Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting. Today, two albums from the German Lorbass.
There are bands that leave a lasting impression, yet exist only for a short period of time. This, sadly, is the case for the duo Lorbass. This German duo released an intriguing LP, titled ‘Wie es uns gefällt’, in the late seventies. Its musical style was very much in the spirit of the German folk revival that was happening in those days. It contained traditionals, complemented with work from Liedermacher or composers / lyricists such as Bertold Brecht, and also their own work. The ballads differed musically from what previous German or German- speaking groups produced. Delicate and intricate guitar or zither playing and melancholic melodies. The duo was clearly inspired by the Irish Planxty.
There is some resemblance to the Dutch Wolverlei, that also performed traditional songs and ballads in their own language with sophisticated instrumentation and strings in the lead. The German duo could equally swing with their instrumental dances, usually led by a concertina.
Lorbass then became well-known in The Netherlands, for example with their performance at the then famous Winter folk festival – Peter Blaurock (vocals, concertina, guitar, waldzither, recorder) and Klaus Reiber (vocals, guitar, waldzither, harmonica, glockenspiel, piano and harmonium). Two years after their debut in 1979, they produced the follow-up ‘Wohl bekomm’s’, at the Burlington label. This album features again a mix of traditional tunes, songs and ballads and some of their own work. Their version of ‘Die Ballade von den fünf Sohnen’ is legendary and worth the search for a rare copy of this LP.
After that: silence.
There was no more follow-up, no new tour. The sudden death of one of the two musicans abruptly ended the band that never got the credits it deserved.
Lorbass – Wie es uns gefällt – Burlington BURL 004 (1979)
01. Der Gott Der Niedrigkeit (trad, Brecht) 3:11
02. Schwabenkrieg (trad) 4:04
03. Der Tod (Lessing, anon) 3:39
04. Moder, ick willn Ding hem (trad) 2:40
05. Allzeit findet man grosse Sorgen (trad)5:05
06. Das Lied vom Glück (Brecht, Reiber) 3.35
07. Grönländer – Nasendreher (trad) 2.27
08. Die Geschichte vom roten Papagei (Reiber) – Nachgesang (trad) 3.30
09. Vetter Michel – Marie (trad) 3.36
10. Wiegenlied (trad) 3.28
Lorbass – Wohl bekomm’s – Burlington BURL 011
11. Nachtwachterlied (trad, Reiber) 5.50
12. Sandmann (Blaurock) 3.02
13. Die Ballade von den funf Sohnen (trad) 6:37
14. Zwiefach -Billerbecker – Hopp Marjelche (Reiber, trad) 3:30
15. Monch und Nahterin (trad) 4.11
