Artist: Gäa
Album: Alraunes Alptraum
Released: 1998
Garden Of Delights (025)
Genre: Krautrock
"The first three tracks from 1975 are from an aborted second album, and the last four were recorded about a decade later with some of Gäa's members and others. The first three are classic Gäa, similar to the Uranus material, though with better fidelity, less rough around the edges. The track "Morgendammerung," an instrumental, even stretches further out from Gäa's rock trappings. It starts with a ticking noise and slowly building keyboard tones, moves to a jazzier middle section, and then getts even more funky with a rolling bass riff and odd percussion noises. The newer tracks, recorded one per year between 1984 and 1987, are far more conventional rock & roll; "Tabbert" is excruciatingly mainstream, whereas "Du" and "Warum" are a little better, as the group attempts to capture the magic of earlier Gäa, and "Inspektion" even flirts with synth pop. Needless to say, these tracks pale compared to the 1975 stuff." (Rolf Semprebon, All Music Guide)
"In the GEPR it says GÄA produced only one album (Auf der Bahn zum Uranus) , I have another one, the name of the album is Alraunes Alptraum, this second album was recorded in Michael Leistenschneider's Leico Studio in the town of Schmelz in early 1975 , this album however was not finished that year. In order not to let the unreleased GÄA recording sink into oblivion, the band decided to release this material on CD. The heart and major part of this CD is the unfinished Leico LP, the first three songs [recorded in 1975]: "Autobahn" (6:28), "Heilende Sonne" (3:55) and "Morgendammerung" (9:52), are probably the best GÄA has ever made and show how mature and full of ideas the band was at that time. The rest of the CD is filled up with with later recordings from 1984 through 1987." (New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock)
"Following their stunning 1973 debut space opera 'Auf der bahn zum Uranus,' Gäa (or Gaia) did begin recording a second work (to be called 'Leico') in 1975, which was never finished before the band finally dissolved in 1978. 'Alraunes Alptraum' (CD 025) takes the three tracks from 1975 (totalling ~20 min.) and adds in four tracks recorded by a reunited Gäa (with original member/bassist Peter Bell) in the mid-80's. Unlike the ethereal spaciness of the first album, most tracks feature more of the stompin' heavy organ feel of so many contemporary rock bands. Even so, the 10-minute "Morgendämmerung" is a real winner, separate phases of psychedelia and more fluid jazzy material shining through. The four newer tunes are a hodge-podge of stuff, with a darker, edgier tune in "Du," as well as a cleaner (perhaps too antiseptic) ambient-synth piece and even a cosmic-flavored, but really southern-style, ballad (á la Lynyrd Skynyrd). In all, AA is an interesting collection with some very worthy material, but of course it lacks any sort of continuity. So go out and find 'Uranus' first, it being Gäa's real important work, even though Ohrwaschl did such a poor job in the vinyl-transfer as compared to the fabulous clean-up job done on all these Garden of Delights releases." (aural-innovations.com)
Track List:
1. Autobahn (6:28)
2. Heilende Sonne (3:55)
3. Morgendämmerung (9:52)
4. Tabbert (4:41)
5. Du (5:32)
6. Inspektion (3:55)
7. Warum (6:03)
Total Time: 40:26
Line-up/Musicians
Stefan Dörr - Drums, Backing Vocals
Werner Frey - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Helmut Heisel - Bass
Günter Lackes - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
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