / guitars, flutes

- Sunjah / voices

- Claudia / voices

- Paul / voices

- Lola / voices

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Electric Orange - Electric Orange ( 1993)

First album by a relatively recent krautrock band who's music is often closer to "Can" and on occasion "Kraftwerk" and "Tangerine Dream"

Lots of great trippy krautrock and Psychedelia on this release with instrumentation ranging from flute, sax, electric piano/ mellotron, guitars and organ.  with the occasional female vocal. This is more varied and spacey than there later releases and skips nicely into light and dark passages.

Check out "Reflections Of 2072 And Everywhere" which has great flute and riffing guitars flying into the space between your ears. A brilliant track especially the second half. See my video below! This track is a great introduction to this band if your not familiar.

"The Return Of Eugene, Be Careful " is a fantastic homage to "Pink Floyd" and "Baby Cakewalk" has some "Ozric Tentacles" flavor but quite different really. Both superb tracks here!

A very impressive and fine album from a band who deserves wider recognition. Fans of "Can" in particular should love this band. I know i do.

Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Reflections Of 2072 And Everywhere (10:21)
2. Sysyphus's Revenge (8:51)
3. Journey Through Weird Scenes Featuring Cows In Space (7:17)
4. The Return Of Eugene, Be Careful (9:55)
5. Electripity Chapter XVI (5:54)
6. Baby Cake Walk (8:50)
7. Soul Shadows (6:02)
8. Back In Strangeworld (14:38)

Total Time: 73:58
 

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