Tyll - 1975 - Sexphonie

Tyll

1975

Sexphonie

01. Tim (5:00)

02. Sexphoni (1:37)

03. Asiatische Liebeserklarung (3:43)

04. Paranoia Eines Verliebten (2:25)

05. Nervenzusammenbruch Einer Gitarre (4:52)

06. Siammesische Uberraschung (2:58)

07. Kristinas Traum (1:39)

08. Delirium Song - Grammophon (7:09)

09. Rita (2:47)

10. Suzie Steno (3:03)

11. Fur Michael Pfadfinder (2:43)

12. Morgenlicht (1:31)

Günter Klinger / drums

Achim Bosch / bass

Teflon Fonfara / guitar

Susanne Schempp / vocals

Ulrike Schempp / vocals

Michael Scherf / vocals

This album proved to be a rather frustrating release for me. Out of the box, it comes on like a freight train, with some of the coolest prog/psych I've heard in a long, long time. The material found here is highly diverse with examples of heavy psych, hard rock and other forms of great prog. On tap are numerous psych effects and excellent fuzz guitar, all complimenting the very compelling song writing. And this seems to go on and on, one song after the other, across the whole of the first side. But with the side 1 closer, we are exposed to a portend of what is to follow on the next side. There, the material devolves to comparatively much less interesting, male/female, German vocal, folk-based rock. Not to say there aren't some good tracks to be found there as well, but nothing near the bar set on the top side. Though the original vinyl is now quite rare, I'm sure to be keeping an eye peeled for a copy, as this is the kind of record I simply cannot be without in my collection.

Tyll were one of a handful of Krautrock groups on the Kerston label (Gaa, Epidermis, Proton 1 concert), a label known more for schlager, classical, and church music. Sexphonie is a very disparate album and each track is different from the other. You'll hear fiery fusion workouts, folk rock, world fusion, straight up hard rock, and even some politrock (tongue in cheek apparently) sung in German. Steadfastly using the native language, Tyll will remind the listener of groups such as Drosselbart, Prof. Wolfff, and Franz K. The latter gets a further comparison due to the copious use of heavily affected electric guitar. On the spacier tracks, label mates Gaa are a fair comparison. And in many places I also hear the unique composition style of Lily's excellent V.C.U. album. Perhaps a bit too scattered to be a classic, but definitely one of Krautrock's more interesting footnotes.

In 2016, we finally have our first authorized reissue. Mental Experience, Guerssen's Krautrock specialty label, have released the album on CD. It sounds like it's from the master tapes, and features liner notes from Alan Freeman, including an interview with Tyll's founder Teflon Fanfara (what a name!). Excellent all around, though no bonus material was found apparently.