Agitation Free remained busy after recording their debut album, appearing in the cultural program for the 1972 Munich Olympics as well as touring France for a few months in 1973. Guitarist Stefan Diez deputized for their second album, titled 2nd; it also saw release on the Music Factory label. "First Communication" opens the album. With its guitars in unison, it offers a sound that has more similarities with the improvisations of American Southern rock than with the German krautrock of the day! Never mind though—the ensuing "Dialogue and Random" is pure electronic bliss.

Agitation Free's roots were in the same creative scene that most bands in late-60s Berlin shared. The group was founded in 1967 by bassist Michael Günther and guitarist Lutz "Lüül" Ulbrich. By the time their ranks had congealed enough to record their debut album, drummer Christopher Franke had already departed to Tangerine Dream, and guitarist Ax Genrich to Guru Guru. By 1971, keyboardist Michael Hoenig, guitarist Jörg Schwenke and drummer Burghard Rausch had joined Günther and Ulbrich, and teamed up with avant-garde composer Thomas Kessler and his Berlin studio.

One of Sweden's early symphonic rock bands, Ura Kaipa (after a Stone Age chieftain) was founded by keyboardist Hans Lundin, bassist Tomas Eriksson and drummer Thomas Sjöberg. In late 1974, with Ingemar Bergman replacing Sjöberg and Roine Stolt arriving on guitar, the band shortened their name to Kaipa and began performing live. In mid-75, the band recorded their first album at Marcus Music Studios in Stockholm. Released in December 1975 on Decca Records, their self-titled debut sold well, considering distribution was limited to Scandinavia.