Hans Unstern
July 1, 2011
Hans Unstern is a small man - topped with a mess of hair and a bushy beard. His shows are an hour-long symphony of rattles, whispers and clangs, where his indie rock sensibility meets xylophone, piccolo, sax, strings and harmonica.
That's also the sound on the first and latest album of the Berlin-based musician, called "Kratz dich raus" ("Scratch yourself out"). The CD came out in 2010 on a label owned by friends and fellow Berlin-based band, Ja, Panik"
With his poetic lyrics and unconventional approach to music, the star of this month's podcast has drawn comparisons with Bob Dylan. Unstern repays the favor with an unusual cover of Dylan's "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" on "Kratz dich raus."
The singer is a bit of a chameleon, preferring not to be tied down to any single genre or scene - and only reluctantly to an interview. For Unstern, the songs express all there is to say already. Judge for youself in this edition of Deutsche Welle's "German Pop" - formerly "Clip."
Author: Eva Gutensohn
Editor: Greg Wiser