Achim Reichel & Machines came from my home town of Hamburg. The blond-haired Achim was the figurehead of the Rattles in the 60s, and later he was part of the wonderful Wonderland (who had a hit with “Moscow”).
In 1971, he seems to have been evidently under the influence of certain chemical substances when he set to work on his first solo album “Die Grüne Reise” (The Green Journey”). Tone-loops and sound ragas, together with drifting, outlandish melodies, were to be heard on this fascinating album. It was followed by five more albums in a similar style.
“Dat Shanty Alb’n” (“The Shanty Album”), in 1975, marked the definitive end of the psychedelic and electronic sound experiments, and Achim Reichel mutated into a down-to-earth nautical kobold…
The (green) journey never ends. To everyone’s surprise, Achim Reichel & His Machines, supported by friends, gave a much-celebrated concert in Hamburg’s new landmark, the Elbphilharmonie, on 15 September 2017. ‘Another Green Journey’ was performed on both historical and new equipment. Even the old Revox tape machine is prominently featured. The vinyl set sounds excellent, the music is very modern. As an added extra, there is the ‘Green Journey’ as a bonus LP. Great set, wonderful music, fantastic sound.
