Hard to describe.
Shadowgraphs | 04/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Is it jazz? No... it's too atmospheric and doesn't center around individual solos at all. How about psychedelic rock? No... the word "rock" usually implies that there's sung vocals of some sort, which are completely lacking (although there are occasional voice samples that float from ear to ear). Primordial electronica, perhaps? No... the wall of sound created by multiple synthesizers is often breached by a wailing guitar or acoustic drums.
Whatever this CD is, I enjoy it immensely. This is challenging, relaxing, profound, intense, unique, cutting-edge stuff. A perfect "chill" CD, although I hesitate to use that word due to the images of vapid and soulless electric piano noodlings with waterfalls in the background that it conjures in my head. If you ever come across this in a store, take a chance and pick it up. You probably won't regret it."
Amazing spacy Krautrock by this unintended supergroup
BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 03/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here is a truly amazing spacy Krautrock album worth looking in to. Cosmic Jokers was an unintended gathering of some of the biggest names to record for the Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik labels. This was the project that killed the career of Rolf Ulrich Kaiser and the labels he ran: Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik, because he released these jam sessions without any of the people involved knowing. This was the big reason why the likes of Klaus Schulze moved to Brain and Tangerine Dream moved to Virgin, and many others to other labels (often Brain). Musicians involved were Manuel Göttsching, Klaus Schulze, Harald Großkopf, Jürgen Dollase, Dieter Dierks, Rosi Müller, and Gille Lettmann, names familiar to all who are in to this type of music. With associations with the likes of Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream, Wallenstein, etc., you know what to expect with the Cosmic Jokers. Galactic Supermarket was the second in a series of Cosmic Jokers albums, all released in 1974, and is one tripped-out jam, ranging from guitar-oriented jams that sound like they came off Ash Ra Tempel's Join Inn, to percussion experiments, heavy on synthesizers, lots of electronic effects, the occasional female spoken dialog from Rosi and Gille, and so much more. The music is certain to keep you glued from start to finish. There's even a passage on the first cut, "Kinder des Alls" where the Mellotron rears its head. Of course these recordings lead to lawsuits against Kaiser, which costed him his career, and he fled Germany in the process (since he would not have won those lawsuits and would've ended up in jail). Klaus Schulze had been the one least happy with these albums, and he never had anything good to say of them. But regardless of what Schulze says, this is truly one of my all-time great Krautrock albums, despite all the controversery surrounding it. This is truly a must for all space rock fans!"
Cosmic Jokers - 'Galactic Supermaket' (Spalax)
Mike Reed | USA | 01/15/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Follow-up to their self-titled album(see my review).Good mid-'70's progressive/krautrock reissue CD.Features two lengthy cuts,"Kinder des Alls"(18:54)employs plenty of funky synthesiser sound and the title track "Galactic Supermarket"(19:24)features Manuel Gottsching's superb guitar riffing.You need to hear this CD for yourself.Should appeal to fans of Wallenstein,Anima,Klaus Schulze,Cluster and possibly Agitation Free.A should-have."
