The first two tracks here are when Zoppo Trump still existed as a
guitar/keys-bass-drums trio. The music has a certain sophistication, but
is also quite informed by the West Coast USA psych sound. At this
point, they could be considered a parallel group to Walpurgis. Summary:
Good not great. However change was on the horizon. Adding dedicated
guitarist Ulrich Beck in 1972, which freed up band leader Ferdi Eberth
on the Hammond organ, resulted in a remarkable progression for the band.
As represented by tracks 3 to 7, Zoppo Trump sound more like their
Krautrock contemporaries who adopted jazz characteristics as additives
to their psychedelic Krautrock stew. Comparisons to bands such as Out of
Focus, Thirsty Moon and Eiliff would not be an exaggeration here. This
gets us to the two previously released tracks from 1976, that were
initially on the "Scena Westphalica"* compilation. Eberth rebuilt the band
from the ground up, himself switching back to guitar, while adding three
new members on keyboards/sax, bass, and drums. Here the band trades in
their psychedelic Krautrock chips for a sound entrenched in more
standard forms of jazz rock. Overall, an extraordinary musical document,
which clearly demonstrates that Zoppo Trump could very well have
released one of the all-time great Krautrock albums had they the proper
chance. Only drawback is the less than stellar sound quality throughout
(though still very listenable and miles better than bootleg standard).
*According to the liner notes, Garden of Delights states
clearly that "Scena Westphalica" was released in 1976. They also opine
that, in addition to Zoppo Trump, "the other tracks on the compilation
album, by the way, are not of any interest for progressive fans." I have
not heard the album myself, but I'm inclined to believe them all the
same. I'm going to guess then, that the Electric Mud Orchestra, while no
doubt related to the 1971 band (and bass player Udo Preising was the
owner of the label Förderturm and a member of Electric Mud - and later
was in Zoppo Trump - hence the connection), is in no way musically
similar. As of course the Electric Mud album itself is "of interest" to
progressive fans.
CD: 2009 Garden of Delights
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