Search - Amon Duul II :: Carnival in Babylon

Essential and Beautiful Masterpiece!!! NOT Amon Duul II's "f

T. Kasuboski | Winneconne, Wisconsin United States | 09/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was quite shocked when I stumbled upon the reviews for AMON DUUL II's classic "Carnival In Babylon" (1972). This is an album which for years lived in the masterpiece category of my mind and to read how misunderstood the album was by many of the reviewers was quite a surprise. First off, certainly it must be admitted that "Carnival In Babylon" (1972) is quite different from "Phallus Dei" (1969), "Yeti" (1970), or "Tanz der Lemminge" (1971). "Carnival In Babylon" certainly does have elements of folk, but they are utilized in the same ways as Os Mutantes (Brazil) or the Velvet Underground. It is a mellow album, but one with highly emotional songs sung with passion and angst. It is amazing that the follow up to "Carnival In Babylon" was "Wolf City", also released in 1972. "Wolf City" is as savage as Krautrock gets, which leads me to my main point concerning why "Carnival In Babylon" (and Amon Duul II in general) is so awesome. It is totally unique in the Amon Duul II catalog. While it certainly could be argued that EACH Amon Duul II album is unique, none for me stands so tall in stature as a single piece of art quite like "Carnival In Babylon". It's all in the song arrangement and the brilliant female vocals of Renate Knaup, one of Krautrock's most alluring and on "Carnival In Babylon", sensual voices. Bottom line, it would be a tragedy to skip over this amazing album because it is more song oriented than the exploratory and chaotic days of "Phallus Dei" (an album released almost four years before "Carnival In Babylon"). "Carnival In Babylon" is an essential moment in Amon Duul II history and one which MUST NEVER be overlooked! Another Krautrock masterpiece from Amon Duul II and an essential purchase!"

Out-Floyding Pink Floyd

Abe | Columbus, Ohio | 03/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to imagine what was going on with Amon when you realize that this was released between Dance of the Lemmings and Wolf City, both of which were relatively pretty "out there" and intensely experimental. When I first listened to Carnival in Babylon, I was expecting the logical median between those two albums, but I actually got a very good "traditional" classic rock album that sounds at times more like Pink Floyd or Yes and less like typical "krautrock" bands like Faust or Can. Even the cover has a different vibe than other Duul albums of the time, which all seem to have the same surrealistic feel. It's only my theory, but I think they were trying to prove that they were as good as the most popular English or American bands. Amon Duul II fans should expect some shorter songs and a less dark atmosphere. Many people think they were trying to be more commercial, but if that was the case, why would they sing the first track entirely in German? My only question about this re-issue is the seemingly unrelated bonus tracks. One is a re-working of part of a song on Dance of the Lemmings (I believe), and one I've never heard before, but they were clearly not recorded anywhere near the time this album came out. The songs sound really cool, it just seems pretty random and takes you out of the album rather than expanding on it."

All the years round

T. P. Russell | Wichita, KS United States | 04/23/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"dumped this to reel to reel to 8 track much better listening 30 years out , it was good then too, i like all the years round, this is important in a) they did it, and b)it is so avante garde
that you have to listen and appreciate it, no hype is professed or required, true musicians and talent in their own way, its extremely hard to find their stuff, i will help anyone who wants to get a copy ok?"