German reissue of 1972 album includes four bonus tracks, 'Light', 'Lemmingmania', 'Between The Eyes', 'All The Years Round'. Repertoire. 2002.
CD Reviews
At an elevation of 35,000 feet and descending slowly
Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 04/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amon Duul II always had a good grasp on melodic and harmonic development - even on albums that featured lengthy freak-outs like Tanz der Lemminge (1971) and Phallus Dei (1969). On this 1972 release the melodies are still present, although the songs are shorter and generally range from 3-5 minutes in length, with a single track at 7'19" and the closing track Hawknose Harlequin is the longest at 9'45" (and is simply incredible). Stylistically, this is very psychedelic stuff with subtle shades of prog here and there - a perfect combination in my book. The instrumentation consists mainly of acoustic and electric guitar (sometimes heavily distorted), energetic electric bass (it is way up in the mix), and drums, with some soft Hammond organ work a la Rick Wright (Pink Floyd), acoustic piano, Farfisa organ, and various electronic effects. I really like the unusual vocal style of Renate Knaup and the vocal harmonies with the other musicians are fantastic, although I can't imagine that every listener would agree (they all have an odd vocal style). Hands down, my favorite tracks on the album include Shimmering Sand, with its gloomy soundscapes and minor keys, and the closing track, which features the freak-out qualities of their earlier albums in the form of a KILLER spacey jam with some great electric guitar playing. With respect to the remastering effort by Repertoire, the sound quality is pretty good, there are photos of the band, and the liner notes are informative (and in English). In addition, four bonus tracks in the 2-4 minute range have been included that were released as singles between 1970 - 1972 and are all pretty good. All in all, this is a great album that was put together with a tremendous amount of imagination. Highly recommended along with Phallus Dei (1969), Yeti (1970), Tanz der Lemminge (1971), and Wolf City (1972) - which was released shortly after Carnival in Babylon and is very similar, although not as psychedelic."
This One Deserves Better
Floyd M. Orr | Austin, TX United States | 07/07/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Carnival in Babylon was one of the first German rock albums I came to love back in 1972. Ninety percent of my listening has been to the same wonderful German rockers ever since. Yes, I do like Can and Ashra a bit more than ADII, but I still have practically all of their work and I still think this is some of the world's best rock. This release would get five stars if it were not for so many that are even better. I would give five stars to Almost Alive (an ADII album that is almost impossible to find), Wolf City, and Dance of the Lemmings. If you already own these, I think Carnival in Babylon should be next on your list."
More classic-song oriented but in the same way: Perfect!!!
PortugueseMusicFan | Porto, Portugal | 10/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Buy the remastered Repertoire edition of 2002, the sound is really something and the music sparkles in bright psychedelic colours...The starting theme is splendid acid-tongue in Renate Knaup voice that makes my blood a little warmer, the male voices too well synchronized with her making a drone-like effect...Astonishing is second song, "All the Years 'Round", drowned in fiery psycho-guitars, gorgeous psychedelia!!!
Seems they had a pause in their experimental progressive rock, after the Yeti masterpiece, using a more conventional song structure, but in the same fresh way...The lysergic ambient is intact, there is a almost-acoustic jewel, "Tables Are Turned", with that goblin-like intrepid bongos... The bonus tracks are a remarkable addition to this Carnival, they really fit...Splendid edition!!!!Please come back, Repertoire!!
"
A more song-based Amon Duul II
BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 05/05/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"1972's Carnival in Babylon marked a point in Amon Duul II's career where the band cut back on those extended experiments and concentrated more on music. Not unlike what Brainticket had done on Psychonaut. While nothing Duul II had ever done was as disturbing as what Brainticket had done on their debut, Cottonwoodhill, their previous albums were marked with side-length experiments, at their most weirdest, they were not unlike what Tangerine Dream was doing at the same time ("The Marilyn Monroe Memorial Church" from Tanz der Lemminge reminded me of TD's Alpha Centauri, while most of what ADII did was usually more rock-oriented than TD). In 1972 Tangerine Dream was to release their most experimental album ever, Zeit (one that obviously polarizes fans, I am one that defends the album, but I can understand those that don't dig the album), but Amon Duul II went the other way.
A few people ended up a tad disappointed with Carnival in Babylon, probably because of the shorter cuts and lacking the extended experiments of albums previous. This was their first single album since Phallus Dei (their debut). My theory as to why they cut back on the experiments was to reach a larger audience or they were starting to have bad drug experiences. Renate Knaup had returned (she sat out Tanz der Lemminge), Rolf U. Falkner was gone (temporarily, for this album), in place of Karl-Heinz Hausmann, who tended to the Hammond organ. Peter Leopold played drums, as well as Danny Fichelscher. John Weinzierl and Chris Karrer are still here, as well as bassist Lothar Meid (who replaced Dave Anderson after Yeti, because Anderson returned to England in order to join Hawkwind for one album, In Search of Space, and moved on to other things, including Amon Duul III aka UK in the '80s and '90s, and in charge of the Demi Monde label, a label that gave Ozric Tentacles their first label deal).
Many other groups who did what Amon Duul II did on Carnival in Babylon got away with it, and many albums from such groups had the reputation as "lost gems of prog/psychedelic", and to be honest Carnival in Babylon is not bad at all. Many of the songs have a strong Pink Floyd-like feel, but with female vocals (that is the tracks that Renate sings on). The Jefferson Aiplane comparison often surfaces, probably because Renate Knaup sounded something like a Teutonic Grace Slick, and the Airplane influence can be heard on "Tables are Turned" (but has elements you'll obviously not find on Surrealistic Pillow or the much more experimental After Bathing at Baxter's). The psychedelic feel is still there, luckily. It's only with "Hawknose Harlequin", the album's longest track, does the band harken back to experiments of earlier albums, but not as extended (as it's only 9:45, as opposed to around 20 minutes). It's definately a worthwhile album, but the only reason why I gave this a four star rating, is because their following album (also released in 1972), Wolf City was a better album, improving on the new direction the band was going on this album."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1