Spinning the Carousel: A Witty Spin on Dave Mackersie’s Rummelplatz Musik
Alright, buckle up—we’re diving into Dave Mackersie’s quirky little gem, Rummelplatz Musik. This album is like that one eccentric uncle at family gatherings who insists on playing the accordion but somehow makes it work. Genre? Pop. Country? Germany. Label? Decca. But honestly, none of that really prepares you for what’s inside this musical carousel ride.
First off, let’s talk about Dave Mackersie himself. The man doesn’t just play the organ—he communes with it. It’s as if he and his keys have some sort of unspoken pact to make listeners either tap their feet uncontrollably or scratch their heads in confusion (sometimes both). And oh boy, does he deliver.
Now, onto the tracks. There are a few standouts here, but two particularly stuck in my brain like gum under a carnival bench: "Feuert Los (Blaze Away)" and "La Matchiche."
“Feuert Los” kicks things off like someone accidentally lit a firecracker in a church organ. The energy is wild, chaotic even, but weirdly infectious. You can almost picture Dave hunched over the keys, sweat dripping as he pumps out these rollicking rhythms. It’s not perfect—there’s a moment where I swear the tempo wobbles like a tipsy clown—but damn if it doesn’t make you want to grab a partner and spin around until you fall over. That’s the magic of Mackersie; he doesn’t aim for perfection, just pure fun.
Then there’s “La Matchiche,” which feels like stumbling into a secret 1920s speakeasy hidden behind a carousel. The melody sways back and forth like a drunken sailor trying to find his balance. At first listen, it might sound like background music for an old-timey silent film, but give it time—it grows on you like ivy creeping up a wall. By the end, you’ll be humming along, wondering why no one has ever made polka-pop cool before now.
The rest of the album follows suit: jaunty tunes like “King Cotton” and “Bayrische Polka” keep the vibe alive, though they don’t quite pack the same punch as those opening tracks. Still, props to Mackersie for keeping things lively throughout. He’s clearly having a blast, and that enthusiasm rubs off on the listener—even if you’re sitting there thinking, “Wait, am I actually enjoying this?”
So, would I recommend Rummelplatz Musik? Absolutely…ish. It’s not going to change your life or anything, but it’s a delightful slice of oddball pop history from Germany. Listening to it feels like stepping into another world—a world where organs reign supreme, and everyone dances without caring how ridiculous they look.
And hey, maybe that’s the lesson here. Life’s too short to worry about looking silly when you could be spinning around to a tune called “Feuert Los.” Now excuse me while I go see if I can find a real-life Grand Orchestrion Du Manége Becquart—it sounds like something straight outta Hogwarts.
