AF is a german group which took root in Berlin,East-Germany, in 1967. Initially named Agitation (they chose at random from a dictionary !), and decided to change in Agitation Free as a reflection of their live performance style.
At basis, band consisted of 4 members but with the time, line-up knew many changes inside. Altogether, 18 musicians came through during 1967-74 period, plus a reunion in 1998.
Original LINE-UP :
- Lutz "Lüül" Ulrich (guitar,zither,organ,bouzouki,vocals)
- Michael "Fame" Günter (bass,tapes)
- Lutz "Ludwig" Kramer (guitar,vocals,1967-70)
- Christoph Franke (drums,synthesizer,1967-70)
The first released, "Malesch" (1972), was inspired by their
tour through Egypt, Greece and Cyprus and the same year, they performed for Germany at the Munich Olympic Games.
So, Agitation Free's music is psychedelic, experimental Krautrock with elements of spaced-out ambient, electronics and some drone. Many of their songs have a transe-inducing, Psychedelic feel with sections of driving rock fueled by fiery and melodic moving guitar lines and solid, propelling and intricate drumming and a prominent bass. All of AF's songs are instrumental apart from some recitation on "Haunted Island" ("2nd" LP).
Malesch is much more cosmic, creative, ethnically flavored (mainly by short interludes of recordings from Egypt), mysterious and densely packed with ideas whereas their second recording, simply named "2nd" (1973), is more laid-back and upbeat, with longer structure, much more of an emphasis on traditional style jamming like The Grateful Dead and a warmer and more straightforward sound.
On Malesch, songs blend together to make a seamlessly flowing, tangential and uninterrupted musical journey, whereas on "2nd", songs are more predictably structured, more varied in their sound and stand more as independant works.
The band broke up in 1974.
At basis, band consisted of 4 members but with the time, line-up knew many changes inside. Altogether, 18 musicians came through during 1967-74 period, plus a reunion in 1998.
Original LINE-UP :
- Lutz "Lüül" Ulrich (guitar,zither,organ,bouzouki,vocals)
- Michael "Fame" Günter (bass,tapes)
- Lutz "Ludwig" Kramer (guitar,vocals,1967-70)
- Christoph Franke (drums,synthesizer,1967-70)
The first released, "Malesch" (1972), was inspired by their
tour through Egypt, Greece and Cyprus and the same year, they performed for Germany at the Munich Olympic Games.
So, Agitation Free's music is psychedelic, experimental Krautrock with elements of spaced-out ambient, electronics and some drone. Many of their songs have a transe-inducing, Psychedelic feel with sections of driving rock fueled by fiery and melodic moving guitar lines and solid, propelling and intricate drumming and a prominent bass. All of AF's songs are instrumental apart from some recitation on "Haunted Island" ("2nd" LP).
Malesch is much more cosmic, creative, ethnically flavored (mainly by short interludes of recordings from Egypt), mysterious and densely packed with ideas whereas their second recording, simply named "2nd" (1973), is more laid-back and upbeat, with longer structure, much more of an emphasis on traditional style jamming like The Grateful Dead and a warmer and more straightforward sound.
On Malesch, songs blend together to make a seamlessly flowing, tangential and uninterrupted musical journey, whereas on "2nd", songs are more predictably structured, more varied in their sound and stand more as independant works.
The band broke up in 1974.
Discography :
- "Malesch" (1972) / Vertigo 6360 607
- "2nd" (1973) / Vertigo 6360 615
- "Last" (1976) / Barclay 80 162 (recorded live 1974)
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