INDIGO
2ND AGIGATION FREE
German Krautrock, the way it should be. For decades the Germans have dominated the genre they pretty much invented, which is just right in my eyes. Sure, Tortoise have had their moments of pure krautrock bliss, but the truly great bands have always been German: Can, Kraftwerk, Neu! Those are the heavyweights, but there are tons more. Like Agitation Free, a relatively unknown band from the late 60s and mid 70s. With their sophomore album, properly titled 2ND, Agitation Free proved that they’re just as talented and inspired as their more popular peers.
If you like Can (Future Days Can, by the way), you’ll appreciate Agitation Free. Though 2ND is more abrasive than Future Days, you’ll notice the similarities: the jazzy sound and production, and the progressive foundation. Agitation Free keep a steady beat throughout the album, reaching its pinnacle in its centerpiece, Laila, Part 2, which often climaxes, settles, and climaxes again. Agitation Free never give up the beat, making 2ND a relatively easy to listen to album. That is, if you haven’t exhausted your music taste buds with the heavyweights. If you’ve been listening to post-rock/krautrock seriously, or at least very often, for some time, 2ND really doesn’t offer anything new. For a first time listener, I can imagine it’d be a completely different experience. The album is bright and breezy, and completely worth your while, even if you’re planning to keep it playing in the background while you worry about other things.
7.8