EULENSPIEGEL

Named after a legendary German trickster folk hero, Eulenspiegel finds Ougenweide in much the same position as the little jester on the cover - namely, walking a tightrope between modern and medieval influences, and doing it with acrobatic deftness. As with their other, earlier 1976 (Ohrenschmaus), it's a sunny folk-rock album with a mingling of modern and medieval influences that sits favourably alongside the more progressive works by the likes of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, or perhaps the folkier moments of Gryphon. Of the two albums from this year I think this one has the mild edge, but there's not much between them.