Wallenstein - Cosmic Century. 1973 Germany

Wallenstein are not an easy band to pigeonhole. Generally lumped in with the Cosmic Joker crowd, and for good reason given various band members' participation, their albums proper are nothing of the sort. Well maybe the debut Blitzkrieg has some classic Krautrock styling (and we'll cover that at another time), but by their 3rd album Cosmic Century, the band were trying their hand at 70s English symphonic rock. So the title of the album is quite misleading, not to mention their appearance on the venerated Kosmische label. Even though one can still find the Dieter Dirks phasing tricks thrown about here and there to keep it interesting. Definitely a swell album, if not particularly groundbreaking or inspiring.

LP: 1973 Kosmische Musik
CD: 2011 Belle Antique (Japan)