DIE ANARCHISTISCHE ABENDUNTERHALTUNG

Their only acoustic, non-rock album so far but for me this is still their best output - pure bliss. This is an album I keep listening to without getting tired of it, and always wanting more when it ends. DAAU's first album has an addictive drug-like effect on me: taking me high, granting me pleasure and then there is reality coming back as it ends, with a harsh crash.

With their following albums, more experimentation is to take place as well as electrifying their sound and bringing in drums. However here you will have a great acoustic and instrumental (mostly apart from a few vocalizations) experience.

Take an instrumental prog-rock, take out the guitars, drums and bass and put in a violin, cello, accordion and clarinet and you will get the sound of DAAU in this first release of theirs - A rock attitude done with non-rock instruments. They create textures and beautiful catchy melodies with each instrument taking either the lead or serving as the one in charge of the rhythm or support role. They play neo-classical music with what is at times reminiscing klezmer music, at other times a more gypsy sound and most of the time it is simply a chamber unit performing somewhat complex, constantly changing and mesmerizing music. They garner a power with their melodies, a force that sends this music blazing across my brain when in its fiercest or vibrating comfortably when at its more delicate moments. DAAU know how to push you around and how to make you feel at ease. They alternate between those two seamlessly. They know how to spell me as a listener with the beauty of their tunes and how to attack my senses with the energy of their playing.

The choice of instruments is well done as each one can perform the lead role or support the others. They are well complemented by each other as they come from three different groups and their sounds mix well and enhance their counterparts. In the various parts they play, they give a dramatic touch to the music, a melancholic feeling, a frenzy mood or even a humorous tone. They go over a plethora of sensations and sentiments throughout this album.

Aside from the fact that I think it is their best output and my favourite of theirs, I think that in order to know DAAU, one needs to start with this one and go chronologically to understand how the band started and how they progressed with each release and what new elements they introduced into their music.

Highly recommended! 4.5 stars