Andy Nogger

Kraan’s third record, Andy Nogger, was their first recorded with legendary producer Conny Plank. It’s a significant relationship, one that would extend across many years and projects together, both as a producer and musician. As the excellent “Stars” demonstrates, Kraan has a highly energetic and original sound—somewhere between rock and jazz, but nowhere around the then-current idiom of fusion. “Son of the Sun” and “Yellow Bamboo” are typical of the Kraan formula, which revolves around the band members’ tight interplay—in particular, bassist Hellmut Hattler and drummer Jan Fride’s rhythm section. Melodic and subtly flavored with world-ethnic influences, Kraan never descends into pointless soloing or unnecessary complication in their arrangements. Both “Andy Nogger” (a disturbing tale of a pervert) and “Home” have enough charm and conviction in the delivery of their English-language lyrics to rival the other instrumental numbers. Not only was the album was successful in their native Germany—Musik Express voted it the Album of the Year-but it was their first record to see international release, on the Gull label (UK, France, Scandinavia) and on Passport Records in the US. Kraan’s forte, however, was on stage, as they were a formidable live band. Their next release, Kraan Live, recorded in Berlin’s Quartier Latin in October 1974, capitalized on that. The double-album, also released in the UK on the Gull label, would go on to be their best-selling record in Germany. Both instrumentals “Nam Nam” and “Holiday am Marterhorn” received expanded performances and would continue to feature prominently in their live set. [US release date]