If you ask me, this is the “Unsung” album of the classic early era of the band. All too often, “Ash Ra Tempel”, “Schwingungen” and “7UP” are talked about. However, don’t get me wrong, these three albums all masterpieces in the truest sence of the word, and anybody into “space rock” or even “psychedelia” as a genre owe it to themselves to check these out.

Join Inn, saw the return of Klaus Schulze, who is the one person to hugely influence the whole sound of their first album. Playing drums as egolessly as it is possible, and yet creating a rumbling thunderstorm of sound. Also on their first album he used synthesizers/keyboards to create a cosmic vibe never before heard on record.

It is stupid to try to put down words which could describe the two tracks which make up “Join Inn” so I will instead just give an idea as to what can be expected.

First track “Freak ‘n’ Roll” is 20 minutes of egoless space jamming of the highest calibre. Fading in it is possible to make out each of the band members. Manuel Gottsching playing a slightly blues-ish wah-funk that doesn’t show off at all, he is certainly no Clapton or Page, which can only be a good thing! Briniging to mind a lot less routesy Peter Green (who played a lot more from the soul than Clapton anyway) circa 69-70 when Fleetwood Mac would knock out 25 min+ versions of “Rattle Snake Shake” which at times would transcend the genre, and actually bring to mind Ash Ra Tempel. Maybe not the best analogy, but that’s what it’s like to me!
Along with the guitar is the DEEP bass rumbling of Hartmut Enke which along with Klaus Schulze’s drumming create a rhythm unto itself. There are no breaks in the structure to allow someone to take the fore-front of the sound to show off what they can do, which adds to the one-ness of the groove.
Throughout there are changes in pace etc, yet it doesn’t turn to trite prog-wank at all. When I first eyed those Roger Dean covers for various Yes albums, this was how I wanted their music to sound!

Keeping within the style of their self titled first album and “7UP”, the second track (or side 2) is a complete departure in terms of being to the first track. It is a completely blissed out cosmic transcendent piece of ambient music. Years before Eno could put his name to the genre.
It is truly ethereal and capable of sending shivers of haunted beauty through your very being. Ethereal synths just hanging in space punctuated by some occasional deep bass notes, with Rosi Muller occasionally speaking, supposedly telling the story of when Ash Ra met Timothy Leary and his mob. Not that it matters what she is saying as her voice works in a meditational drift kinda way.

As I stated at the start, “Ash Ra Tempel”, “Shwingungen” and “7UP” are all worth checking out, but this is my favourite and probably always will be. Go seek!

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