Spike – Orange Cloud Nine
Real Ax Band was a short-lived late ’70s Krautrock group featuring musicians affiliated with the experimental collective Embryo and the related Missus Beastly. Compared to the aforementioned group, Real Ax Band actually explored a slightly more commercial MOR sound blending funk, soul, Afro, and latin salsa/samba rhythms with German fusion and progressive rock. That’s not to say the music is middle of the road at all as the group’s youthful intensity and rawness (fueled by a trip to Africa) help bring all their varied influences to life. Front and center is Ghana-born English singer Maria Archer who contributes quite a unique sound for a German fusion band: “real” English and soulful delivery, somewhere in the realms of Sly Stone and Betty Davis. “Don’t be fooled by other people’s rules. Don’t go to school.” Sadly, the group would disband after all their gear was stolen at a gig.
Recommended – Full Listen
Tags: Krautrock / Obscure Sound
Tracklist:
Nicht Stehenbleiben
A1 Pick Your Feet Off The Ground
A2 Samba Mortale
A3 Mark Spitz
A4 Frauen & Kinder Zuerst
A5 Sticks & Stones
Move Your Ass In Time
B1 I’m Checkin’ My Problems Out
B2 Neunauge
B3 Madwurszth
B4 Move Your Ass In Time
B5 I Can Hear You
Credits:
Artwork – Micha Ehlers
Artwork By [Layout] – Hartmuth Bremer
Bass – Christopher Mache
Drums – Marlon Klein
Engineer, Recorded By – Etienne Conod
Graphics [Innersleve Graphics] – Otto Gwiasda*
Guitar – Heinz-Otto Gwiasda
Keyboards – Dieter Miekautsch
Mixed By [Remix] – Uli Rudolf*
Percussion – Marlon Klein
Photography – Claudia Walkenhorst
Photography By – Thomas Meinecke
Producer – Real Ax Band
Vocals – Maria Archer
