Birth Control - Operation. 1971 Germany

When I first heard Birth Control's second album Operation, I wasn't too impressed. This would go back to my original journey into the depths of Krautrock in the late 1980s. And why is that? Well... I had expected the album to fit the aesthetic of the Ohr label, and the cosmic and experimental Krautrock I had come to expect from groups like Ash Ra Tempel, Annexus Quam, and Guru Guru. Birth Control is nothing of the sort. Truth is, had Operation been on Philips, Polydor, or Bacillus, the album probably would be more well received. As I've written in many a place, Krautrock is a wide reaching term that can be interpreted in different ways. And in the world of the collector lists of the late 80s, Krautrock often meant "hard driving rock with organ and guitar". That was something I didn't understand back then, and honestly it wasn't much to my taste either.

About a decade later, when the hard-driving-rock-with-organ-and-guitar sounded good to my ears, Operation at that point found a comfy spot in the collection. And when one considers that particular genre, Birth Control shines quite bright. The first 5 tracks are similar in their high energy, heavy, but still progressive rock sound. The organ, clavinet, and guitars are raucous, and the vocals are rough - and ready for trouble. The final 11+minute track 'Let Us Do It Now' is a curve ball, offering up a different side of the band. More towards lounge and even classical - I still find it satisfying on many levels, though it remains the weakest cut. And out of place honestly.

Overall if you dig that 1971 German heavy organ/guitar lead styled Krautrock - and there are many of them - then add Operation to your list. Don't let that Ohr label moniker throw you.

LP: 1973 Ohr
CD: 1997 Spalax (France)

Originals come in a fine gatefold cover, with typically grotesque Birth Control styled art. My copy is a 556 press, so it's from a couple of years later. Essentially it's the same as the original in every way otherwise. I was surprised to learn that the Spalax reissue of 22 years ago was the last CD to market (there had been 3 presses prior), and now the bootleggers have entered in. This version of the CD is nothing special anyway - straight reissue with no extras. Just nice to have for the road.