Birth Control - 35th Anniversary Live at Rockpalast. 2005 Germany

Birth Control are a band that is widely known among connoisseurs of Krautrock. 35th Anniversary Live at Rockpalast is an album by Birth Control that few have heard of... and even less have actually listened to it. Released under the cover of darkness in 2005, the album was likely only noticed by the few Birth Control die-hards left, and to everyone else it was either met with a yawn, or most likely not noticed at all. I mean, when was the last significant album from the band? 1976? I cannot say myself, as that's the last album (Backdoor Possibilities) I heard and enjoyed by the band, but I was always too chicken to try anything from Increase and beyond. The only reason I have this album is because recently I purchased a large pile of sealed heavy metal (yes... heavy metal) CDs for less than a $1 each. Most of it wasn't even the kind of metal I like (lot of death, punk/hardcore, that sort of thing). Basically it was an investment. Except this CD was in the lot inexplicably (guessing the seller thought it was metal too given the band's moniker and not knowing any better). After seeing the (very few) high ratings and the track lineup - this was the one CD in the batch I was anxious to break the seal and hear (most I just left sealed and have since sold off for a tidy profit - or still have for sale).

It remains unclear from the CD exactly which year this concert was performed (this is the 2nd CD in recent months that I've reviewed that neglected the most important detail of a live concert: Exactly when did you play?). If you read the band history, they technically formed in 1966. Other websites place that date at 1968. And if you only consider release dates, then their debut was 1970. So we'll do that math here. 35 year anniversary could be 2001, 2003, or 2005. A Google search reveals... ta da... 2004. OK, then....

Next consideration: Who's in the band? Almost no one you have heard of, most having joined the group within a 5 year window. The glue here is long time drummer/vocalist Bernd Noske. While none of the original band members even made it to the debut album, one can easily make the argument that Noske was indeed the heart and soul of Birth Control. There is a guest appearance from vocalist Peter Föller, who was with the band from 1974 to 1976, though he's only on 2 tracks here.

Now that we have the forensic details out of the way, what of the music? Well you should know me well enough by now that I'm not going to dedicate 3 paragraphs to a clunker. I'm way too lazy for that. My initial response OH MY GOODNESS! If this album was heard by more folks, it would have 100's of ratings and dozens of reviews. The concert may have been from 2004, but honestly it's not much different than their live album from 1974! Except way better recorded and frankly, more interesting.

It doesn't take long to get hooked. 'Rock the Road' is a straight-up hard rocker. The guitar is heavy, but in the early 70s sense of the word (i.e. no metal here). And the best part... 10 seconds in.... wait for it.... the BIG FAT HAMMOND ORGAN is laid out (ah shoot, it's since been pointed out to be a facsimile thereof. They fooled me! Still sounds awesome...) . And it never goes away! It's the keyboard of choice for a one Sascha Kühn, who obviously studied at the University of Zeus B. Held, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. I didn't recognize this track, and that's because it was from their reformation album Alsatian (2003), which I now obviously need to hear. Believe me, I'm suddenly interested in all things Birth Control right now (I mean the band, I hasten to add...). 'What's Your Name' continues in a straight-up hard rock way. This was a 1972 single that originally ended up on the Believe in the Pill compilation.

And then the real party starts. From 'Trial Trip' to 'Gamma Ray', it might as well be 1975, and Birth Control are out there jamming in a hard rock meets progressive rock way. It's mostly instrumental. Guitarist Peter Engelhardt at times seems to conjure up Frank Marino even! So yea, imagine Frank Marino with Jon Lord on organ. If that isn't worthy of your time, not sure what is.

Here are the tracks and their origins:
Trial Trip (1975 Plastic People)
Hope (a rare single from 1970)
Just Before the Sun Will Rise (1971 Operation)
Like Nothing Ever Changed (2003 Alsation). Must hear this album...
Back From Hell (1974 Rebirth)
The Work is Done (1971 Operation) Wow, they hit this album hard. Good choice too!
Drum Solo... It was good of them to break this out so we could skip over it, and only 2 minutes too!
Gamma Ray (1972 Hoodoo Man)
She's Got Nothing on You (1974 Rebirth)

Those paying close attention will notice 3 of the above tracks were part of the original 1974 Live album. 'Gamma Ray' was also extended greatly there. 'Back From Hell' was 15+ minutes in 1974, now taken back to its original length. And 'She's Got Nothing on You' was also played straight from 31 years prior. The last track, it should be noted, brings us back to the opening two songs, and is a middle of the road hard rocker.

Despite the fact that much of this material existed prior, the exuberance of the occasion and the new players, make it sound new to my ears. Overall this is a great album, one that should not have been ignored as it was. But as mentioned in the prelude, who even knew of its existence? Not I...

Bernd Noske unfortunately passed away in 2014, and that would have seemingly been the end of the group. Fortunately key contributor Sascha Kühn has resuscitated the project, and brought along Peter Föller (see above) as the lead singer, thus keeping a tie to the past. I'm a big proponent of "bands as brands", and would like to see many groups continue on in a multi-generational way. It seems the younger generation still has the fire and imagination of their forefathers.

Personal collection
CD: 2005 Mr. D Music

Not an easy CD to find, and as mentioned above, I totally lucked into it. The CD is chock full of liner notes (in German and English - everything but when it was recorded...), and includes a handful of photos as well.