KEINE ANGST

Three years after the release of their "Casablanca" album, City returned in 1990 with "Keine Angst" (No fear). Just prior to the start of recording, drummer Klaus Selmke left the band, although he would return some years later. This would also be keyboard player Manfred Hennig's last album with City. Hennig had been instrumental in the change of direction the band had made around 1983, his dominant keyboard work giving the band an at the time contemporary, but overtly pop, feel.

"Keine Angst" continues in the accessible pop field of its immediate predecessors, although the guitar work of Fritz Puppel is starting to push back against the dominance of Hennig. The opening "Morgenmond" (Morning moon) sets the mood for the album with a mid-paced piece of melodic pop. Toni Krahl is in fine vocal form from the outset, his powerful style adding substance to the otherwise rather ordinary compositions.

Unusually (for City) a couple of cover versions are included. The first of these is a German language version of Randy Newman's "Baltimore", here called "Rüdersdorf". The best known cover of this song is probably by Nina Simone, this version being somewhat more rock orientated. The second is a version of Hendrix's "Hey Joe", the title here being the more wordy "Der alte Klempner". This rendition of the standard offers an enjoyable heavy acoustic interpretation.

Elsewhere, songs such as "Steinzeit" revert to the 80's euro-pop of bands such as ABC, M and perhaps even Falco. While "Marie Marie" remains devoid of anything prog as such, it does have a superior arrangement, the synth brass punches being particularly effective.

In all, an album which will probably be of little interest to those who participate in this site. The euro pop style of the music is delivered professionally and competently, but it offers little in the way of originality.