Birth Control

Formed in Berlin in 1968, Birth Control were known for a progressive hard rock sound fused will elements of jazz, psychedelia and Krautrock. A surreal concept work from 1976 recorded by legendary producer Conny Plank, Backdoor Possibilities arguably marked their final creative peak, combining rock, jazz and avant-garde stylings with intricate polyrhythmic textures and lyrical nods to Faust and Odysseus. This expanded double disc edition has been remastered by Zeus B. Held and features three bonus live tracks recorded in Korbach on 1 May 1977, as well as a bonus live disc taped at the famous Sartory Saal in Cologne on 24 September 1976.

"Hoodoo Man" was Birth Control's third, their most famous and best-selling album not only due to its daring funny artwork. They've been accused those days by UK magazine Melody Maker being No. 1 copyists but we all know well that progressive rock music coming from Germany hadn't been taken really serious by British press and had been tagged with the disdainfully meant label Krautrock (not exactly what we understand nowadays by this). Certainly it might be true that they were using elements of famous hard and psyche rock bands from late 60's/early 70's but one has well to admit that they combined all those influences quite well with some other more progressive ones. Thus we get offered here some music based on harder-edged blues rock with plenty of organ sound, some jazzy pads (as in "Suicide") and a couple of synthesizer sections like in "Buy!", "Kaulstoss" and their ever lasting staple hit "Gamma Ray".

This important German hard/heavy/progressive rock band was formed in Berlin in 1968 and they started as a mainly instrumental jazz rock outfit. Despite some line-up changes they recorded four studio albums in four years' time. In these albums anyone can detect the changes of their sound, from the early jazz rock style to heavy prog rock. However, it's their 1975 release ''Plastic People'', which established them as a progressive rock band. This amazing album is a mix of heavy progressive music with krautrock, symphonic tendencies and jazzy doses. Keeping their well-known hard 'n' heavy style Birth Control added a lot of different elements in their music,making this album a must-have record. Numerous fantastic interplays, jazzy passages, great use of keyboards and a krautrock atmosphere with intense vocals are mixed with heavy rock to result a memorable release.