Fragments [Import]

Agitation Free | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B0000TAOZM
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #961,140 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Someones Secret

2. Mickeys Laugh

3. We Are Men

4. Mediterranean Flight

5. Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another side of Agitation Free, December 29, 2005

By 

410 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fragments (Audio CD)

One of the lesser known Krautrock bands of the early 70s, the Agitation Free discography deserves greater exposure. If you're only familiar with Can/Faust/Amon Duul, Agitation Free might be the best next destination. While bands like Can and Amon Duul started out psychedelic and evolved into (less interesting) progressive rock acts, Agitation Free did exactly the opposite. Their first album, Malesh, is their most well-known, and exudes a self-conscously arty and progressive vibe. While many fans spotlight that work, one could take a revisionist stance and argue that the band's early work is marred a little by nerdy prog rock clichés, especially noodling solos bookended by clunky riffs. Their followup album, "Second", improved things a bit by loosening up the vibe, especially on the great "Layla," but their live work paints a different story of the band.

Like many acts that suffer from sounding a bit stiff in the studio, the live experience is the way to hear `em let their hair down and show how rock music can be dangerous in a way that other musical genres are often not. Trad Gras Och Stenar are another example of a band far more visceral and exciting when heard out of the studio. This live set (and also the similarly excellent "Last" and "Live '74: at the Cliffs of River Rhine" albums) snapshot the band in a trance-inducing psychedelic vibe. The live setting is wholly appropriate given their occasionally stiff precision in the studio, but still highlights their musicianship as far above wasted and sloppy psych clichés.

The original record has three long tracks and a short, forgettable blues-inflected number. The Garden of Delights reissue lengthens a couple of these and adds a passable bonus track. The long workouts are near holy grails for those who seek spaced out mantras that always seemed integral to the psychedelic experience, but are few and far between on well-known albums. Pretty fine, but the zoned vibe of their album "Last" reaches even greater peaks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Agitation Free - 'Fragments' (Spalax) French import CD, September 30, 2004

By 

Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fragments (Audio CD)

At first listen,I thought 'Fragments' was a band compilation release.Turns out it's a live gig from the band's final performance that took place in Berlin on November 11,1974.'Fragments' was a bit of a let down for me,PROBABLY because I was expecting to much(once again).But,then who could blame me?I mean,after hearing the band's debut 'Malesch' and their later archive disc 'At The Cliffs Of River Rhine',one might automatically assume that every Agitation Free release is mind blowing.'Fragments' is okay.The two cuts that I dug the most were the acidic "Mickey's Laugh" and "Mediterranean Flight".A so-so 'extra' available title by a first rate(if you ask me)very short-lived progressive/krautrock ensemble.Hear that the label Garden Of Delights had reissued this disc with a twenty-minute bonus track.That would most likely be the way to go.