« Back to Top Level | Virus

Virus - Thoughts (1971)

Track listing:
  1. King Heroin 5:39
  2. Manking, Where Do You Go 5:01
  3. Theme 0:24
  4. Old Time Movie 4:15
  5. Butterflies 4:28
  6. Take Your Thoughts 6:11
  7. Sittin' And Smoking' 2:58
  8. Going On 4:34
  9. Deeds Of The Past 2:14
  10. My Strand-Eyed Girl 4:13

Notes

Although more song orientated than their first album, "Thoughts" serves you outstanding progressive outputs. It should be regarded as one of the top twenty Krautrock recordings.

First released in 1971, this is an excellent slice of keyboard dominated heavy progressive rock from a German band that at times resemble early Deep Purple, but with a more spaced out feel.

Virus was a German band that released two albums, both in 1971, Revelation being their first, and Thoughts being their final. Of course being German, they get classified as Krautrock, but don't expect another Can or Ash Ra Tempel here. Thoughts found the band with a lineup change and moving from BASF to Pilz (the same label that gave us Popol Vuh, McChurch Soundroom, Emtidi, etc.). The music of Virus is not typical of the cosmic and folk stuff found on the Pilz label, more tending to the heavy/bluesy end of the prog spectrum, not unlike labelmates McChurch Soundroom, but without the Jethro Tull-influence, so that means the band was exploring a more British style than many of their German contemporaries. The music tends to have a hard rock and blues feel, as typical of many prog rock bands of the time (many bands up until around 1972 had not abandoned their hard rock, blues, jazz, psychedelic, etc., roots). Guitar and Hammond organ are the most dominant instruments. A lot of the music is nothing short of amazing, where the intensity does not let up, like on "King Heroin" and "Old Time Movie". "Mankind, Where Do You Go To?" is a totally killer piece that has a bit of a late '60s psychedelic feel. "Take Your Thoughts" starts off rather slowly, before they go back in to those amazing guitar and organ solos. The second half of the album tends to have a jazzier feel (especially in the drumming). A totally amazing and unknown album worth looking in to!