Der tollwuetige Kasper: Manchmal kommen sie wieder

God lives nowhere

The new album by Der Tollwuetige Kasper (Arne Pahlke's side project) "welcomes us into our lives" - in a life that we shouldn't feel too happy or privileged to be living... I will not refer to the technicalities concerning this particular musical style - others have done that much better than I ever could - but I will approach this work subjectively and emotionally, based on my impressions after repeated listens of Manchmal kommen sie wieder.

Arne is an ever-moving force. With each album, the style matures, the ideas find their expression through a new aspect of poetic philosophy and music. Concepts usually considered too serious to joke about, are dealt with in an apparently light and humorous way, while a touch of bitter irony always lurks in the corner. In Arne Pahlke's characteristic manner, cynicism and mocking tenderness coexist in a sometimes disturbing amalgam; the repetition of simple phrases often reminds of children's songs, but at the same time there is an enigmatic, delirious poetry hidden in this simplicity. Some of the songs make me think of the paintings of Jackson Pollock, with seemingly random phrase patterns that in fact form the skeleton of a scene, story or recurrent memory.

I love Arne's voice in this album - it is very versatile, adapting with admirable ease to the style of each song as if performing a role. Each song is like a theatrical sketch in which the voice, more than the instrumental arrangements, creates the "setting" and sets the mood. The music is distinctly present, its beat reflecting the spasmodic rhythms of modern life, but not overpowering - it turns the lyrics and vocal performance to advantage without "drowning" them. There is an odd beauty in all this, like Ensor's fascinating terata, depicting the monstrous allure of our world.

I give 9 out of 10 because for me, Suchen is your masterpiece, followed closely by Dunkel (and/or Abgrundtiefen) - but that, of course, does not reduce the value of this very original and interesting work.

NOTE: This album is no longer available on Jamendo, but may still be freely downloadable from The Jamendo Albums Collection @ Archive.org.