My guess is that the 22-minute title track is the entirety of a vinyl side A. And yes, Mouth is precisely the sort of psychedelic, proggy, spacey 70s-eqsue rock band to kick off an album with a side-long track. And while everything here would fit into some sort of demented Moby Grape/Yes/Hawkwind/Vanilla Fudge access, this German band is also keen to emphasize an interest in krautrock and other sounds of days gone by.

Mouth Getaway (This Charming Man)

If you aren't into thick, fuzzy sludge that hasn't seen the light of day since 1972, turn away now. Mouth is not interested in captivating you with modern thoughts. This is sophisticated caveman rock that will put hair on the chest of a naked mole rat. And by inserting the krautrock in the rhythm section and general song construction, these pieces sound light years different than most of their forebears from fifty-plus years ago.

I find this utterly charming. There's a jazz fusion feel to some of the pieces, especially the spacier moments. Even on the shorter pieces, Mouth takes its time to make a point. That's okay. Some albums are for marinating. This one is a full soak.

While I don't hear any new musical ideas, Mouth does combine some sounds in new ways. Most of the influences I mentioned are blues-based, but Mouth goes for a more technical approach. Call it Zappan or krautrock (or somewhere in between), the precision at the heart of these behemoths is spell-binding. Sit a spell and give yourself time to take it all in. Mouth casts quite a shadow, one worth savoring to the end.

Jon Worley