Album Review: Christian ‘Flake’ Lorenz – Flake feiert Weihnachten (Snow Flake)

Christian Lorenz aka Flake of Rammstein (composer/keyboardist) has released his debut solo album, Flake feiert Weihnachten (Flake Celebrates Christmas). Reimagining his favourite Christmas songs alongside a multitude of guests like Joey Kelly, Doro Pesch, Stumpen from Knorkator, Micha from In Extremo, Tausend Tonnen Obst, and many more.

Having recorded a Christmas song for his wife and kids, Flake was encouraged to continue writing when the song was uploaded on the internet and one user said, in so many words, that if there was an album of it, they would buy it.

…and here we are. I wonder if they have buyer’s remorse?

Ok, that might seem a bit mean, especially as Flake’s heart was in the right place, and all profits from the album will be donated to Die Arche, but this album isn’t good. Not only does the experimentation fail to inspire, but the raw tone and vibe is incredibly repellent. Putting it simply and extremely bluntly, it’s an ugly release, even if the artist has truly found a way to reinterpret so many famous festive tunes.

Featuring not just Christmas carols and traditional German Christmas songs, but popular releases like John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Wham’s Last Christmas (Letzte Weihnacht), José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad, and The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl). Of those, the most entertaining is Letzte Weihnacht as it’s weird. Whereas Feliz Navidad is sweetly sung (even f if singing isn’t Flake’s strong point) and having the likes of Doro & Joey Kelly on Fairytale of New York helps give it more legitimacy. Even if it’s a dour and unlikable version that refuses to end.

Elsewhere? Ihr Kinderlein, kommet is exceptionally irritating and Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht is up there as one of the worst versions of Silent Night, Holy Night that I’ve ever heard. The winter folk song, Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen has frosty atmosphere, but not a lot else. Weißer Winterwald has been messed with to such an extent (vocally) that it’s basically unlistenable. O du fröhliche is dour, to say the least, and the last couple, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen and Alle Jahre wieder are completely forgettable.

It’s not all awful though and there are the likes of Süßer die Glocken nie klingen, a decent track with nice guitar melody and likable choral voices, and Freu’ Dich (Leise rieselt der Schnee), which is a chaotic, heavy rock tune. There’s also the likes of Oh, es riecht gut, which is delightfully German and Tausend Sterne sind ein Dom, which is nicely sung by Stumpen and has Flake really hitting a melodic high with his keyboard. These tracks are proof that there is stuff to enjoy on Flake feiert Weihnachten, even if there’s nothing outstanding and everything else is such a slog.

Christian ‘Flake’ Lorenz – Flake feiert Weihnachten Track Listing:

1. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Flake Lorenz)
2. Ihr Kinderlein, kommet (Flake Lorenz)
3. Letzte Weihnacht (Flake Lorenz & Icke & Er)
4. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (Flake Lorenz feat. Jenny Rosemeyer)
5. Süßer die Glocken nie klingen (Flake Lorenz & Farin Urlaub)
6. Guten Abend, schön Abend (Flake Lorenz)
7. Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen (Flake Lorenz & Käptn Peng)
8. Freu’ Dich (Leise rieselt der Schnee) (Flake Lorenz & Tausend Tonnen Obst)
9. Weißer Winterwald (Flake Lorenz)
10. Oh, es riecht gut (Flake Lorenz)
11. Tausend Sterne sind ein Dom (Flake Lorenz & Stumpen)
12. O du fröhliche (Flake Lorenz feat. Andrea Hüber-Rhone)
13. Feliz Navidad (Flake Lorenz)
14. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Flake Lorenz & Michael Rhein)
15. Alle Jahre wieder (Flake Lorenz)
16. Fairytale of New York (Flake Lorenz, Doro & Joey Kelly)

Links

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