Sketchs à Gogo!

Produced by wunderkind producer Mark Wirtz (Tomorrow, the mythical Teenage Opera, and guy who decided not to produce Syd Barrett era Floyd), and co-written by Kris Ife who called on his old bandmates from The Quiet Five for these studio creations. Most of these pieces of psychedelic bubble gum were packed as The Matchmakers, some chipper chiclets were initially issued under monikers such as Astronaut Alan & The Planets (“Fickle Lizzie Anne,” “Cellophane Mary Jane”), and The Guards (“Fantastic Fair”). This final pack of bubble blowers were finally issued together in 1970 by Vogue Schallplatten in Germany and a few other territories shortly after.

The music of Electric Orange, founded in 1992 in the city of Aachen, represents the so-called krautrock scene that emerged in the seventies. Originally they were a duo consisting of Dirk Bittner (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Dirk Jan Müller (synthesizers, keyboards). During the nineties the band recorded a few albums for the famous British Delerium label, combining psychedelics with electronic rhythms, similar to bands like Ozric Tentacles. Later on they were joined by Georg Monheim (drums) and Tom Rückwald (bass).
This EP offers some swinging jazz adapted feel, quasi like trying to have a time travel into the German (late) 60's…

Stéphane Grappelli (26 January 1908 – 1 December 1997) was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands. He has been called "the grandfather of jazz violinists" and continued playing concerts around the world well into his 80s.

Vancouver guitarist David Gogo is oozing confidence on this blues-rock album, beginning with the barroom pleasing "Love in the City" with former Junkhouse lead singer Tom Wilson, who is also a member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. The piano only adds to its luster. Gogo isn't reinventing anything here, just good time, old-school, feel-good rock & roll accentuated by his great guitar playing. He can rumble as well judging by the slower and moody "Hit Me From Above," sounding a bit like Doyle Bramhall II or some other Austin blues-rock musician. A slower, soulful "300 Pound Shoes" takes the album down in tone but Gogo goes for broke here, pulling the song off with relative ease. "Hey Juanita" doesn't seem that strong and is rather ordinary in a roots rock type of vein like Mike Plume or Steve Earle. The piano driven "I'd Do Anything" shows a softer, bluesy vein that sounds like a long distant cousin of "Ride On" by AC/DC complete with horns. The funky "Silk and Stone" is a sleeper pick in line with the likes of Bonnie Raitt or Delbert McClinton.