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CD Review
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Sing Out!, CD Review >>
There are only thirteen members of the group and I'm not sure if all of them are really "hippies" either, but it is a great name, and a perfectly apt moniker for this big Berlin-based band (brass, woodwinds, guitars, bass, accordion, violin, cello, bouzouki, harmonium) that plays a mix of frantic Eastern European folk tunes along with original material that ranges from folkish cabaret/pop to a cute children's nursery rhyme and a piece that can only be called ambient Cajun ("The Moving Song"). Well, you'll just have to hear it.
Not only does this group display instrumental prowess in diverse styles, several band members are also vocalists who acquit themselves quite nicely in English, French, and/or German. For example, Kiki Sauer, a wonderful instrumentalist who dazzles on accordion and harmonium turns out to also have a perfect voice for singing a romantic ballad in French called "Son Mystere." Sauer also sounds pretty emoting in German on "Heimlich," the title track. There are lovely male and female vocal harmonies on "Madame," a catchy ditty (set to a softly Latin rhythm) with verses in French and German!
Older members of the audience, upon hearing track eight might think a few memory cells are being jogged. It is in fact, "Apache," the crackin' surf-instrumental number number originally recorded by English band The Shadows in 1960. But 17 Hippies offer a radically different version, with a slowed down tempo, and the lead melody line played alternately by clarinet, brass or accordion. Cool!
I must say the brass section really punches up the arrangements of tunes like "Rustemul," the driving dance number which closes out this CD. Those of you familiar with the English folk "big" band Bellowhead will enjoy this, since 17 Hippies' arrangement of "Rustemul" sounds like Bellowhead goes to the Balkans!
The booklet which came with my copy of this CD included a useful supplement with English translations of all lyrics.
--KR 04/01/08
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