In Scherben – Dort an jenem Baume.

• Label: Lichterklang.
• Year: 2011.
• Style: Neofolk.
• Format: CD.
• Note: Limited, 500 copies.
• Score: 77%

Remember a few years back when you could find a new German neofolk band nearly every week? Those were the times.
Lately, the scene’s been pretty idling. New bands have been more attracted to STURMPERCHT and their alpin-folk, and here I’m torn. While I do, of course, welcome new bands, I can also sense that this new lot of alpine-folkers are shallowing the dark folk scene with focus on extraordinary music rather than what’s most important. Read on, I explain further down there…

Is the genuine German neofolk dead? I feared, some hoped. No, here come IN SCHERBEN with their first proper release. I say proper because I don’t count SkullLine releases. Also, I recall a demo from deep within my head. But thanks to the young label Lichterklang (this is their third release only) we can now enjoy this album called ”Dort an jenem Baume” and it’s on proper CD format, presented in a most charming digipak with a booklet and all.

IN SCHERBEN are still young. There are things to improve. The guitar does not always sound crystal clear, the vocals are a little out of tune here and there, and the percussion often feel insecure, but this is neofolk as it should be and, at least for me. The spirit is more important than a perfect sound. And spirit here is, I can tell you. That deep romantic spirit, yearning, longing for something long lost…
This takes me back to the days when SONNE HAGAL and FORSETI ruled the scene, when things were simple and wonderful. A repeated melody on acoustic guitar, some back-drop atmospheres, occasional kettles and / or snares, deep male vocals. That’s all it takes. You don’t need that hudry-gurdy, your strange Bavarian flutes and countless guitars / zithers, lutes, key fiddles / whatever. Because if you don’t have what it really takes, the spirit, then you’re failing nevertheless.
I’m not attacking the alpin-folk genre in general here, but I’m attacking the fact that we have 20 bands circulating that are all imitating the same band, a band which cannot be imitated anyway.
”But you do welcome 20 FORSETI clones, right?”, well I do and I don’t. It’s harder to be a clone of something that doesn’t have such a unique sound, it’s easier to put your own hallmark in sound and mood with smaller measures. Something IN SCHERBEN proves. And I will love to learn what the future holds for this young project.