FAHNENFLUCHT released their sixth album "Weiter, Weiter" this year.
The review of "Weiter, Weiter" can be read at ramtatta.de here: https://www.ramtatta.de/s/reviews/f/details/id/8908/
Apparently, FAHNENFLUCHT still had some time after the recordings for the new album and probably also had the desire to do something. They remembered their friendly relations with the band 100 KILO HERZ from Leipzig. Since both bands crossed paths at "Rock am Kuhteich" in 2017, a friendship has developed between them.
Thus, not only has an East-West split emerged, which thematically is not addressed at all, but since yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Wall, I wanted to mention it anyway.
More important than this anniversary, however, was the shared fun, if not the urgent necessity for political punk rock. FAHNENFLUCHT covered two songs by the Leipzig band, and the Leipzigers took on two songs by FAHNENFLUCHT.
FAHNENFLUCHT chose "Scheren Fressen" (from the album "Stadt, Land Flucht") and "Träume" (from the album "Weit Weg von zu Hause"). 100 KILO HERZ have a style that moves between ska-punk, melodic punk rock with brass, or even better, brass-punk. What FAHNENFLUCHT makes of it are songs with even more pressure. Faster melodic punk rock with a hardcore touch makes the lyrics even more determined, yes uncompromising. This is due to the musically demanding and captivating sound that the band has already delivered on "Weiter, Weiter". So, if you like the current album, you will also enjoy the two songs.
100 KILO HERZ process the songs "Hoffnung" and "Schwarzmaler" in their own style. With a lot of feeling, the Saxons create almost gentle, poppy songs from them. The brass arrangements in "Hoffnung" are only punctually but dominantly placed, which is very fitting. In between, they also step on the gas a bit, which then reminds of the Italians from Talco, but overall, the song becomes a mid-tempo number that comes across as softer and more digestible.
In "Schwarzmaler", the vocals in particular make something very special out of the song. The vocals are very prominent. It gives the impression that someone is speaking more melodically than singing at the front, while the music supports it from further back. Here too, the brass arrangements are well placed. However, the focus is on the clear vocals, which I find very commendable. The lyrics of FAHNENFLUCHT deserve to be heard in full. This is sometimes lacking live when the band from the western part of the republic kicks off.
Overall, it's really a fine thing. 4 songs, in four new versions. That means four times really good, political, demanding punk rock.
What is less good is that the split is only released on vinyl, and in a limited edition of only 500 copies. Herein lies the problem, as the good piece is already sold out.
Maybe there will be a second edition?
