HOLDERLINS TRAUM - HOLDERLINS TRAUM 1971

And what a dream it is! Here's a challenge: how do you describe a great album when you can't understand the lyrics? The album's name is `Traum', which is the German word for dream. Dream-like is as perfect a description as any for this surreal folk. The music is acoustic and often accompanied by flute and dark organ/mellotron. "Waren wir" and the title track, which open and close the album respectively are the most complete songs; they feature the entire band: drum, bass, organ, flute, acoustic guitar. The drummer, whose listed name is simply Michael, is essential to these tracks. His rock-jazz style lends these two tracks an ominous urgency that carries them (and the album as a whole) far above and beyond the rest of the folk-rock that was whizzing about at that time. My favorite is the title track for its funky undertone-some great conga and violin playing on it also. In between the first and last track are some of the dreamiest, acoustic songs you will ever hear. The lead singer, Nanny, is downright haunting as she is accompanied by flute on most of these songs. "peter" sounds like a traditional minstrel song you'd hear in a tavern on a dark night. "strohhalm", which means straw, is an Indian influenced bit complete with tablas and flute. "requiem fur einen wicht", or a requiem for a dwarf or miserable person, shifts moods spectacularly in its middle going from acoustic narrative to full-fledged bass and drum workout and yet still somehow remains grounded in its folky theme. "erwachen", or awaken, is a more medieval song and probably the most fairy-tale like. "wetterbericht", or weather report, is a quiet song with a nice guitar solo. On a side note, this album was crafted in 1970. Another German band at that time, Broselmaschine, was to make their own fantastic splash a year later. That album, like Traum, featured amazing, stream-of-consciousness acoustic folk. Two of Broselmaschine's musicians were guest artists on `strohhalm' providing the tables and sitar.

Info by

Robert Cossaboon

Tracks :

1. Waren wir (4:53)
2. "Peter" (2:52)
3. Strohhalm (2:20)
4. Reqiem für einen Wicht (6:32)
5. Erwachen (4:20)
6. Wetterbericht (6:34)
7. Traum (7:20)