Review: Knall - Alienfunk

Knall are one the foremost purveyors of spacey krautrock out there. Their last album, 'The Twin Of Baal' was a huge, labyrinthine monster of contemporary kraut and so when news filtered through of a live album pulses quickened and expectations were raised. 'Alienfunk, released by the veritable Tonzonen Records, shows the band at their live best, performing at the 'Monsters Of Krautrock Festival' in Würzburg. (Please note, this review is based on the CD release, I believe the vinyl release may have a different running order).

'Prologue' is just that - an introduction to the treats in store. A driving slab of space rock with crashing drums and the trademark guitar of Baal Brain laying down some righteous sounds. Title track 'Alienfunk' starts in a very groovy manner, the bass line sounds positively funky, matched by the guitar. The slow build of the track creates an almost tense altmosphere - you just know that things are going to explode into a eruption of krautrock frenzy, but the band tease and tease. Via some ace seventies wah-wah psych guitar, the track reaches its climax after 10 minutes and was worth the wait...the drums of Dennis Gockel crash and the guitar screams and things come together very nicely indeed thankyou very much. 'Gravity', with its swirling spacey effects, is a more cosmic track and more introspective. It has a possibly more abstract feel to it, almost exploratory - like man's first tentative steps into the universe, the track explores and and feels its way forward. This is most definitely one of the more psychedelic tracks on the album and probably my personal fave. 'Quittengelee' (google translate tells me this is quince!) is another space rock workout...the rhythm section of drum and bass keep things on a perfect line and leaves room for Baal Brain to let his guitar roam free, again sounding very seventies and very funky at times.....damn right motherfucker! 'Staring at Lines' is another slower track that flows like water from the speakers. It has a more organic feel than other tracks, with yet more spacey effects and laid back guitar that lull the listener into a blissful trance. It has a real feel of the seventies and some of the early, guitar based, krautrock pioneers. 'Eightballs, is the longest track at over 17 minutes and structurally the most complex and meandering. If 'Staring At Lines' was trance-like, then this is Derren Brown hypnotic-like. Over the course of the 17 minutes it builds on its hazy psychedelic beginnings - there is no hurry, just a natural, integral build that sees the tribal like drums gently increase the tempo and the guitar going for another psychedelic wander through the stars. The track segues seamlessly into 'Epilogue', bringing the album to an close in a blaze of thunderous percussion and buzzing guitar, all backed by swathe of spacey effects lending everything a cosmic vibe.

'Alienfunk' is an intensely satisfying listen for more than reason - not only is it spacey krautrock of the highest calibre, but also, in these days of overdubs and studio wizardry, it shows the band to be the consummate musicians they are, improvising and riffing off an idea. Musically it is informed, atmospheric and absorbing. At times it is funky and driving, at others introspective and brooding, but all the while creating a psychedelic haze in which the listener can lose themselves. The album was released on May 6, 2016 via Tonzonen Records as a double vinyl (limited to 200 copies in black vinyl, 300 copies in clear vinyl in gatefold sleeve) as well as a digipack CD, limited to a 1000.

(In the absence of any specific media for this release, below is a video of a previous live performance by Knall, just to give you an idea!)