Witthuser & Westrupp - Trips und Traume, Der Jesuspilz, Bauer Plath (1996) (3cd Box)

Witthüser & Westrupp was a German singer-songwriter duo consisting of Bernd Witthüser (born 29 April 1944), guitar, mandolin and Walter Westrupp (12 February 1946) guitar, ukulele, trombone, harmonium, psalter and many other instruments. The band was formed in June 1969 as "W&W's pop cabaret", singing German texts in a special way. In 1970 the name changed to "Witthüser & Westrupp". The band was active until 1973. They produced four studio LPs, a live Double-LP, and 4 singles. Some of their songs were well known in the German hit-parades, and in 1971 they were on the 3rd place of the German music poll. ~Wikipedia

Absolutely trippy, pastoral and gorgeous, this album belongs without restriction to these marvellous "acid" folk items which emerged from 70's German underground. It contains funny songs, cool explorations in bluesy psych folk and nice acoustic experiments. "Lasst Uns Auf Die Reise Gehn » is a folk ballad with a really popular German sensibility. "Trippo Nova" is one of these songs whose the two guys have the secret; a bluesy folk invention, acoustic "trip" with some dreamy aspects in the harmonies and German lyrics. A beautiful, relaxed and humorous atmosphere with catchy acoustic guitar parts. The rather calm tempo of the composition finally accelerates into a dancing improvisation dominated by acoustic percussions and folk guitars. "Orienta" is a psychedelic folk composition with a delicate, mysterious "eastern" felt. It starts with a simplistic, "moody" repetitive melody for the flute to progressively reach you into an oriental journey with voices in the background, a Celtic & traditional folk theme for the guitar. With this tune, Witthuser & Westrupp totally invent the concept of progressive folk. "Illusion I" is a beautiful, melancholic composition with a basic use of acoustic guitars and violin parts, its melody slowly grows in you. "Karlchen » is an other mysterious, transcendent mood with flute / guitar combinations and female recitatives. A high poetic, introspective moment with a nice "humorous" section for brass instruments. "Englischer Walzer" sounds as a drunken, traditional folk song with funny piano / violin parts. A nice listening experience and essential for all progressive-folk lovers. ~Progarchives

Track listing
1. Laßt uns auf die Reise gehn (4:00)
2. Trippo Nova (8:55)
3. Orienta (7:35)
4. Illusion I (4:35)
5. Karlchen (9:05)
6. Englischer Walzer (1:38)
7. Nimm doch einen Joint, mein Freund (3:30)
~ 39:18






After their ultimate acid folk classic "Trips & traum", the duo is back with an other surprising effort whose concept is to convince (within a satirical dimension) that the bible is all about drugs. However it doesn't matter for those who don't speak German, let's be focuse on the music with its one more time brilliant and gorgeously pastoral, delicate and trippy. The introduction part (Liturgie) is a humorous little composition written in a very folkish vibe. "Schöpfung" is among my favourite Witthuser & Westrupp"s pieces: it starts with acoustic, dreamy like, quasi magical guitar parts. It also features narratives in German and a very poetical, mystical sense of harmony. "Erleuchtung" is a luminous, druggy psych folk tune wich includes a variety of acoustic instruments (voluptuous flute lines, folk guitars, percussions), an effective, dancing chant in German and children choirs…a really intimate, beautiful song. "Beasuch aus dem Kosmos" is a ravishing spaced out folkish excursion for deep organic chords and acoustic guitars…it also include vocals in German. A lovely, living, dying soundscape with a magnificant classical (almost flamenco) introspective guitar melody. Among my favourite kraut-folk compositions. The instrumental sections are more achieved than on the previous recordings (notably the guitars). Really German-ish folk music with an evident taste for old, odd music, popular counts, mysteries and dark medieval age…at the top of 70's psychedelic folk music. ~Progarchives

Track listing
1. Liturgie (2:00)
2. Schöpfung (8:25)
3. Erleuchtung und Berufung (4:50)
4. Versammlung / Bekenntnis / Die Aussendung (10:21)
5. Nehmet hin und esset (3:33)
6. Besuch aus dem Kosmos (9:45)
~ 38:54






Witthuser & Westrupp made two ultimate progressive folk classics with "Trips & Traum" and "Der Jesuspilz" but don't reiterate their effort in this "Bauer Plath" wich is a vague collection of teutonic country folk music. The compositions don't lost their bucolic charm but the adventurous "acid" / "esoteric" dimensions of the band have gone. The introduction track is a nice dancing folk song for Harmonica & Banjo, very "rustic". "Vision 1" is a melancholic ballad with German narratives, banjo, choir and plaintive organ chords. "Der rat der Motten" is a refined, little "bucolic" ballad, always with this nostalgic feeling. A good traditional "teutonic" folk document, including a few proggy elements. A pleasant listening but only for fans! ~Progarchives

Track listing
1. Zu den Jahreszeiten (3:30)
2. Vision I (2:45)
3. Der Rat der Motten (8:05)
4. Bauer Plath (3:20)
5. Die Schlüsselblume (6:43)
6. Das Märchen vom Königssohn (9:25)
~ 33:48



original uploader unknown, found in my archive