Wie ein schöner Traum

Not quite as good as "I Hab Di Gern" but very nice!

     

When the South Tyrolean Belsy and her "Lebenspartner" (more than just a boyfriend, but neither engaged nor married!) Florian Fesl of Bavaria teamed up for their first recording, "I hab di gern," an excellent duo ("a match made in heaven?") was created and the resulting album -- a cross between prior Belsy and Florian solo recordings and a few new duo songs -- was not only one of the best Volksmusik releases of 2010, it also earned the pair the last of the 25 annual Grand Prix der Volksmusik (Grand prize of Alpine Folk Music) awarded that summer for the title track. Much was expected of the thereafter inseparable couple and their following Christmas album was charming, although very much in the style of other Volksmusik Christmas offerings. Now, with the release of their second regular disc, a collection made up entirely of duos, we can hear the culmination of the last year's association and work. While solid, and with a few standout tunes, it may not strike the seasoned listener as being as strong or as memorable as their first release. One wonders whether they were given too many of the same kind of songs to perform (cute, but not sincere) with little thought to the idea that many fans had been holding their breath awaiting a major triumph from the latest generation of what was termed "love across the borders." Without a doubt the strongest song here is the last title "Puppentheater" (Puppet Theater) which just might signal a harder edge to Belsy and Florian's (he's dropped his last name, folks!) music...or maybe not.