ALLERSEELEN

"Neuschwabenland" (reissue)

Ahnstern - 2008

2 LP - 600 copies

Another luxurious vinyl reissue for a sold-out Allerseelen classic sees the light, this time being "Neuschwabenland", a real turning point in Gerhard's carrier. Released in 2000, this was the first "military pop" collection assembled by the Austrian veteran, as well as one of the first examples at all in the scene of this new style. The album takes inspiration from the Neuschwabenland, the German colony settled on the Antarctic continent previous to WWII and technically never conquered by the Allies. The songs are therefore supposed to reflect those glacial and nearly lifeless sceneries, turning the old ritual and eerie sounds into a storm of cold beats, icy keyboards tunes and epic orchestral samples.

Despite the album's freezing topic, however, here you can find some of Allerseelen's most famous hits, such as "Mit Fester Hand", "Gläserne Kugel", "Panzergarten", "Isländische Umarmungen", "Neuschwabenland" (also known as "Wo Die Wilde Kerle Wohnen") or "Cordon Dorado", great martial yet poppy and melodic rides, that sound astonishingly warm and danceable. The industrial and mechanical side of Gerhard's music emerges again in the reconstructed versions of "Hartung" and "Julmond", originally featured on 1995's "Gotos=Kalanda". Side A of the first LP contains four unreleased tracks of amazing quality: new remakes for classics such as "Sturmlied" and "Edelweiss" (possibly the best to the present), as well as the fantastic "Suchst Du Die Wintersonne" and the industrial walzer of "Wir Sind Schwäne", further and updated examples of this refined military pop-folk style.

"Neuschwabenland" is a fundamental chapter in Allerseelen's rich discography, and surely one of his most accessible creations. This precious reissue is an occasion not to be missed to get hold of this classic in a totally remastered form and with tasty bonus tracks. What's the next reissue going to be?

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.geocities.com/ahnstern

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