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"The Iron Lung Quintet are a sound phenomenon."
8 out of 10 points on
plattentests.de
.
The iron lung quintet - for the birds, all for the birds (2024)
Every few years, autumn feels different than usual. Sunnier, warm and friendly. The sky clears, the horizon is wide and the migrating birds, they are not fleeing, they are traveling. Every few years, the iron lung quintet releases another album.
This band is a phenomenon. For more than 20 years, the five musicians from Hamburg have been defying the breathless, hectic irrelevance of the music business. With their lovingly arranged albums, they have created their very own cosmos of sound in which many things have their place. If you want, you can find influences of folk, indie pop, swing, surf, shoegazer, ambient, post-rock and jazz. But in the end, it is simply timelessly beautiful music with an atmospheric density that is second to none.
On their new album for the birds, all for the birds , which will - of course - be released in autumn, solace and hope are the defining themes. Equipped with laconic wit, the iron lung quintet conjures up the comforting power of music, creating lines for eternity. “Death takes you places where irony won't go” is the opening line of the song the theory of everything,,
a country-esque swan song to the existence of a world formula. And when that tender, shimmering guitar kicks in in the chorus, it becomes immediately clear what the quintet might mean when they sing: “at the end of the day/ you need a tune that will comfort you/everything else remains a scheme/some draft, some dry/theory“.
Speaking of the guitars. They float, tremble, indulge and beguile in every nook and cranny, with a stylistic spectrum that ranges from a crashing wall of sound à la Sonic Youth to catchy dreampop (Ride, My Bloody Valentine) to country and Americana acoustics (Calexico, Matt Berninger).
But anyone who dismisses the iron lung quintet as a guitar band is mistaken. On for the birds, all for the birds , the five Germans remain true to their reputation as an indie orchestra and use opulent string and brass sections, percussion and electronica, pianos, synthesizers and god-knows-what-else in their elaborate arrangements. And time and again the album surprises with wonderful trombones that make your heart soar, for example in the ludicrous adaptation of the composition “butterfly” by the Ukrainian-Canadian pianist Lubomyr Melnyk. Originally a purely instrumental piano piece, in the hands of the iron lung quintet it becomes a sophisticated, almost jazzy hymn to the lightness of summer (“great summer lightness”).
All of this fits wonderfully into a sound surface in which mixing engineer Tobias Levin (who has already mixed albums by German artists such as Tocotronic, Ja Panik, Messer, Nils Koppruch and Gisbert zu Knyphausen) has played a major part. The album's dense atmosphere often has something of a film score about it. And you wish there were films that took up and continued the musical storytelling of the iron lung quintet. These movies would be beautiful, warm and comforting.
This album was written, composed, and arranged by the iron lung quintet.
The songs were recorded by Frank Wöhst at Soundhafen in the years 2018 to 2021.They were mixed by Tobias Levin at Electric Avenue Studios, except for why do dogs look at you like that? and oh, gravity, which were mixed by Frank Wöhst. The album was mastered by Michael Schwabe at monoposto Mastering Studio.The lyrics were written by Christian Putzar. The lyrics of why do dogs look at you like that? are an adaptation of the US edition of Nick Asbury ́s Perpetual Disappointments Diary published by Asbury & Asbury. The song great summer lightness is an adaptation of the composition Butterfly (for Solo Piano) by Lubomyr Melnyk, courtesy of Lubomyr Melnyk and Erased Tapes Records Ltd..
THE IRON LUNG QUINTET are
Christian Putzar – vocals, piano, keyboards
Frank Wöhst – drums, percussion
Jens Altfelder – guitars, melodica, xylophone
Björn Steffens – guitars, ukulele
Birger Anders – bass
On this album, Fabian Frommknecht played the trombones and Wido Sauer played the trumpets. Axel Ruhland played the violin and the viola, Alexandra Silina played the cello.
Photographs were taken by Henriette Pogoda (www.henriettepogoda.de) at Weltvogelpark Walsrode. Amélie Putzar (www.amelieputzar.de) did the artwork.
Thank you to our friends, our families, all helping hands and traveling hearts. You know who you are. May nothing but happiness come through your door.
all the while
hassling down the street all for appointments that you never chose to have doing double shifts for you were taught to always do your work from the heart screaming in your cell phone to drown out the noise of someone else
who ́s screaming in his cell phone to drown out the noise of someone else
circling on a racetrack your blood pressure in your carotid artery
they say it is mere nosebleed that you suffer because that ́s the part they see interrupted in a sentence you began by interrupting
someone ́s sentence interrupting someone ́s sentence interrupted
the only time I ́m wide awake is in the dead of night
feeling funny all the time, yet you hardly ever laugh
and when you do it seems to be because of the excess of their demands beating down the price reduced on the discount of some other
beating down the price reduced on the discount of another
the only time I ́m wide awake is in the dead of night
[This is a song from the modern treadmill. About all the good things we miss, all the while racing the rat race. You may notice that none of these good things are mentioned in the text. The song is inspired by the short film Endless Day by director Anna Frances Ewert.]
flip, the bird
as we hear it from afar
here you are
in the midst of dawn of evil times
don ́t you forget
life itself is kind
and all these streets, all these ways are yours
all that noise
lets you lose your poise
the noise of old white ranting men in the streets
flip them the bird
they only go for easy prey
let them scream and let them shout let them roar and let them rant once this rally is over
these streets are ours again
so we will dance
we will walk
with our heads up high sending beams of pride have a laugh
we have no plans
to let them make this all go south again
let them scream and let them shout let them roar and let them rant once this rally is over
these streets are ours again
let it pass, pay no mind
flip a bird and you will see
once this rally is over this town belongs to you and me
proudly we ́ll walk, passing their barricades planting flowers, cheering songs
because it is us who own this place
let them scream and let them shout let them roar and let them rant once this rally is over
these streets are ours again
[This is a proud and happy antifascist song. Let them right-wing idiots rant. We will sing, we will dance, and the streets are ours.]
the taste of blood
go out tonight
try to pick a fight
the blessing of a blow that makes you forget when you hit the ground
will it dampen the sound
of this sad refrain in your head?
hope is but the dream of those who wake hope is the bread of the unhappy
in the discharge letter, it will say
there ́s nothing wrong with you, but your heart was heavy
down where the river flows
there ́s a place for those
who wait for the one that makes them forget when the morning comes
the remaining ones
will sing this sad refrain
as if light in the head
hope is but the dream of those who wake hope is the bread of the unhappy
in the discharge letter, it will say
there ́s nothing wrong with you, but your heart was heavy
the taste of your blood is the taste of your heart
hope is but the dream of those who wake hope is the bread of the unhappy
in the discharge letter, it will say
there ́s nothing wrong with us, but our hearts are heavy
[This is a very sad song about dull loneliness. We will leave it at that.]
heavy weight
two hundred sixty-five pounds
but not even a penny for the purse
staggering through the day, death rattling through the night still too fat to fit into the hearse
heavy weight
two hundred sixty-four pounds
by the end of another fasting week
the scale snickers “you are a loser either way” out for the count yet hard to beat
heavy weight
will I let myself go? - some may say I already have heavy weight
one is for the fish, two is for the cheese three is for the sauce, four is for the meat five is for the starters, six is for the desert seven is for the whipping cream
will I let myself go? - some may say I already have
[This song is about the eternal struggle with temptation, the weakness of the flesh, and the epic fight between good and evil. Or about chocolate lava cake with a slice of iced orange, with fresh basil, and an espresso. Your choice.]
the sea waits patiently
in the low season, the sea waits patiently for the return of the bathers
meanwhile the lost mooch about the beach shining, twinkling, as fresh as morning dew polished, brilliant, the sea is posing nude
we could leave our footprints in the freshly fallen snow to apprehend for once
the ways we went, the ways we go
in the low season, seashells scattered like the heart on my sleeve they are just pieces of broking plastic
nothing good is ever real
shining, twinkling, pretending to be true
broken, damaged,
it all reminds me of you
we could leave our footprints in the freshly fallen snow to apprehend for once
the ways we went, and where to go
and the waves keep rolling in
as if they had heard the news
the waves keep rolling in
reveal the trash, the proof, the truth
the wind, the spring, the rain, the tides will cover our tracks
we could leave our footprints in the freshly fallen snow to apprehend for once
the ways we went, the ways we will go
[The end of love is always only a temporary state. Something will always wash it away.]
why do dogs look at you like that?
there ́s always something in the aftertaste hence there was something in my kiss there ́s always something in the aftermath there ́s always something you could miss if it wasn ́t for the undertone
if only taken as it read
if it wasn ́t for the subtext here
we could kiss and go to bed, oh darling
why do dogs look at you like that? what is your evil little secret they scent?
I know the saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining but then
with you this lining is around a heavy mass of constant rain bang goes the door, ouch says the brain
I might be the ass but you sure are the pain in my neck I can feel a poisonous fang
no spider no snake can cause such a pang
why do dogs look at you like that? what is your evil little secret they scent?
You drag me underwater without lifting a single finger the devil ́s got a daughter
she ́s dragging me underwater
are we in for just another fight?
Are you never satisfied?
You bought the ointment solely for the fly
why do dogs look at you like that? what is your evil little secret they scent?
[This song is about living with a grump. The text is a free adaptation of the US edition of Nick Asbury ́s wonderful Perpetual Disappointments Diary.]
paper, scissors, stone
paper, scissors, stone
count to three and toss a coin
it is heads or tails
no sooner said that done
have no moan when you were wrong
all of my playfellows are grown-ups now none of them seems to play by the book
so this is when things get tricky whirling, swirling, and confusing make my head spin
not even to mention
when a matter of money comes in
it will come about
oh, sing out loud
don ́t you ever grow up
it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap
give me a simple tune
some verse to hum along to
instead
so I am wrapped, I am safe and sound
paper, scissors, stone
have no moan when you were wrong
all of my playfellows are fuck-ups now none seems to get out of this unharmed
so this is why things get ugly
the kicks, blows, and tugging of life that will make my heart shrink
not even to mention
when unrequited love comes in
it will come about
oh, sing out loud
don ́t you ever grow up
it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap yeah, with this simple thought
I am sure I won ́t impress the board but it ́s the best I ever had
it will come about
oh, sing out loud
don ́t you ever grow up
it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap, it ́s a trap
give me a simple tune
some verse to hum along to
instead
so I am wrapped, I am safe and sound safe and sound
[This song could have been another board meeting.]
sky remains the same
you went out in search of feathers from seabirds for the fabulous, the seldom seen, the rare
oh, the sullen little boy
returning from the beach
on this barren nordic coast where rocks are bare
if better were within better would come out don ́t waste your time on minor matter
all happiness there is
is in the mind
the sky remains the same as ever
on the way back home the rumble of the engine put you to sleep, sound and peaceful like a feather everything will come to he who waits
if you wait long enough, it ́ll be good weather
if better were within better would come out don ́t waste your time on minor matter
all happiness there is
is in the mind
the sky remains the same as ever
liquid droplets
frozen chrystals
and somewhere in between
there ́s a feather from every single bird of the sea
if better were within better would come out don ́t waste your time on minor matter
all happiness there is
is in the mind
the sky remains the same as ever
[We wrote this song to cheer up one of our most beloved seven-year-olds, sullen and frustrated with his own ambitions. Works for grown-ups, too.]
theory of everything
death takes you places where irony won ́t go
and you may find answers but don ́t expect to find the T.O.E. if once you felt this endless void
you start to capture loss on polaroid
the pain you feel right now someone else has felt before
it wanders at will
from south to north and back again the bruises you get from life
dazzle in the green and blue of dragonflies
for our fathers, for our sons we mean the world
we mean the world
even if it hurts
we can ́t help but carry on for our fathers, for our sons
Life is chasing taillights
and every now and then
the gods in the driver’s seat
hit the brakes and stop, make us believe they will wait and guide us
but they won ́t
they are just making fun of us
of our fathers, of our sons how mean the world how mean the world even if it hurts
we can ́t help but carry on like our fathers, like our sons
and the theory of everything
whatever it is, whatever it means
must be a wiring scheme for a sad machine
humming a theme
that will comfort me
when things fall into place
at the end of the day
you need a tune that will comfort you
everything else remains a scheme, some draft, some dry theory
for our fathers, for our sons we mean the world
we mean the world
even if it hurts
we can ́t help but carry on for our fathers, for our sons
[This is a song to be played at funerals.]
panorama inn
this is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea I can ́t draw breath in my ocean bed
but all I want is sleep
what is not lost to the fire
that is lost to the fire-fighting foam oh man, man in the mirror
get a shave, get a life, or go home
this ain ́t the sea
this ain ́t the ocean
this is just the noise of the interstate driving through your head this ain ́t the sea
this ain ́t the life
one that makes you happy
at least once in a while
down here on the ocean ground
there ́s so much more to see
then in these greyish days that float along they eat away at me
what is not lost to the fire
that is lost to the fire-fighting foam oh man, man in the mirror
get a shave, go out there and roam
so tell me, are you the bagman or are you just a bag of nerves? hey, the ladies ordered men
and I know you ́re ready to serve you won ́t hang yourself today tomorrow you might
but not in this shithole
that you were booked in for tonight
this ain ́t the sea
this ain ́t the ocean
this is just the noise of the interstate driving through your head this ain ́t the sea
this ain ́t the life
one that makes you happy at least once in a while this ain ́t the sea
this ain ́t the ocean
this is just the noise of the interstate driving through your head
[Some hotels are the epitome of functional sadness. One should not give them pompous names, it does not make it better.]
great summer lightness (butterfly)
twinkling on the water ́s surface as if made of gold watching in amazement as it finally unfolds
the brightly colored wings in their aimless fluttering flight there ́s so much more to life than anger, fear, and strife behind this wall of noise
great summer lightness
this day is a gift
come and lift this weight upon my soul
twinkling on the water ́s surface as if made of gold watching in amazement as it finally unfolds
riding freehand down the hill
throw your caps over the mill
there ́s so much more to life than anger, fear, and strife
great summer lightness
this day is a gift
come and lift this weight upon my soul
I will travel at the speed of sound
to where you have been all the while dancing in the sunlight
like a butterfly
twinkling on the water ́s surface as if made of gold watching in amazement as it finally unfolds
the brightly colored wings in their aimless fluttering flight there ́s so much more to life, there ́s so much more to life twinkling on the water ́s surface as if made of gold watching in amazement as it finally unfolds
riding freehand down the hill
throw your caps over the mill
there ́s so much more to life than anger, fear, and strife behind this wall of noise
[This song is an adaption of Lubomyr Melnyk ́s composition butterfly (for solo piano). It is a song about the first day of summer vacation, back then, when we were all kids.]
oh, gravity
crappy lousy ratty day
lousy weather, concrete desert, cold and grey haven ́t you heard?
this was all for the birds
your ambition, all your thirst
was from the first
for the birds
crappy lousy junky ratty day crawl into a hole
stay in bed come what may haven ́t you heard?
this was all for the birds
your ambition, all your thirst, was from the first
for the birds
I ́m in need of a mental visualization of a pleasant location
unamenable to the laws of physics oh, gravity,
fuck you, gravity good night
[This is just a tiny conciliatory melody to say goodbye. Sleep well, and fly up and away. Do not let gravity pull you down.]
