Krautrock II Companion

Sparifankal is a very unique rock group from Bavaria. In 1972 the Bavarian anarchist rock band Sparifankal developed and practised the so-called ruebel-music, together with musical laymen, children and "patients", as a kind of harmonic/disharmonic therapy. Sparifankal utilized genuine Bavarian lyrics which differ drastically from higher German. With this approach, the band developed a new concept: rock music sung in Bavarian language. During 1976 the band recorded their first vinyl "Bayern Rock" (Bavarian Rock). It was released under Trikont/Schneeball/April, the first German independent label founded by several German underground bands such as Embryo, Missus Beastly and Checkpoint Charlie. Sparifankal toured mainly in southern Germany, but also found time to perform at several large festivals all over the country. Sparifankal released two more albums, the acoustic "Huraxdax Drudnhax", which set new standards in traditional German music, and the 2LP-album "Negamusi", which helped to bring the band international exposure. But during 1981 Sparifankal played their final concert... In 1999 the members of Sparifankal came together again to do a punk-benefit-concert for a former member of the group. The band found that this reunion concert was too much fun not to reunite. The current lineup reflects the history of the band, and Sparifankal still works against any supposed trends and is not interested in walking beaten paths. After very successful concerts at some larger festivals in southern Germany the band found it necessary to record an album with the new songs. During the hot summer of 2003 "Dahoam is wo andas" (Home is Somewhere Else) was recorded on an analog machine without any "frickelfrackel" by William Faendrich in Huglfing. It is still real "Bayern Rock", and totally different and opposed to all that polished global-touristic Alpinyodelrock. You will get the picture!
Albums

Bayern-Rock 1976
Huraxdax Drudnhax 1978
Negamusi 1981
Dahoam Is Wo Andas 2004

Bayern-Rock (April 1976)

Album Legnth: 42:04

Recorded: Feb 1976 Theater K. - Munchen

Genre: Punk/Folk

Best Song: 'Bis Zum Nexdn Weidgriag'

Release Info: 1994 CD Reissue OHRWASCHL OW027

Tracks:

1. Bis Zum Nexdn Weidgriag 4.24
2. Dees Land Is Koid..... 6.23
3. Da Braune Baaz 3.25
4. I Mechd Di Gean Amoi Nackad Seng 3.04
5. De Groskopfadn 4.10
6. Bluus Fo Da Peamanentn Razzia 7.00
7. Wans Ums Farecka Nimma Ged 7.28
8. Aus Is Und Goar Is 6.10
9. Familienlem #2 6.04*
10. Knoten #1 7.28*
11. Knoten #2 3.28*
12. Rubel #1 9.29*
13. Rubel #2 4.26*

*=Bonus Track

Overview:

Released as April 0000, Sparifankal's 'Bayern Rock' marked the first LP release of the independent record label April Records, Germany's first such label. Sparifankal founded the label together with fellow political rockers Ton Steine Scherben and Checkpoint Charlie as well as jazz fusion rockers Embryo and Missus Beastly. Initially, the label was created with the purpose of allowing these bands the opportunity to record their music free of record company pressure and interference. That being said, 'Bayern Rock' is not your typical krautrock record! The music is raw, the lyrics, sung in an odd Bavarian dialect, are freaky, and the final product is an urban mixture of folk, punk and garage rock. The album was recorded during a February 1976 concert at Theater K. in Munich. Surprisingly, the sound is very good for a live recording and sounds almost as if it were done in a basement studio. Musically, much of the album is dominated by a folkish garage rock sound featuring a prominent dulcimer. At times the music borders on punk and alternative. 'Bis Zum Nexdn Weidgraig' and 'Dees Land Is Koid' are straight forward garage rockers with punk tendencies featuring driving riffs and searing leads. 'I Mechd Di Gean Amoi Nackad Seng' counters this approach and brings to mind Witthuser and Westrupp with its 'street folk' approach and use of untraditional instruments. 'De Groskopfadn' contains a very catchy, jangly, folk chord sequence and chorus which is sure to delight. 'Bluus Fo Da Peamanentn Razzia' is a tight number with a standout psychedelic lead guitar. The Ohrwaschl CD reissue contains five bonus tracks accounting for over thirty minutes of music. Four of these tracks date from May 1973 and feature the band in a much different aesthetic. Fully improvised, these tracks have a unique folk quality which is augmented with a bit of psychedelia. As an extra bonus, the CD comes with a 3.5" sticker of the album cover and an 8-page foldout booklet with lyrics and photos. Thanks goes out to current Sparifankal members Anton Seutter and Carl-Ludwig Reichert for supplying me with this CD and allowing me to use an entire song for the website. [4/5 Doug]

Musicians:

Carl-Ludwig Reichert - Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica
Florian Laber - Bass, Vocals
Günther Sonderwald - Drums, Triangle
Tillmann Obermaier - Lead Vocals, Dulcimer, Guitar, Sulna
Jan Dosch - Bass, Guitar, Ocarina, Vocals

Musicians 1973 Bonus Tracks:

Tina Oberlander - Vocals, Flute
Monika Dimpfl - Percussion
Carl-Ludwig Reichert - Guitar, Harmonica, Kazoo
Till Obermaier-Kotzschmar - Dulcimer, Guitar, Shenai, Piano
Jan Dosch - Guitar, Mandolin, Bass
Florian Laber - Piano, Bass

Guest:

Peter Dimpfl - "killerbongos", Harp

Huraxdax Drudnhax (Schneeball 1978)

Album Legnth: ___

Recorded: Early 1978

Genre: Folk

Best Song: 'I Mog Di'

Release Info: 1994 CD Reissue OHRWASCHL OW028

Tracks:

1. D Schui Brend 2.54
2. Oxnaung, Erdepfe & Schbinod 1.15
3. Nix Is Aso 3.47
4. De Greana Fliang 3.52
5. I Mog Di 4.07
6. A Nackada Hippi Am Mississippi 2.27
7. Im Joar 2000 3.20
8. Aufm Land 4.29
9. Hoizland-Liad 7.05
10. Koid Weadz 3.54
11. Draudi, Zwengs Da Gaudi 1.16
12. Huraxdax Drudnhax 3.01
13. Trio #1 1.19*
14. Trio #2 2.12*
15. Trio #3 1.00*
16. Trio #4 3.02*
17. Trio #5 0.47*
18. Trio #6 2.28*
19. Trio #7 1.30*
20. Trio #8 2.33*
21. Trio #9 1.46*
22. Trio #10 1.03*
23. Trio #11 0.41*
24. Familienlem #3 4.03*
25. Gesundbeter 1.45*
26. I Glaab Ned An An Deifi 3.27*
27. Handaufleger #1 0.29*
28. Handaufleger #2 0.35*

*=Bonus Track

Overview:

____

Album Rating: _ out of 5 [Doug]

Musicians:

Carl-Ludwig Reichert - Guitar, Vocals
Till Obermeier-Kotzschmar - Guitar, Vocals, Dulcimer, Shenai, Sulna, Flute, Kazoo, Harmonium
Stefan Liedtke - Guitar, Harp, Banjo, Vocals
Butze Fischer - Drums, Tabla, Bells

Negamusi (Schneeball 1981)

Album Legnth: 62:26

Recorded: July 1981

Genre: Folk/Punk

Best Song: 'De Groskopfadn #3'

Release Info: 1981 Double-LP Release Schneeball 0029

Tracks:

1. Familienlem 2.35
2. Nix Ois Wia Nixn 2.25
3. Drausde Heid Ned... 4.40
4. Huifsarbeiter Bluus 2.55
5. Ausgflibbd 1.45
6. Grinsbichla 5.10
7. Mia Hod Wos Greislix Draamd Heid Nachd 3.50
8. De Groskopfadn #3 3.40
9. Zuggabubbal 3.28
10. Mia Gem Ums Farecka Ned Auf 6.28
11. Glosscheamfiatl 3.02
12. I Glaab Ned An An Deifi 3.54
13. Trallala 0.54
14. Brauna Baaz I 5.40
15. Brauna Baaz II 3.35
16. De Gwampadn Dodn 8.15

Overview:

____

Album Rating: _ out of 5 [Doug]

Musicians:

Carl-Ludwig Reichert - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Till Obermaier-Kotzschmar - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Shenai, Sulna, Harp
Ulli Bassenge - Bass, Vocals
Rudi Haunreiter - Drums, Percussion

"Dahoam Is Wo Andas" (Schneeball 2004)

Album Legnth: ___

Recorded: 2004

Genre: Folk/Punk

Best Song: 'Klaubauf'

Release Info: 2004 CD Release Schneeball 402 4569 3034 2

Tracks:

1. Afghanistan 2.59
2. Dahoam 3.32
3. I Wach Auf In Da Fria 3.45
4. Oaschichtiga Mo 4.29
5. Nixn Bluus 5.38
6. Klaubauf 4.47
7. Damerl 6.50
8. I Woas Ned Wose Doa Soi 3.46
9. Minga Bluus 14.09

Overview:

____

Album Rating: _ out of 5 [Doug]

Musicians:

Carl-Ludwig Reichert - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Till Obermaier-Kotzschmar - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer, Lap-steel, Shenai
Jan Dosch - Guitar, Bass
Ulli Bassenge - Bass, Organ
Anton Seutter - Guitar
Roland Duckarm - Drums

Guests:

Pit Holzapfel - Trombone on "Minga Bluus"
Williams Fandrich - Guitarsolo on "Klaubauf"