JÄNNERWEIN

"Abendläuten"

Heimatfolk - 2008

CD

From Salzburg, Austria, same hometown of the popular Alpine demon patrol Sturmpercht, hails Jännerwein, a new-born and promising neofolk trio that releases its debut album "Abendläuten" under the banners of Heimatfolk. The press info compares them to the Perchten themselves, but already from the first listening the impression is quite different, their music sounds more melancholic and solemn, without a trace of their cousins' tipsy and merry attitude. Songs like "The Grass Is Always Browner" or "Sturm" conjure ancient holy rituals and celebrations, often Christian ones, through the use of traditional instruments like accordion, acoustic guitar and violin. Vocals are gentle, but also epic and involving, with an effective use of choruses, like in the excellent "Wehmut" and "Burian".

There's also room for some powerful instrumental, such as "Instrumental I" or the fantastic "Abendgebet", where the darkest and more martial side of Jännerwein's music is evoked by the use of trumpet, horns and thundering percussions. Surely the Austrian band doesn't invent anything groundbreaking, but their traditional folk sound is charming and warm, able to depict forgotten rural sceneries, as well as disturbing medieval ones, with genuine and effective melodies. Together with Sturmpercht and Werkraum, they are surely the most valuable German-speaking neofolk outfit emerged in the last few years.

- Simon V.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/neulandmusik