The superstars of the traditional German folk scene, but pretty much unknown to the wider world, seven-piece vocal group
Kastelruther Spatzen continue their impressive prolific run of releasing an album every year since 1985 with their 2010 release,
Immer Noch...Wie am Ersten Tag. Unsurprisingly, for a band whose sound is steeped in the tradition of old-fashioned Bavarian music, their sound hasn't changed one iota since their debut. Its 14 tracks, therefore, will delight fans of oompah band beats, tinny brass riffs, and sea shanty-style singalong choruses, but will leave everyone else utterly bemused. The likes of "Ein Glucksstern Oben am Himmelszelt," "Kastelruth Ist Mehr Als Nur ein Wort" and "50 Jahre Jung Geblieben," the latter a tribute to their 50-year-old frontman Norbert Rier, may admittedly sound rather fitting when blasted out of the speakers at various beer festivals. But apart from the acoustic ballad "Dir Zuliebe," which could quite easily have been lifted from an '80s
Cliff Richard record, and the flamenco-tinged slow-dance of "Du Hast an Mich Geglaubt," the album's failure to deviate from their usual novelty sound means it's pretty difficult to stomach anywhere else. It's admirable that over 30 years into their career,
Kastelruther Spatzen are still going strong, especially with a genre that is surely on its last legs, and still writing most of their own material. But with a sound that appears to have been recorded on a cheap miniature keyboard, it's hard to deny that
Immer Noch...Wie am Ersten Tag is the pure definition of a niche listen. ~ Jon O'Brien