by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The prolific Munich group Web Web here notch up their sixth album in seven years, described on their Bandcamp pages as “more psychedelic, sometimes more krauty than before”.

This time the group comprise Roberto Di Gioia (Rhodes, Fender Precision Bass, Moog, Mellotron, percussion), Christian von Kaphengst (Fender Precision Bass, Rhodes), Peter Gall (drums, percussion, Fender Rhodes) and Tony Lakatos (tenor saxophone, flute), with the core members often switching between instruments.

Web Web were joined by a guest for the recording, guitarist JJ Whitefield, while Michael Reinboth, the Compost founder, is executive producer.

What’s the music like?

The psychedelic elements are quickly evident in the lovely, grainy sound of Apotheosis, where Whitefield’s distorted guitar asserts its presence. The contrast with The Madness of Ajax is a marked one, as Lakatos’ flute comes to the fore.

The organ-led Mysia travels through time, with murky distortion, while there is a wonderful version of Moondog’s Bird’s Lament, a spontaneous suggestion from Reinboth that features a rather beautiful sax solo from Lakatos.

There is indeed a healthy infusion of space jazz and Krautrock, found especially on tracks like Nyx, where a heady keyboard line is spun out over reverberant drum track and appealing weirdness in the middle ground.

Does it all work?

It does indeed, for the players pack a lot into a short space of time. None of the tracks outstay their welcome, the result being focused playing that creates really appealing moods and melodies.

Is it recommended?

It is. Plexus Plexus feels like a time capsule, recorded recently but beaming some of the best bits of the 1970s in through its sessions.

For fans of… Jazzanova, Mr. Scruff, Tosca, Boozoo Bajou, Four Hero

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,546 – Tuesday 27 May 2025