This is how one likes to spend their last working day before the long-awaited weekend: you get to leave a bit earlier and finally do the things you dream about during work, and then there’s work piling up again on your home desk. Mentally, I complete the mail with the words: "A review of it. Quick, or there will be consequences! Best regards, Präsi." I already start brewing the coffee…
I sip it enjoyably, spit it out again since I don’t actually drink coffee, and let the packaging sink in once more. "Goldener Anker" are the words that adorn the bottom edge of the album. At first glance, it doesn’t look particularly exciting, because if I had found such an album somewhere else, I would have almost certainly left it behind. But since you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I’ll try not to be that way and still attempt to write as objectively as possible about it.
After shedding a few tears for the missing booklet, I get to work and insert the CD into the computer.
As the first notes reach my eardrum, I read through the included info sheet and look on in astonishment. I’ve actually stumbled upon a punk rock band made up of women (aside from the bassist) and sung by them as well. Good to know. This makes things significantly more interesting, as the music market is practically flooded with testosterone. A bit of estrogen in between certainly doesn’t hurt.
Then the vocals kick in, and I continue to listen with interest. I always find it amusing that there are so few women’s bands. The sassy and sometimes slightly poppy vocals sound quite good and convey a real sense of "punk rock mood" that has been branded with a middle finger on the forehead. The instruments also blend in well. Especially since the soundscape has a bit of a rehearsal room feeling, which adds a few sympathy points. Of course, I can only imagine the "hint" of a musty rehearsal room, but it still manages to please. The vocals stand out through this "purity" somewhat like a tattoo of an Easter bunny on the bicep of an inmate in a high-security wing, but nonetheless, a bridge is successfully built between these two worlds.
The women are strongly supported by the male bassist, who also plays the keys (on the keyboard, not with the women) and thus provides the appropriate sound for each song. The tinkling doesn’t occur too often, nor is it used too rarely; there is a healthy middle ground where these "organ" sounds add spice to the musical moment.
"Goldener Anker" offers a nice and short excursion into their musical world with "dto." (why is it actually called that??) that somewhat reminds me of the "Guano Apes." I say this about quite a few bands that have women involved… uh, working with women, but here it’s somehow the case as well. Strange.
However, it’s a pity that the album is no longer than 10 songs, and despite the versatile use of instruments, it doesn’t create multiple moods. The songs are all distinguishable from one another, but the "sassiness" of the singer leads the style and playing style of the band onto a clear track that wears out too quickly in the long run. It’s a shame because the approach is already well indicated with "Only You," but overall it feels a bit thin and has room for improvement. However, for those who have no problem with such things and love this kind of music, they can only complain about the length and otherwise look forward to a nice alternative that stands a bit apart from all the male options.
Not bad at all, so I give it 7 points.
