Short Reviews [Various Artists - 2021 - "Head Rush"]

For those who think I have written about this release before you are mistaken, but I understand why you may think that as this is the third in a series from Fruits de Mer which have similar artwork and titles (the others being ‘Head In The Clouds' and 'Head Music 2’). The series is designed to show continuing influence of bands such as Can, Neu!, Harmonia and Kraftwerk, and the 'motorik beat' that was pivotal to some of the most enduring recordings to come out of Germany in the early seventies. We see some old F de M favourites here such as Lost Stoned Pandas and Moon Goose, while others are new to the label. Released as triple vinyl plus a bonus CD for nearly 200 minutes of music this was sold out on pre-order before even getting to the release date, so is going to be hard to track down, but fans of this style of music are certainly going to have to dig for it as this is just what I have come to expect from this label, namely music of the highest order. Some bands, such as Silver Vials or David Oakes, wear their Kraftwerk influence on their sleeve, while others take their music in a different direction. Listen to the picked guitar introduction to Love Explosion’s “Anarchy” and wonders what they are doing here, but as the song progresses it all makes a great deal of sense. F de M have built such a strong reputation for quality of releases that people happily sign up for music not knowing anything about the bands in question, as they know the quality control and ears of Keith means they are always onto a winner. He has certainly turned me onto some interesting bands over the years, and this compilation is yet another great example of that as I have made notes of those I am interested in finding out more about, and anyone who hears this will surely do the same. Yet another superb release from one of the very finest labels there is.