Exmagma-Exmagma (1973)

The debut album from the powerful trio Exmagma is one of the most aggressive, distorted, and heavy progressive and experimental jazz-rock records ever recorded. Featuring two talented and experienced young musicians from the German blues scene Thomas Balluff on organ and electric piano, and Andy Goldner on bass, guitars, and saxophone and the fantastic American drummer Fred Braceful, this power trio was one of the foremost expressions of the nascent jazz-influenced krautrock. Their first release is a brilliant example of the experimental avant-garde of psychedelic jazz. From the free jazz leanings of "Interessante Ole" to the joyful soul-rock climax of "Two Times", and including the experimentation in the colossal epic "Trippin With Birds" and the psychedelic movements of "The First Tune". This album showcases everything from Dadaist facets to electrifying soundscapes, often in a surreal way, with dramatic instrumental improvisations of jazz percussion, all under the ingredients of heavy hard rock with a dissonant and furious guitar and an electrifying and spacey organ.

Exmagma-Goldball (1974)

This power trio, formed in the early seventies, was part of the Krautrock genre, specifically its progressive jazz-rock subgenre. They released two exciting and explosive albums before disbanding in the mid-seventies. Comprised of keyboardist Thomas Balluff, guitarist, bassist, and saxophonist Fred Braceful, and drummer Andy Goldner two Germans and one African American they recorded their self-titled debut album in 1973. On this first release, the powerful trio showcased an experimental jazz-rock sound infused with psychedelic elements, featuring standout tracks like the captivating “The First Tune” and the epic 19-minute jam “Tripping With Birds/ Kudu/ Horny”. A year later their second and final album, the one we are discussing, “Goldball”, would appear. It is a less dark and more accessible work where they continue with that energetic and experimental jazz, but introduce elements of acid rock and atmospheric sounds such as the epic “Marylin F. Kennedy”, jazz and rock improvisations “Adventures With Long S. Tea” and “25 Two Seconds Before Sunrise” or clearly avant-garde cuts such as “Groove Tango Wolperaiso” and “Greetings to the Moroccan Farmers”.