Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Rock | Heft: Jahrgang 2012, eclipsed Nr. 138 / 3-2012 | VÖ-Jahr: 2012 | Wertung: 7/10 | Label: Rent A Dog | Autor: BSV
Paul Wallfisch, singer, keyboarder and songwriter of Botanica, has been musical director at Schauspiel Dortmund since 2010. So it is not surprising that "What Do You Believe In", the eighth album of the New York band, is the soundtrack to the stage play "The Master and Margarita" based on the novel of the same name by Mikhail Bulgakov. Wallfisch tended to exaggerate the eclectic approach in recent Botanica albums. Surely he is an intellectual cosmopolitan, as he says in the book. His vita proves it. Rock, Klezmer, Pianoballaden, Folk, Indie, Tango, Swing, Cabaret and Chanson can be found in his songs. So also on "What Do You Believe In", but not as broadly diversified anymore. Sometimes it rumbles like Tom Waits ("Ball In Hell"), sometimes it's dreamy like Mercury Rev ("Everybody Lies"). "Money" is first class indie rock, "Angel" a ballad with a brilliant guitar solo. "Kingdom of Doubt goes for noiserock. The song material doesn't have the quality of the 2006 album "Berlin Hi-Fi". The narrative itself seems to be in focus.
Top track: Angel
