Guru Guru–Känguru (1972)

Guru Guru was one of the first bands of the Krautrock movement to emerge in the late 1960s, spearheaded by the experienced drummer Mani Neumeier, who had extensive experience collaborating with European jazz bands throughout much of the decade. From their origins, this band, formed in the German city of Heidelberg and influenced by LSD, developed a style towards acid and spacey sounds with a strong emphasis on improvisation. Throughout their four decades of activity (the band was still active in 2017), they have undergone countless lineup changes, resulting in a seemingly endless succession of different bands and musical concepts. After their first experimental and creative album, "UFO" (1970), they released "Hinten" (1971), showcasing their psychedelic and improvisational blues-rock side. However, it was with their third album, "Känguru" (1972), that they gained wider recognition from the progressive rock community, creating an essential work in the Krautrock genre and progressive rock in general. "Känguru" consists of four long, well-structured tracks, unlike the chaotic repertoire of their previous albums. These tracks feature extended explorations of acid, psychedelic, and space rock, showcasing strong influences from Jimi Hendrix and early Pink Floyd, as demonstrated in tracks like the surprising "Oxymoron". Meanwhile, "Immer Lusting" displays the heavy and powerful sound of their space rock style with impressive guitar solos. The original tracks "Baby Cake Walk" and "Ooga Booga", which close the album, showcase the band's joyful jamming side. These songs are a far cry from the irritating tracks of their first two albums and demonstrate the versatility of this enormous and essential German band.