It's the details that countless little things that hidden gestures

The first hearing of new Reinhard Mey album is almost a sacred process for me. You can hear it now times only once for the first time. Too excited I am to his new song-stories, too rare they are, than anyone expected me disturbing them. So it's been twenty years since I as a teenager realized that there is music that is not only alongside droning on the radio or accompanied a party sound, but also music that you should listen closely, the one quite close, as a book.

Previously biennial, since 2004 unfortunately only every three years, the beginning of May will reliably a new studio album by Reinhard Mey, always filled to the brim - lower than 70 minutes leaving no Mey-CD press shop.
And it's always the same ritual: It may be the most beautiful spring weather, nothing drives me outside the door. I gather in front of my system, the booklet on his knees, the headphones on your ears, the volume so that any caller can not hurt me and hopefully the play button is pressed halfway.

Never has me in this solemn Ersthören of Mey album anything made to interrupt the first run of the new songs - never! Until now!
After a wonderfully soulful and poetic introduction to the album "When you are with me", which at the very beginning, a song is like so many times that the album makes indispensable, followed with "If already music" a number that would have liked the music can something come along looser. At the twinkle in the text, I find the music to be too worn. Well, not an uncritical admiration conditionally.

As mentioned above, I read with the booklet, and has to go to the text of song three turn over the first time. And while "driving your boat through a sea of ​​candles" running from my thoughts wander. Not because the song would be boring or irrelevant, no, I'm considering. The song itself Mey turns to his grandson and are above the text two pictures of him with the new Mini-man on the arm. Actually nothing special, rather completely unspectacular, because there are not even particularly beautiful staged photographs. On a Mey is besides Juniors Junior at an intersection in Berlin, not even looking at the camera. On the picture is something that does not let go of me. That's a message, a small greeting! Or should I be wrong? It robs me the rest, I can not concentrate further hearing, at the end of the third song I interrupt actually the new Mey album, go to the drive cabinet to get the latest album by Meys close friend Klaus Hoffmann from the shelf. So Meys "Then it do well" out, Hoffmann's "Berlin Sonntag" pure. The first song "Before the others go to sleep" - and indeed! Already in the first stanza Hoffmann sings the line "... standing around here, Schlüter, corner Kant, I've already burned as a child my heart to you ..."
Note the street signs in the photo in the booklet of the new album ... Mey

It is precisely this attention to detail it, these fine facets that make Reinhard Mey and his music so special. Not the lute, the obvious, but the great stories that stuck in miniature. For this you need a sense, otherwise you can probably start with his music not much.

As in "Father coat" for example. One might say: Oh great, a song about 'ne old jacket. But then you do not belong properly. Based on this jacket tells Mey within minutes an entire life story, characterizes a man who lets him before the eyes of the listener to be visible, and conveys an impression even on the side of a bygone era, a time and a reality of life that dates back decades.

I do not want the whole album dissect seventeen songs long now. It is the 26th album like 25 times before also. Yet it was 26 times different. Always lay lived time in between, new Experienced confirmed conviction burgeoning doubt wink and tears. Seventy he is now but as always somehow ageless.
Serious he is over the years, more intense, the rogue flashes more rarely, life leaves scars. But he does not overly intellectual, already haggard not, nor is it really melancholy that characterizes the album, it acts increasingly as from an emotional wisdom inspired by wise or emotionality. Perhaps it is true that most likely yes.

It's amazing, Mey, who persistently refuses the tabloids and all celebrities it always could, to his life, his family not to disclose the public entertainment, exposed himself completely in his songs. He can look into the soul, but not on the terrace. He's just not superficial.

"It is a good album, a good book ... with the delivery actually even a handkerchief when you hear and read and think, your heart explodes ..." Mey sings in one of the new songs. And in fact, if a song, a few lines can move you to tears, then goes out every doubt, then obviously something good has succeeded. In "Then take care" would one of them supplied a handkerchief.