When I posted the Puhdys album earlier ( https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/04/puhdys-855-404-75-east-germany.html ) I wrote - although lyrics would be censored in East Germany, the musical expression was free. As it shows in this case I was wrong and even certain styles and melodic junctures could be banned. Klaus Renft Combo was formed 1958, before the Berlin wall. After the country split they remained a popular act in the east, but always on the edge with Stasi hoovering over them. The eponymous debute came 1973 and this second album a year later became their last up to the 1990 state reunion. A while after its release they were called up to Ministry of Culture to renew the licence to play. They were informed their music was "insulting and abusive" and that the group didn't exist anymore. The album was withdrawn and the songs didn't have any further issues until the wall came down. It's such a pity. To me it remains a prog/psych gem, performed with about everything I want from the genre - beautiful melodies, odd riffs, howling psych guitars, tempo changes, cheeky rock'n'roll and jazzy interludes. I don't understand much German, but couldn't care less - the music says it all. I like it all, so it's hard to choose favs...for now it would be - "Gelbe Strassenbahnballade", "Nach Der Schlacht" and "Mama". The recording has relatively few overdubs and the audio is very fine - clear and natural. After the reunion it has been reissued on vinyl, cassette and CD. German 2006 CD on Unionton (8031-2) came with three bonus tracks. First DDR press had label as shown here in a thin glossy cover. (BÅC*) (GÖXÄ*) (ÄMY*)
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