Jodel Time by Oesch’s Die Dritten: A Yodellicious Romp Through Alpine Bliss
If you’ve ever wondered what it’d sound like if a cowbell, an accordion, and some yodeling had a love child in the Swiss Alps—well, wonder no more. Jodel Time by Oesch’s Die Dritten is here to deliver all that Alpine goodness straight to your ears. Released in 2011 under Tyrolis Music (props to them for keeping folk alive), this album is basically Volksmusik on steroids. It’s got everything: jingles, jangles, yodels, and enough charm to make even the grumpiest city slicker want to don lederhosen and hit the hills.
Let’s get one thing clear—this ain’t your grandma’s polka record (unless she’s from Switzerland, then maybe it is). Tracks like “Jodeln Ist Cool” scream modern-meets-traditional vibes with their cheeky title alone. Spoiler alert: yodeling is cool, especially when done with such gusto. You can practically hear the mountains echoing back as they belt out those high notes. If I could describe this track in two words, it’d be “ear candy.” Three words? “Ear candy avalanche.”
Then there’s “Du Bist Mein Sonnenschein,” which feels like someone wrapped sunshine in audio form and handed it to you with a side of cheese fondue. The melody sticks to your brain like gum under a chair—it’s sweet, simple, and impossible to shake off. Every time I hear it, I half expect Heidi herself to pop up, goats in tow, ready to frolic through the meadow. It’s wholesome to the point of absurdity, but isn’t that why we’re here? To escape our mundane lives and pretend we’re living in a Ricola commercial?
Now let’s talk production creds because props where props are due. Kurt Zeiter produced this gem, while Kurt Keckeis handled recording, mixing, AND mastering. That’s a lot of Kurts doing a lot of heavy lifting. Honestly, these guys deserve medals—or at least free chocolate—for making every banjo strum and vocal trill shine brighter than a freshly polished alphorn.
The rest of the album follows suit, with tracks like “Die Berge, die sind mein Zuhaus” tugging at your heartstrings faster than you can say “Swiss chalet.” And yes, there’s even a song about macaroni (“Macaroni Oho”) because apparently pasta deserves its own anthem too. Who knew?
But here’s the kicker—listening to Jodel Time makes you realize how rare this kind of music is nowadays. In a world obsessed with TikTok beats and auto-tuned vocals, Oesch’s Die Dritten remind us that sometimes simplicity reigns supreme. Sure, not everyone will vibe with twenty minutes of uninterrupted yodeling, but hey, life’s short. Why not embrace the weirdness?
In conclusion, Jodel Time is less of an album and more of a cultural experience. Listening to it feels like stepping into a postcard, complete with rolling green pastures, clanging cowbells, and people who genuinely seem happy without Wi-Fi. So grab yourself a stein of apple cider, crank up the volume, and prepare to channel your inner alpine spirit. Or don’t. Either way, just promise me you’ll give “Jodeln Ist Cool” a spin—you won’t regret it. Unless you do, in which case… blame the Kurts.
