Customer Reviews

Pyragony

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Amon Duul II had changed a great deal by the mid-70's & though fans of their earlier experimental music seem to be unable to embrace this lp it does stand the test of time. Pyragony X has a futuristic sound that hasn't dated like so much progressive rock. Fans of their albums "Hijack" or "Almost Alive" would love this blend of spacey guitar work, soaring synths & THC-tinged lyrics. From the opening cut "Flower of the Orient" to the fantastic instrumental "Crystal Hexagram" the band displays a control of studio techniques that give this release its power. Don't make the mistake of comparing this album to earlier Amon Duul II releases...Compare Pink Floyd-"The Wall" to "Saucerful of Secrets." I think you get the point. Kick back, turn off the phone, & play this one loud! Listen to the words of "Telly Vision" & you may never watch TV the same way again. Compare the story of "Lost In Space" to BOC's "Monsters"---both spin a tale of lust, sex & human nature set in the sea of outer space.

Early Amon Duul II albums, like Phallas Dei, Yeti, and Tanz der Lemminge (aka Dance of the Lemmings) are well deserved Krautrock classics. But I was rather disappointed with this later release, Pyragony X, originally released in 1976 as their tenth release (hence the "X", or Roman numeral "ten"). The problem with this album is they decided to play it straight, and they were trying a more symphonic prog direction and just falls flat (and since I also enjoy symphonic prog, this album sounds like a really poor attempt at that style). Of course, the band started to record more song-based material as early as 1972 with albums like Carnival in Babylon and Wolf City, but they did not forsake their psychedelic roots, even if they cut back on the experimentations. Wolf City is actually one of their better albums. All the spaciness you hear on albums like Tanz der Lemminge are absent on Pyragony X, no lengthy freakouts or great jams. Renate Knaupe had now vanished, and a new guy named Stefan Zauner had appeared (he'd later do a prog rock album in 1978 called Prisms & Views). In 1976, none of the German bands were trying to do freaky expermental music anymore since it was no longer fashionable. Tangerine Dream was doing sequencer heavy electronic music by that time (like Phaedra, Rubycon, Ricochet, Stratosfear, as opposed to the heavily experimental and spacy albums they recorded for Ohr from 1970-1973 like Alpha Centauri, Zeit, and Atem). Eloy moved from the heavy guitar/Hammond organ-driven prog format to a more synth heavy symphonic prog sound like on Ocean and Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes. Grobschnitt went for a more traditional symphonic prog sound with albums like Jumbo and Rockpommel's Land. All those said bands who changed their sound by the mid 1970s to those styles mentioned did it rather successfully. Unfortunately Amon Duul II in 1976, when they attempted a more conventional symphonic prog album, really fell flat with rather uninspired compositions and the most of the album is just plain boring. If they simply did another Wolf City, I wouldn't have such a problem. The songs just drag on too long with hardly anything memorable. "Telly Vision" is catchy enough, but the lyrics totally ruin the song (hearing lyrics about Ronald McDonald, as in the McDonald's fast food joint's trademark clown is not exactly what I want to hear on a prog album). The rest I can't remember at all, no matter how many times I've listened to this album. The only good thing I can say about Pyrogany X is the original LP has a rather cool gimmick die-cut cover.

For Amon Duul II newcomers, start with their first three albums, Phallus Dei, Yeti and Tanz der Lemminge (Dance of the Lemmings), and then Wolf City (also get Carnival in Babylon). But I can't say about what they done between Wolf City and Pyragony X, since I hadn't heard those albums.

I'm completely shocked so many people flat out dislike Pyragony. It's true it's not as good as the previous Amon Duul II albums (which were all highly original classics) but you know, the songwriting honestly doesn't feel THAT much worse in comparison to previous work either.

"Flower of the Orient" is one of the coolest songs I've ever heard. Think of it as a German version of Blue Oyster Cult (the commercial BOC period starting with Agents of Fortune). I think such a comparison makes perfect sense. However Amon Duul II is actually MORE experimental and bizarre than Blue Oyster Cult ever was.

At least in the sense that Amon Duul II was willing to experiment with synthesizers and take advantage of the guitar in a way BOC never attempted. Though I'm definitely not putting down BOC in any shape or form of course- they are indeed an incredible rock band themselves.

I'd say Pyragony ranks among one of the more underrated mid 70's albums. Disco may have contributed to some of the less interesting moments from the album, or maybe the band was just running out of steam and it was destined to happen anyway. Either way, I've definitely heard a LOT worse than this. If this is supposed to be a German rock bands downward spiral, hey, I kind of like it!

2 1/2

At first the disc is a complete dud, reeking of musty old, lower-level progressive rock. Then on the third track we witness some compositional competency finally that just may point in a positive light. Lo and behold, a certain intelligent melody and rhythm does creep into the latter portion, saving perhaps a mediocre work from being a terrible one.

this is the only Amon Duul 2 album that i can't stand with the exception of some of the cds of the UK version(witch is a comptetly diffrent story) of the band. to me it almost sounds glam like, witch isent even good in that respect. i was so disapointed!! as far as i am concerned its the weakest Amon Duul 2 release out there.

I completly love this album. It was the second to last album from this continually evolving band before their breakup and subsequent reformation. While it does feature two new members it also includes original members Peter Leopold, Chris Karrer & the great John Weinzerel. I only give it four stars because it isn't quite as ggod as my favorites Wolf City, Carnival In Babylon, Yeti & Viva La Trance but a fine album nontheless. While the reunion albums all have their spots of brillance, this and Vortex are their last albums that are good from start to finish. Not the place to start your introduction to AD2.

Originally released in 1976. Sort of thought maybe the band should've changed their name to Amon Duul II Revisited. This isn't the SAME Amon Duul II that was on the lp masterpeices, like 'Phallus Dei', 'Yeti' and 'Tanz Der Lemmings'. It's a so-so progressive effort, at best. The playing is decent, but the writing and song arrangements simply didn't do much for me. I still plan to hang onto my copy, just the same. The better tracks would be "Flower Of The Orient" (believe they still might play this tune in their reunion sets these days), the instrumental "Crystal Hexagram" and "Telly Vision". Pretty much for AD II completists.