'Malesch',the 1972 debut album by German prog band, Agitation Free, followed a somewhat different path than your average Krautrock band, veering unexpectedly toward the Middle East, specifically Egypt, in search of atmosphere and material. Underneath the dueling guitars and spacy synth work, desert rhythms and taped sounds of dusky cities percolate, adding depth and spice to the otherwise smooth Teutonic grooves.

Tapes of street songs emerge surprisingly and effectively toward the end of the otherwise stately march "Khan El Khalili," providing a bridge to the Terry Riley-ish organ trills that begin the title track - "Malesch," which, like many of the tracks, spins off into a leisurely stroll, sounding unexpectedly close to some Grateful Dead jams. Even when it picks up pace, there's an unhurried quality that fits in nicely with the Saharan undertones of the album. 'Malesch' is a solid, even inspired recording that stands somewhat apart from the usual clichés of the genre. Fans of German progressive rock from this period will almost certainly want to hear and enjoy this vinyl repress.

Tracklist:
A1 You Play For Us Today
A2 Sahara City
A3 Ala Tul
B1 Pulse
B2 Khan El Khalili
B3 Malesch
B4 Rücksturz