Klockwerk Orange - Abrakadabra + Live at Stadtsaal Innsbruck. 1975 Austria (archival)

Klockwerk Orange were a band from Austria who released one extremely rare progressive album, and disappeared until recent times. Abrakadabra contains three long tracks that are quite Teutonic sounding, reminding me of similar era German groups such as Pancake, Madison Dyke and Minotaurus. The unique element at play here is the copious use of trumpet. So you get a little Tijuana Brass with your ELP. Gotta hear 'Tijuana Taxi' collide with 'Manticore'! A good one.

Concerning the archival Live at Stadtsaal Innsbruck - The first three tracks are new compositions not found on the actual LP, and demonstrates that Klockwerk Orange were rapidly becoming more ambitious as song composers. They also introduce an earlier progressive sound, as would be found on Pink Floyd's Meddle perhaps. The highlight track is 'Vlad Zeppesch', surely a tale about Dracula, which contains many twists and turns in an almost Italian progressive rock style. Only downfall is of course the sound quality, which is of high bootleg standard. But it's good enough, and we'll take what we can get. One can only wish they had the time to lay these tracks down in a studio. Or that they reform ala Necronomicon and Alphataurus, and finish the job they started nearly 40 years ago.

Personal collection
LP+CD: 2013 Digatone

As long as I've been collecting, Klockwerk's Orange sole album has always been rare and expensive, frequently changing hands for over $800 (or more). The double LP above is housed in a lavish gatefold and comes highly recommended.

The LP has 5 bonus tracks and the attached CD contains 3 of them. The double Japanese CD set on Belle Antique has all 5 bonus tracks as well. These additional songs are sometimes known as Live at Stadtsaal Innsbruck (see notes above).