Fräkmündt – Urbärglieder.

• Label: Percht.
• Year: 2010.
• Style: Alpin Folk / Neofolk.
• Format: CD.
• Note: Limited editions are available!
• Score: 88%

All these STURMPERCHT copies the last years are beginning to get on my nerves. Let’s play Alpin influenced folk music and sing in odd dialects, everyone!
FRÄKMÜNDT does exactly that, but they manage to stay interesting and fresh enough to keep me intrigued.

You know the formula. Except for the folk music, a handful more atmospheric tracks are thrown in alongside with native samples, nature sounds and so on. It’s very well assembled, I must admit that, and ambient tracks like “Mondmöuchloch” does almost impress as much as the folky ones, which is an achievement FRÄKMÜNDT does not share with any other band, neither STURMPERCHT, ARNICA or DANNAGOISCHD. But I said almost, because it’s in the turbo tempo folk songs FRÄKMÜNDT shines, with a sound that is both true and funny – yes, they’re providing a good time, and I can’t wait ’till I get to try them in a drinking session! With such a soul, deep male vocals, genuine guitar playing, accordions, flutes and simple rock & roll drums you can’t really go wrong. Or maybe it should have gone wrong?
The absolutely best track is the last one that sounds like a carnival in a blender, and those drums overhaul even those found in STURMPERCHT’s last album.

There are also some more mellow songs for fans of SONNE HAGAL to discover, and they sound great as well. But as I said, it’s in the up-tempo tracks this debut album sparkles the most.
That’s something I feel that I’ve written before not long ago. Oh, yes, I did! I wrote the same about the DANNAGOISCHD album, which leads me into CZ of STURMPERCHT, VINTERRIKET and the aforementioned DANNAGOISCHD. He’s a part of this orchestra as well, so if you’re into his stuff, don’t miss this one since it’s probably the best thing he’s been involved with so far. And if you are into the usual Percht / Heimatfolk stuff, you should (and probably will) include this in your next order.

“Urbärglieder” is one of the best Alpin folk albums, if not THE best. It looks swell as well, and can offer some serious folklore story telling in an interesting Swiss dialect.