...Die 5. LP, von 1972, nach Yeti und Tanz d.L. ihre 3.beste. Meist songorientiert, aber auf sehr originelle Art. Instrumental vielfältig, klangfarbenreich (Git./Keyb./Geige/Sax, immer wieder feine choralartige Sounds), stark verbesserter Gesang von Renate Knaup-Krötenschwanz. Stringente fließende und/oder relaxte Stücke sowie bissige, komplexere, mächtig break-, abwechslungs- und ereignisreiche. Acid Rock, eine Art Progressive Folk, originärer Edel-Pop, Avant Rock, intelligenter unkonventioneller (Psyche-/Prog-)Rock, atmosphärischer Ethno-Rock. 2 hervorragende Stücke, 1 brillantes (Jail House Frog, das nach einem leisen effektreichen spannungsgeladenen Mittelteil in einem berauschenden Sopransax-Motiv in fremdartig-faszinierender Schönheit erstrahlt), 2 gute, 2 etwas blasse („mittelprächtiger Rock“).
(Glitterhouse)
Amon Düül II's fifth studio album is a more conventional recording
than most, though there's still a lot of the involved experimenting and
dark undercurrent which sets the band apart from the mainstream, along
with the off-kilter hooks and odd humor which saved from being lumped
alongside more serious (and less easy to take seriously) prog-rock outfits.
After the lengthy explorations of Tanz der Lemminge, Wolf City seems targeted
to an extent at a commercial English-speaking audience, perhaps reflective
of their increased status in the United Kingdom, if not in America. Regardless,
opening song "Surrounded by the Stars," the longest track on
the album at just under eight minutes, is also one of the band's best,
with strong vocals from Knaup, a dramatic building verse (complete with
mock choir), an equally dramatic violin-accompanied instrumental break,
and a catchy chorus leading to a fun little freakout. Knaup actually takes
the lead vocals more often this time out and turns in some lovely performances,
as on the beautiful, perhaps slightly precious "Green Bubble Raincoated
Man," with a great full-band performance, grows from a nice restraint
to a slam-bang, epic rockout. Meid gets his moments in as well, his sometimes
straightforward, sometimes not-so-much vocals adding to the overall effect
as before. The one full instrumental, "Wie Der Wind," is excellent,
with guest Indian musicians adding extra instrumentation to an intoxicating,
spacious performance. While Wolf City generally sounds like a tight band
playing things live or near-live, there are some equally gripping moments
clearly resulting from studio work, like the strange loop opening the
title track (percussion, guitar?). Concluding with the groovy good-time
"Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge," including some fantastic e-bow
guitar work, Wolf City works the balance between art and accessibility
and does so with resounding success.
(by Ned Raggett, All Music Guide)
