Frumpy are one of those bands that I tend to forget what they sound like. I've had all 4 albums, and 3 are no longer around. It's only their sophomore album that seems to have made the grade. In listening to Frumpy 2 for the first time in 20+ years, it becomes apparent as to why my memory banks slip here. Quite frankly, there's not much songcraft with Frumpy. I've never really cared much for Inga Rumpf's masculine delivery. Had the music been more blues based, perhaps I could savor it more. She's kind of annoying actually. With that prelude, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Frumpy were named Germany's best band by the music press in 1971. In reality, there were many such bands like Frumpy back then - long flights of instrumental rock music dominated by organ and guitar. But it was Frumpy who got the recognition while the others were left to the bargain bins, only to be rediscovered 15 to 20 years later - by then collector's items all.
And while revisits to their 2 studio albums that bookend this one have yet to yield favorable results, Frumpy 2 continues to satisfy on multiple fronts. And songwriting isn't one of them. So what is the allure then? It's the instrumental work. In particular, Jean-Jacques Kravetz (whose solo work is also great) shines on the Hammond organ, and even the mellotron. The final 12 minute track is a corker, and it's here that guitarist Rainer Baumann gets his moment in the sun. Overall, it's Frumpy at what they do best: Jam. And not in the modern sense, but one with urgency, as if there's no tomorrow. If looking to venture into Germany's "best group", Frumpy 2 is definitely the place to start.
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