Tortilla Flat - Für Ein ¾ Stündchen (1975)
"Not to be confused with another German Tortilla Flat (and some other band with the same name, American I think, or the Dutch hard-rock band Tortilla) this obscure 1970's German band from Aachen are highly praised and ridiculously obscure!
We first encountered them via (what were told was) a copy of their unreleased debut (only issued on cassette and sold at concerts) which dates from 1972. The recording is in fact a session recorded for SWF radio. This is an extraordinary slice of underground Krautrock. It's a mostly instrumental album (approximately 35 minutes of it), with a couple of tracks featuring very strange songs with almost unintelligible (to these ears) German lyrics. The rhythmic structures are vaguely Beefheart-like, delivered by two percussionists, with the lead instruments being flute and violin (the latter presumably by Werner Knauser). The style is highly original, with lots of unusual time signatures, vague classical references, counterpoints of folk and jazzy elements, and much in the way of abstract early Fripp-like guitar work. The only comparison I could give would be Rufus Zuphall, although that's only tentative! A superb and unknown album that deserves a proper release!
The official album FÜR EIN 3/4 STUNDCHEN (that's "For 3/4's Of An Hour" in English) opens with a new version of their eponymous "Tortilla Flat", this time given a more groove along feel, previewing a much more jazzy Canterbury inspired fusion style. Totally instrumental (excepting a short joke track in German) and featuring flute and guitar extensively, akin to Brainstorm and Circus (Mel Collins' Circus, that is), it's almost a classic.
This album seems to be destined to obscurity, however, as guitarist Manfred Herter, aka Manni Holländer who released a few pop albums in the 1980's, apparently refuses a reissue." (The Crack In The Cosmic Egg"
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