Album Review: Blenden – In Den Wirren Einer Nacht

Reviewing a punk album that’s sung in a language other than your own raises issues, not least of which is ‘how do you review a punk album that’s sung in a language other than your own?’. Part of the answer lies in your personal appreciation of what punk is. Being confusing and obtuse is not a barrier when it’s sung in your own language. If anyone can tell me definitively what Wire‘s Kidney Bingos, or anything by Billy Horgan is about, for instance, I’d be very happy to hear about it. Another issue is that any attempt to define what is punk immediately negates itself – because punk is whatever you want it to be, and no punk police or influencer can tell you any different.

So, what does this Blenden album sound like? It sounds brilliant. From the unsettling wheezy accordion title track forwards, it’s a triumph of the punk pop form. There’s a general sense of familiarity but it is never derivative. Blenden are clearly masterful songwriters with a genius for what they would call an Ohrworm (earworm) and this album would stand up in any context where joyous guitar punk pop is enjoyed and celebrated. Yes, of course you would like to know what the lyric is about, and for full disclosure I do have enough German to get the gist, but even without that understanding, this is an album you can listen to for sheer musical pleasure. ‘In Den Wirren Einer Nacht‘ translates as ‘in the turmoil of the night’, but this is no heavyweight treatise. Middleweight uplifting punk pop is what it is.

I haven’t been able to discover if Blenden have ever, or will ever, follow the lead of German punk royalty Die Ärzte and Die Toten Hosen and produce English language albums. I would urge them to consider it, because their blend of uplifting, hooky punk pop would certainly make an impact. In summary, one to enjoy regardless of your linguistic prowess. I know I will be spinning this a lot. Klasse!

In Den Wirren Einer Nacht is released by Hulk Räckorz on 27^th September on silver vinyl (with a download code) and as a Digi-Pak CD. As a taster, the band have released the single Konflikt.