Sunday, 28 July 2019

Log #148 - The Cosmic Joke That Went Too Far

Eddy Bamyasi

The Cosmic Jokers were a sort of unofficial Krautrock supergroup including Klaus Schulze and Manuel Gottsching.  Apparently unbeknown to the musicians their jams were recorded and later released. Gottsching first heard "his" record in a store in Berlin and had to ask who it was! Schulze was so angry he actually sued the record label responsible.

It is scarcely believable that The Cosmic Jokers actually went on to be credited with 3 studio albums and several compilations and remixes (all released in 1974).

This album is their first. It's a shame it was released under such unsatisfactory circumstances as I think it is actually one of the best albums I've heard from the so-called second string of Krautrock artists. It consists of two extended instrumentals - side one being more rock based, side two more ambient. The Gottsching influence dominates and side two particularly could be an Ashra or solo piece.


Cosmic Jokers Cosmic Jokers
Guru Guru UFO
Manuel Gottsching E2-E4
Beuno Vista Social Club Beuno Vista Social Club
Nils Frahm All Melody
Coldplay X&Y

The Guru Guru album (their 1970 debut) is of much more basic rock. With it's screeching guitar, driving bass and crashing cymbals, it sounds much like Jimi Hendrix (not quite so good of course) and Interstellar Overdrive psychedelic era Floyd. The tracks are all instrumental and of not much particular interest apart from the experimental title track.

I'm not a huge Coldplay fan but X&Y is a grower and much heavier than I had previously given them credit for. Where does it rank in the echelons of Coldplay? Well, firstly I'm surprised to learn they've only made 7 albums. This is a good thing, or should be, in the quality over quantity stakes. X&Y was their third released in 2005. A cursory google browse suggests this album ranks somewhere in the top/middle range. 

Is the view (one I've previously held) of the band being middle of the road, intellectual, nice guys, and a less interesting copy of Radiohead, justified? I think there may be more to them and I'll play this album, and the other one I have (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends) some more to find out.






About The Author

Eddy Bamyasi

Eddy is a music writer from Brighton, England, named after a Can record. Each Sunday he logs and reviews the albums that happen to be in his vintage Pioneer 6-CD magazine changer, amongst other things.

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