review by thomas

Franz k. were a group with the trio setting of guitar, bass/vocals and drums from Germany that released their first album in 1972. This album was titled “Sensemann” and contrasting many fellow groups from that time in Germany, they sang in their native tongue whilst most other groups choose to sing in English.

Only two songs are featured on the album, both about 20 minutes long. As you can understand by reflecting on their instrumental settings, the music played on these songs don’t have that much in common with bands like Genesis, Yes or King Crimson. Franz k. is foremost a rock band but their two songs have many changes in time and tempo without being of a complex nature.

They are comparable to such bands as T2, Grobschnitt and Kraut-rock bands of that nature, meaning long songs that are not so complex but nevertheless full of good riffs, hooks and melodic playing that makes up for the lack of symphonic playing. Franz k. even described themselves as a working class band that never sold out (they have released albums at least up to 1982 and maybe beyond).

The music is of course highly guitar orientated but that does not mean that the two epics are made up of guitar solos or guitar noodling. No these two songs have so many different riffs and sections going on that you don’t miss keyboards or other instruments at all. If you want to know how far you could stretch this basic trio setting, look no further. I mean this stuff is miles better than Cream or The Jimi Hendrix Experience or even Emerson, Lake and Palmer; simpler, sure but miles more rewarding and enjoyable. You’re never goin’ to be tired of the monster riffs presented here or the different sections in each song. Or for that matter the bass and drum playing, which sounds so 1970’s yet so fresh.

I can hardly imagine any band being better than Franz k. in this game, this is 40 minutes of heavy rock riffing with enough changes to satisfy even the symphonic-classical only believers; well maybe not. Highly recommended!