Embryo was a Munich-based musicians' collective that was founded by drummer Christian Burchard after he left Amon Düül II in 1969. Along with Edgar Hofmann, a saxophonist popular in Munich's underground jazz clubs, the two played with various other musicians until a permanent line-up with Ralph Fischer (b) and the English guitarist John Kelly was established for the first recording. With the support of four other guest musicians, they recorded their debut album Opal in April 1970, which was the fourth release on the legendary Ohr label with the famous door cover. It contains an original and innovative blend of psychedelic jazz fusion, free jazz, space rock and early British progressive hard rock, fused with traditional ethnic music, very free, very improvised.
Their first album is now recognised as one of the most influential albums to have contributed to the psychedelic jazz-rock avant-garde genre, and by many as one of the best Krautrock albums of all time.
