Daevid Allen & Kramer
Hit Men/ Whos Afraid

Released by the British record-company Gonzo Multimedia in 2013, this is a double-disc set re-issue of both albums that joined David Allen (co-founder of Soft Machine and Gong) with Mark Kramer (full-time member of New York Gong, Shockabilly, Bongwater, etc., active participant and collaborator of New York City's downtown scene, producer, founder and owner of Shimmy-Disc Records). Allen and Kramer have worked together frequently; besides producing Allen’s solo albums, Kramer has collaborated with his long time hero on two albums, namely “Who’s Afraid?” (1992) and “Hit Men” (1996). Both were originally released through Kramer’s Shimmy-Disc. On “Who’s Afraid?” (CD1: 11 tracks, 43 minutes) Allen (vocals, guitars) and Kramer (vocals, guitar, guitar, keyboards, flute, sampler, production, engineering) are accompanied by David Licht (member of The Klezmatics, Shockabilly, Bongwater, etc.) on drums and percussion; and on “Hit Men” (CD2: 10 tracks, 41 minutes) – by Bill Bacon (member of Flying Island, New York Gong, Material, Curlew, etc.). Both albums feature song-oriented, thoroughly composed, arranged, performed, and produced, full-ensemble Rock-music, stylistically related to Psychedelic Rock, Canterbury Stage, Folk, Fusion, and even Avant-Prog. In my view, these recordings are some of the best of Daevid Allen's work in the 90’s. The music can resemble at times early Soft Machine or Gong but it definitely has a modern core and individual charm. Highly recommended – not only for devoted fans of David Allen, but also for the general public searching for quality rock-songs with deep lyrics.