04: Amon Duul 2 - Carnival In Babylon

Time to upset the krautrock police: Carnival In Babylon is, in my mind, Amon Duul 2's best album. Cope skips over Dance of the Lemmings, describing it as crap. Consequently, I've avoided that album like the plague - always staying true to the Copian doctrine...

Anyway - I bought this on my second visit to Sheffield. Prior to going to University proper I went to an induction week which was for people who had social problems (not literally) and were worried that they wouldn't make friends at University. I was such a person and at some point in the week stole away to the legendary Record Collector and perused their krautrock selection. At the time this was pretty good, and the guy that worked there was more than happy to oblige. It eventually came down to a choice between an original clear Faust and Carnival In Babylon. At the height of my Amon obsession I plumped for the later, and not for the first time made a stupid record buying mistake.

So gone is the fuzz overload of Yeti and Phallus Dei, and to replace it is still fairly repentant playing, but critically less Chris and more Renate. Also that bonkers picture on the inside of the gatefold of a bleached out Amon Duul 2 in amongst the leaves. It's more reflective and less of an ordeal than the albums previous and you don't need the time to take everything in. The tracks are generally shorter and you can hear the lyrics and they tend to drop the pissing about which ruined Phallus Dei and a bit of Yeti. Though more restrained they still have a bit of time to freak out. The colour of the record is more varied and it's not just a full on onslaught - there's time for some ballads, and good ones too.

C.I.D. In Uruk starts with a shimmer and leads onto All The Years 'Round - two well balanced tracks that are all guitars and Renate, sometimes in German and sometimes in English. Shimmering Sand starts off all Amon Duul 1 with a folk tinge before going into restrained fuzz and guitar.

Kronwinkl 12 brings in something new to the Amon Duul 2 - a bit of funk before going into something that's almost like trad psych rock but there's enough interesting bits to keep things going. Tables are Turned continues the folk theme and is very pleasant indeed. Hawknose Harlequin finishes everything off  and is the longest song on the album but has a few changes here and there and could almost be split into different sections.

And that's the lot. Unlike the previous two albums which are great records but like War and Peace not something you'd listen to every day this is just a great album, I've listened to it every day this week and had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Very solid indeed.