50thirdand3rd

Amon Duul II – Archangel Thunderbird

The ultimate question is not of life, the universe and everything. Nor is it of what may or may not be real and tangible. Hell, it ain’t even about how to concoct some semblance of an edible dinner out of that unopened can of kidney beans that’s been sitting in the back of the pantry since 2012. The ultimate question is this…

…if Amon Duul II are one of the preeminent seminal influencers of the kosmische revolution that is the Krautrock movement, then who the hell are Amon Duul I?

Funny story. Glad you asked. Here’s the truncated version: In the late 1960s, Amon Duul was a radical art commune in Munich that was predominantly made up of university students. In an effort to raise money for the commune, several members formed a band, adopting the commune’s name as its moniker. Some of these members included were Chris Karrer, John Weinzierl, Falk Rogner and percussion wizard Peter Leopold who went on to form the core of Amon Duul II in the coming years.

In the name of efficient German capitalism winning out over hippy spirit, the Amon Duul commune disbanded when the members were offered the opportunity to record; and thus, Amon Duul II was formed. And aren’t we glad they did.

The band underwent various incarnations from the late sixties right through to the early eighties, seeing them seriously innovate the early Krautrock movement, and along with fellow cosmic superlords Can, Faust and Ash Ra Tempel, paved way for artists the ilk of Brian Eno and David Bowie to weave their magic on our unsuspecting earholes.

But it was the band’s early-to-mid seventies output, beginning the decade with the often harder rocking/often improvised romp that is the Yeti’ album, to 1974’s prog-pop masterpiece and Bowie game changer, ‘Hijack’, where Amon Duul II really shone. And it’s from this four-year period where today’s Record of the Day has been cherry-picked, from 1970’s ‘Yeti’, here is what is perhaps the Amon Duul II signature tune, the mighty ‘Archangel Thunderbird’.

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Benny Two-Shoes

Filling the void between grouchy dinosaurism and current day hipster snobbery, Benny Two-Shoes is the type of guy who kidnaps control of the stereo at sweet sixteen parties and does not relinquish until every last teenybopper leaves a fully-fledged Stooges fan.   

You can listen to the latest episodes, hosted by Benny Two-Shoes, on Roadkill Radio!

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