Percht
Sturmpercht : Geister im Waldgebirg (Ö,rec.2004-2006)****
For me, Sturmpercht shows much more of what ‘real’ folk music is compared to the borrowed folk played by some simplistic traditionalists. Sturmprecht first of all shows many aspects of an Alpine folk style and environment.
Especially the first half of the album which shows the most varied expressions with a more social folk context, going from shamanic associations, drinking-brother songs to overcome the fears of cold or possible enemies outside in the winter woods, sung with voices like wolves, but compensated with fun making rhythms, the marching folk of the woods, or also kind of herding songs, eventually sung between the cows (with amplified equipment and well recorded), or with even a hint to a true traditional alpine folk arrangement, or local stories, fantasy or not, that are worth to be told (one track with spoken word had a beautiful orchestration). This section really has something of the Alps and its nature in them, especially associated with cold winters. In the end, after having been convinced by the music, considering the warming up of the earth and the disappearing of the glaciers and snow levels (a dream lately told to me “the fifth ocean lies in the mountains”), I think because of appreciating Sturmpercht’s expressions, I am truly going to miss the winters…
Close friends to the group are Allerseelen, Sangre Cavallum and Waldteufel, all contributed their own sounds and inspirations, while Axel from Werkraum possible mostly is a responsible influence on more or less the second half of the album, which shows a dreamier and romantic fantasy side, with more poetic and acid/psychfolk driven tracks.
