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Wolfgang Meyering
Malbrook
Westpark Music, Germany (www.westparkmusic.com)
Just start with the song titles. "Strange children's song goes polka." "Ballad about jealousy and murder." "Late medieval ballad about rape." "The avarice of the rich sister is bringing the poor sister's children the death."
Welcome to a most exciting recording. Wolfgang Meyering is not some demented psychopath but an emotional, caring singer and songwriter who has produced a record that is Scandinavian in sound and feel, Low German in provenance, medieval in origin and contemporary in its overall effect. And, most of all, this record rocks in the way that I personally enjoy the most: using traditional instruments (preferably ones that have not been used for the last few centuries) to deliver a contemporary, almost punk attitude. It's in the hurdy gurdy used, in his wonderful baritone vocals, in the handclaps and the Swedish and German bagpipes. It's in the keyboards, the fl�gelhorn, the Jew's harp, the flute, the loops, the harp; in Helene Eggern's voice and the combination of Swedish and German musicians who help him out. There are songs on this record that sizzle and seem ready to burst out of the speakers, particularly tracks such as "Sven Sture," "Twee S�sters" and mostly the stunning "Winterleed" (driving the winter out now). This is certainly a labor of love for Meyering and his friends and you can feel that on every second of this record. Such dedication to a project cannot but sweep you along into the vortex of its delivery.
If you are interested in Northern European traditional music or disappearing cultures or powerful deliveries on traditional instruments you won't go wrong with this record. If you are not, it's still worth giving Wolfgang Meyering and his bag of eccentric tunes a try. You'll be swept along and feel once again that it's really in what is called "world music" that some of the most exciting sound of our times is produced. - Nondas Kitsos
Available from cdRoots
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