Embryo — “Opal”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — June 16, 2023

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

863) Embryo — “Opal”

A “pure Krautrock masterpiece” (https://roundandroundrecords.com/products/embryo-opal-lp) by a band Miles Davis described as “crazy creative musicians playing really weird stuff” (https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/87525/embryo/opal-gatefold-colored-vinyl) Maybe because “[b]and leader Christian Burchard was . . . hanging out with the Amon Duul commune of freaks at the time of this set that’s a drastic fusion of rock, jazz, blues, soul and psychedelia. Classic!” (https://roundandroundrecords.com/products/embryo-opal-lp) But “[f]orget your kraut rock jams, this is heavy psychedelia and exploratory jazz-rock with eastern themes”! (https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/87525/embryo/opal-gatefold-colored-vinyl) “One of the great space rock records of the 70s”. (https://www.dustygroove.com/item/953887/Embryo:Opal-180-gram-pressing)

Sean Trane writes that:

[Embryo’s debut album Opal is o]ne of those historically important albums, one of those that made Germany the third force in 70’s rock after UK and US and second in prog (after UK and before Italy and France kicked in). . . . Embryo became internationally reknowned for their particularly free and ever inventive jazz-rock often tainted with world music . . . . Christian Burchard is of course one of the founding members of Amon Duul II but also the leader in this band.

https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/embryo/opal

Dusty Groove Records adds:

Embryo’s almost more of a jazz fusion combo than a progressive rock . . . . This record’s maybe a bit more down to earth, with slightly shorter songs and more focus on fuzzy guitars – yet the overall approach still points to the skies with a really well-fused sort of energy, and this strong sense of imagination that really packs a lot into a small amount of space.

https://www.dustygroove.com/item/953887/Embryo:Opal-180-gram-pressing

Jean Jacques Perez expands (into the ether, courtesy of Google translate):

One of the emblematic figures of the German progressive scene, between krautrock and jazz rock and even ethnic music. . . . Far from commercial pressures, EMBRYO will allow itself great musical freedom.

Created in Munich in 1969, the group . . . . quickly entered the studio to publish its first album entitled Opal on the Ohr label the following year. . . . [which] unveil[s] a strange and experimental album of jazz influence with a good dose of psychedelia, rock, blues and soul. Let’s call it kraut-jazz.

Starting with the eponymous title, the disc goes into a crazy rhythm’s & blues where the violin immerses us in a disturbing and hypnotic atmosphere, reinforced by a guitar under acid and heavy. . . . a dazzling and fascinating moment of music which explodes in our face and invades our brains with a trance that takes our temples by the fingers. EMBRYO . . . showed that Germany was the third producing force in pop, behind the USA and England.

https://classicrock80.wordpress.com/2022/03/05/embryo-opal-1970/

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