Cochise - Rauchzeichen

Review by Julien Berton

Album Review: Rauchzeichen by Cochise (1996) Let’s dive into Rauchzeichen, a hidden gem from 1996 that blends Rock, Folk, and World influences with an unmistakable German twist. Released under the labels Folk Freak and Big Easy, this album feels like a warm campfire on a cold night—raw, earthy, and full of soul. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. That’s what makes it stick. The band, led by the multi-talented Günther Holtmann (who handles vocals, bass, and electric guitar), pulls together a tight-knit crew of musicians who bring something special to the table. Tracks like “Räuberballade” and “Was Kann Schöner Sein…!” really stand out—not just because they’re catchy, but because they feel authentic. No overproduced nonsense here; just real people playing real music. Take “Räuberballade,” for example. This track kicks off with a driving rhythm that grabs your attention right away. The mandolin work by Pit Budde adds this cool folk edge, while Holtmann’s gravelly voice tells a story you can almost picture in your head. You don’t even need to speak German to get swept up in the vibe—it’s storytelling at its best. I remember spinning this one late at night, and damn if it didn’t make me want to grab a pint and sit around swapping tales with friends. Then there’s “Was Kann Schöner Sein…!”—a softer, more reflective piece that sneaks up on you. The oboe played by Michael Hager gives it this haunting quality, like watching the sun set over rolling hills. There’s a simplicity to the lyrics and melody that hits differently after a long day. It’s the kind of song you might hum without realizing it hours later. What strikes me most about Rauchzeichen is how well it balances energy and introspection. Songs like “Der Bitterböse Friedrich” have a playful bite, while others like “Verlust Eines Heiligenscheins” lean into melancholy without feeling weighed down. And let’s give props to the production team: Günter Pauler’s engineering and Peter Harenberg’s mastering keep everything sounding crisp without losing the organic charm. One thing worth mentioning? The artwork by Klischeeanstalt Ludwig Schramm matches the mood perfectly. It’s got that rustic, handcrafted look that fits the album’s themes like a glove. And hey, bonus points for Philipp Nadolny pulling double duty as both technician and electronics wizard—that guy was clearly hustling hard. Looking back, Rauchzeichen reminds me of those albums you stumble across in a dusty record store and end up loving more than anything on the charts. Sure, some tracks blend together after a few listens, but isn’t that true of most albums? What stays with you is the feeling—the sense that these guys weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they just wanted to share their world with you. Final thought? If you’re into Folk Rock with a side of grit, this one’s worth checking out. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself singing along to songs you barely understand. Funny how music can do that sometimes, huh?

Artist: Cochise
Album: Rauchzeichen

Germany

1979

Rating: 4.0

Review
About Album
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Tracks
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Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
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Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Related albums

Download

Filename: cochise-rauchzeichen.zip

MP3 size: 75.6 mb
FLAC size: 829.8 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Verlust Eines Heiligenscheins	2:57
Rolltreppe Abwärts	4:12
Jeder Traum	3:59
Im Laufe Der Woche	7:17
Ballade Von Der Hester Jonas	4:30
Der Bitterböse Friedrich	3:46
Kannst Du Das Mitansehen	5:4
Ja Damals	2:42
Rolltreppe abwärts	4:18
Was Kann Schöner Sein...!	5:12
Was Kann Schöner Sein	5:16
Der Bitterböse Friederich	3:43
Rauchzeichen	4:25
Das Anarchistenschwein	2:50
Räuberballade	5:8
Die Waffen Sind Verschrottet	3:41
Verlust Eines Heiligenscheines	3:0
Ja damals	2:41

Images

Album herunterladen Cochise - Rauchzeichen

Catalog Numbers

FF 401004, FF 1004
BIG 24
FF 1004

Labels

Folk Freak
Big Easy

Listen online

escuchar en línea
online luisteren
online anhören
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
écouter en ligne
ouvir online
lytte på nettet
lyssna på nätet

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
Reissue
CD
Remastered

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	FolkFreak Schallplatten
Copyright (c)	Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH
Published By	Deutsche Austrophon
Recorded At	Tonstudio St. Blasien
Mastered At	TELDEC-Studio, Hamburg

Credits

Role	Credit
Arranged By	Cochise
Artwork	Klischeeanstalt Ludwig Schramm
Bass	Günther Holtmann
Electric Guitar	Günther Holtmann
Vocals	Günther Holtmann
Drums	Peter Freiberg
Percussion	Peter Freiberg
Effects	Peter Freiberg
Engineer	Günter Pauler
Mastered By	Peter Harenberg
Oboe	Michael Hager
Photography By	Günter Stillert
Producer	Carsten Linde, Cochise
Technician	Philipp Nadolny
Typography	Astrid & Christoph Pauselius
Flute	Klara Brandi
Guitar	Pit Budde
Twelve-String Guitar	Pit Budde
Mandolin	Pit Budde
Electronics	Philipp Nadolny

Notes

This version states the catalogue number as FF 401004 on spine & backcover and as FF 1004 on labels. Otherwise is is identical to Cochise - Rauchzeichen.
(Released with insert and a printed inner sleeve which advertises other releases on Folk Freak.
These include Dick Gaughan - Handful Of Earth from 1984, which dates this issue to the mid-80s)
Aufgenommen Ende August 1979 im Ton Studio St. Blasien, Northeim
Im Vertrieb der Deutschen Austrophon, Diepholz
On back cover:
℗ Folk Freak Schallplatten 1979
On center labels:
10-13 are bonus tracks, previously unreleased

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (A-side, etched): FF 1004 A/2 H1
Matrix / Runout (B-side, etched): FF 1004 B H1
Rights Society: GEMA
Label Code: LC 5985
Barcode: 4 015698 522426
ASIN: B000025U5L
Label Code: LC 5663

About Cochise

German band from Dortmund (1979-1988) named by a famous indian apache chieftain. With their catchy but also political and quite critical folk music with german lyrics they reached in a short time one of the leading positions of the ecological and peace movement in Germany. The formative phase of the band was 1984 until 1987. Within this 10 years of appearance in the scene this Polit-Rocker played more than 1.000 gigs mainly in the are of the german language and sold with quite less presence in the communication media a huge amount of approximately 120.000 units of their nine albums. After the split mastermind Pit Budde appeared with follow-up projects like Puma X (1990, supported by members of Cochise) and the program: Durch die Wüste - Songs von Cochise together with the turkish musician and vocalist Ahmet Bektas (2007).

Name Vars

Cochise Und Freunde

Members

Michael Hager
Martin Hesselbach
Martin Buschmann
Klara Brandi
Pit Budde
Günther Holtmann
Peter Freiberg
Tom Kühn
Dorle Ferber
Andreas Held

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the 1996 album *Rauchzeichen* by Cochise is like a musical patchwork quilt? It blends rock, folk, and world influences into something uniquely German. The band, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Günther Holtmann, crafted songs with rich storytelling—like "Räuberballade" and "Ballade Von Der Hester Jonas"—that feel like mini epics. Fun detail: Holtmann not only sang but also played bass and electric guitar! And get this—the album credits include an oboe player (*hello, Michael Hager*) and even someone dedicated to "effects." Talk about layers. With its mix of acoustic warmth and experimental touches, it’s no wonder *Rauchzeichen* stands out as a hidden gem in the Folk Rock scene.