VOLKER KRIEGEL – Inside: Missing Link (2LP-1972)

Label: MPS Records/BASF – 29 21431-1

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Germany / Released: 1972

Style: Fusion, Free Improvisation, Free Jazz

LP 1: Recorded March 20th and 21st 1972 at Tonstudio Walldorf

LP 2: Recorded March 22nd and 23rd 1972 at Tonstudio Walldorf

Design [Cover] – Günther Kieser

Photography By [Inside] – Volker Hartman

Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Klaus D. Stingel

Producer – Volker Kriegel

Supervised By – Albert Mangelsdorff (tracks: C1 to D5), Dieter V. Goetze (tracks: A1 to B2)

A1 - Slums on Wheels ......................................................... 13:24

A2 - The "E" Again ................................................................ 6:36

B1 - Zanzibar ....................................................................... 10:22

B2 - Missing Link ................................................................. 12:03

C1 - Für Hector ...................................................................... 5:45

C2 - Remis ............................................................................. 4:26

C3 - Tarang .......................................................................... 10:00

D1 - Lastic Plemon ................................................................ 5:21

D2 - Janellas Abertas ............................................................. 4:09

D3 - Plonk Whenever ............................................................ 4:06

D4 - Definitely Suspicious ...................................................... 5:55

D5 - Finale ............................................................................. 0:10

Line-up / Musicians

- Volker Kriegel / electric guitar, acoustic guitar, octave guitar, sitar

- Albert Mangelsdorff / trombone

- Alan Skidmore / soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

- Heinz Sauer / tenor saxophone

- John Taylor / electric piano

- Eberhardt Weber / bass

- Cees See / percussion, voice, flutes, effects

- John Marshall / drums, percussion

Volker Kriegel's follow-up to "Spectrum" is a double album and a much more dynamic affair and more to my liking. He has some of the best German and British musicians around helping him out. It's interesting that the first LP has a different lineup than the second LP.

The first LP has an eight piece lineup and was recorded on the 20th & 21st of March, while the second LP featured a five piece band and was recorded on the 22nd & 23rd of March. John Marshall is on drums on the first LP, lots of pictures in the liner notes and John is as usual very serious looking.

"Slums On Wheels" has such a great sound to start as the sax joins in. Intricate guitar then takes the lead as it settles some.The sax is back then the tempo picks up before 4 1/2 minutes. A calm 6 minutes in as intricate sounds come and go. It's building before 9 minutes and electric piano joins in. Nice. Bass and percussion continue. Sax before 10 1/2 minutes. Drums only from Marshall before 12 1/2 minutes then a full sound. What a way to start !

"The "E" Again" has a good rhythm as sax and guitar do their thing. Dissonant sax before 2 1/2 minutes. Electric piano leads a minute later. Sax is back before 6 1/2 minutes to end it.

"Zanzibar" is led by the bass and drums early then the horns come in just before a minute. The guitar then leads before the horns return before 3 1/2 minutes as it picks up. Some dissonance too. A calm before 5 minutes as bass and a beat with horns lead. It kicks back in before 6 1/2 minutes. Piano leads before 8 minutes and we get some nice bass a minute later. Sax is back 10 minutes in.

"Missing Link" opens with experimental sounds that come and go including vocal expressions. The music comes in after 2 minutes and starts to build. I like the drumming here. The horns start to blast then it settles back. A calm 5 minutes in then it starts to pick up with guitar leading the way. Nice. Horns take a turn before 7 1/2 minutes with lots of dissonance too. A drum show from Marshall 9 minutes in. Great sound before 11 minutes with sax leading then guitar. Killer tune.

 Alan Skidmore

 Volker Kriegel /Albert Mangelsdorff

John Taylor (1942-2015)

The second LP is a little more stripped down but excellent none the less. "Fur Hector" is uptempo and guitar led. Piano takes the lead after 3 1/2 minutes.The guitar is back leading late.

"Remis" is percussion and keyboard led early and the bass is prominant too. The guitar then joins the fray. "Tarang" has a Middle Eastern vibe to it with lots of percussion. Strummed and intricate guitar comes in at 2 1/2 minutes before the opening ethnic soundscape returns to 

end it.

"Lastic Plemon" is led by the drums and keys and is quite energetic. Guitar before 3 minutes. "Janellias Abertas" is an intricate and laid back track.

"Plonk Whenever" is uptempo with the bass and drums pounding while the guitar and keys play over top. Great track.

"Definitely Suspicious" is one of my favourites. It has such an uplifting mood to it and the electric piano has a lot to do with that. "Finale" is 15 seconds of mainly intricate guitar to end it.

Very enjoyable and a treat for the ears.

(Review by Mellotron Storm)

If you find it, buy this album!