(krautrock) Pinguin - Der Grosse Rote Vogel - 1972 - 2007, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Original release 1972 and recorded Lцwe-Studio, Kцln (Sept-Nov 1971).Originally released by Zebra records and the sound is strongly keyboard-dominated (organist Volker Plitz composed all the tracks), but there are enough furious guitar leads to satisfy the psych-lover. Similar to other Germans prog outfits like Frumpy, Subject Esq. - Freak Emporium

Pinguin's only release, though they had previously made a record under the name of Talix. This is organ-based prog, though with enough guitar leads and saxophone jamming and flute breaks to keep everybody happy. As happy as you can be listening to this dark and sinister sounding stuff anyway. As you can tell from the title, the vocals are in German. German vocals just add to the atmosphere, as far as I'm concerned. Favorite cut is the title track, with a riff that has really stuck in my head. I can't find this for sale as a CD anywhere, only as an LP, and the back cover looks homemade! All in all this is a very appealing album, highly recommended, an unheralded Krautrock classic!

In our times, when labels like Second Battle and Garden Of Delights are constantly reissuing obscure 1970s German prog classics, it became pretty hard to find the true gem that hasn't yet been put to digital treatment. However, Pinguin's sole album for some odd reason avoided the reissue (even non-legit), and it seems unfair, since many far less talented bands (like Grave or Arktis to name but a few) has been already re-released on CD in beautiful packages with archival bonus-tracks etc.
The band began in early 1970s as Talix and released one album under this logo, entitled Spuren (it's also LP-only and I'm yet to hear it; the rumour says it's a fine guitar-driven effort). With switching from Vogue to the just founded label Zebra (actually a "progressive" sub-label of Polydor), the band changed their name to Pinguin to record the album Der Grosse Rote Vogel in 1972.
It was the first LP released by Zebra and I wish every label had such a promising start! Pinguin's sound is strongly keyboard-dominated (organist Volker Plitz composed all the tracks), but there are enough furious guitar leads to satisfy the psych-lover. The music is basically pretty far from typical German kraut-rock, instead it reminds me of more "international-sounding" German bands like Frumpy, Subject Esq. and maybe even Faithful Breath. Vocals are pretty strong and though I've been told by my German friend that Pinguin's lyrics were mostly crap, I don't care for it since I don't know German. Mellow lyrical organ-driven parts alternate with heavy guitar outbursts and beautiful flute passages. "Der Blaue Wind" is a pleasant melodic ballad, while "Die Angst" is filled with irresistible rocking energy. Overall, this is a wonderful LP with all the right moves and most of the prog-fans won't be disappointed by it.
I should also add that Der Grosse Rote Vogel fits the label like Garden Of Delights perfectly and unless there are some copyright problems (like in case of Tortilla Flat), I fail to understand why this gem remains unearthed and thus unknown to many prog-lovers. - Lev 'Levgan' Gankine

The band Talix which recorded Spuren (1970) for Vogue changed their name into Pinguin (German spelling for 'penguin') in 1971. Organist Volker Plitz wrote all six tracks for Der Grosse Rote Vogel, recorded in Love-Studio, Koln, from September to November 1971. This became the first release on Polydor's 'progressive' label Zebra. They presented a strong fusion and classically influenced progressive rock with the instrumental emphasis on keyboards. As you might have guessed from the album title, all the lyrics were in German. The album won't raise your eyebrows too much, but has some appealing melodic and pleasant tracks. In 1973 the Zebra label folded, and it seems Pinguin did the same. - "Cosmic Dreams At Play"

Pinguin began in the early 1970's as Talix and released one album under this logo, entitled Spuren (also LP-only). With switching from Vogue to the just founded labef Zebra (a "progressive" sub-label of Polydor), the band changed their name to Pinguin to record the album "Der Grosse Rote Vogel" in 1971. It was the first LP released by Zebra in 1972. The sound is strongly keyboard-dominated (organist Volker Plitz composed all the tracks). Pinguin blended all sorts of unlikely elements into a rock music that trips out and flies off at tangents, topped by superbly gothic German vocals. The music is dark and sinister, in the realms of Drosselbart and Eulenspygel, basically pretty far from typical German kraut-rock, instead it reminds of more "international-sounding" German bands like Frumpy, Subject Esq. and maybe even Faithful Breath. Vocals are pretty strong, mellow lyrical organ-driven parts alternate with heavy guitar outbursts and beautiful fluite passages. "Der Blaue Wind" is a pfeasant melodic ballad, while "Die Angst" is filled with irresistible rocking energy. In 1973 the Zebra label folded, and it seems Pinguin did the same.

Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 3 from 28. July 2007

EAC extraction logfile from 30. October 2007, 14:19

Pinguin / Der Grosse Rote Vogel

Used drive : LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1P Adapter: 0 ID: 2

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface

Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo

TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 0:00.00 | 8:43.13 | 0 | 39237
2 | 8:43.13 | 6:09.34 | 39238 | 66946
3 | 14:52.47 | 7:18.54 | 66947 | 99850
4 | 22:11.26 | 7:46.71 | 99851 | 134871
5 | 29:58.22 | 5:17.45 | 134872 | 158691
6 | 35:15.67 | 6:06.57 | 158692 | 186198

Range status and errors

Selected range

Filename D:\flogger77\Pinguin - Der Grosse Rote Vogel.wav

Peak level 97.7 %
Range quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 7ABC340B
Copy OK

No errors occurred

AccurateRip summary

Track 1 not present in database
Track 2 not present in database
Track 3 not present in database
Track 4 not present in database
Track 5 not present in database
Track 6 not present in database

None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

End of status report

AUDIOCHECKER v2.0 beta (build 457) - by Dester - opdester@freemail.hu
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Path: ...\Pinguin - Der Grosse Rote Voge

1 -=- Pinguin - Der Grosse Rote Vogel.flac -=- CDDA (100%)

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