No question I took the chance and went to the release show in Flensburg. It was a really awesome night with many nice people around and I also got to buy the vinyl of “vormann leiss” for very fair ten euro. Now that I have played it more than often I think it is a great record. Some of the songs on it are the best the band ever did. “insel” for example is just amazing. “am ende einer reise”, “bei fugbaums”, “vormann leiss”, the above mentioned “harm rochel” and ”haubentaucherwelpen” that has already been on the farewell 7” on Schiffen are awesome as well.

Turbostaat’s sound has become a little more accessible on this record. A little less broadband guitars and a little more separation of the instruments within the room of sound enhanced the already good sound of “schwan” to the max. As my friend Marius put it after hearing “harm rochel” on the internet: “this is exactly how a record should sound like!” The good old combination of a Fender Stratocaster with a Fender Telecaster is working out perfectly as always on this one and singer Jan has shaped his voice to total individuality. Another point I like is that there are more sung backing vocals which make the whole thing even more singalongable.

However a few songs are less awesome than others and “hau ab die schildkröte” doesn’t please me at all. But all in all this is a great, great record. And once again the vinyl (this time on the band’s own label) comes with an extralarge booklet with all lyrics and nice collage artworks, totally personal ones this time. Turbostaat are the most d.i.y. and most simpatico band on a major(sub)label ever. If you are from abroad and never heard of this band, please check it out. It’s one of the best contemporary punk bands in germany. If you are from this fucked up country yourself and you never heard of this band there must be something wrong with you anyway. Highly recommended record! Oh, and you MUST have “flamingo” and “schwan” as well!  [jan]

www.turbostaat.de