Album Review: PerpetuumMobile by Rekkenze Brass
Alright, let’s talk about PerpetuumMobile by Rekkenze Brass. This album dropped in 2000 under the FSM label outta Germany, and it’s one of those records that kinda straddles a couple worlds—Brass & Military meets Classical vibes. At first glance, you might think, “What? How does this even work?” But trust me, it works. And not just in some boring, stuffy way either. These guys take classic tunes and give ‘em a brass-heavy twist that feels fresh but still pays homage to the originals.
Now, there are tons of tracks on here—24 to be exact—but I wanna zoom in on two that really stuck with me: “I Dreamed A Dream” and “Do You Hear The People Sing.” Yeah yeah, these are iconic songs from Les Misérables, but hearing them done up with trumpets, trombones, and tubas? That’s next-level cool.
“I Dreamed A Dream,” for instance, starts off slow and somber like the original, but then the horns kick in, and suddenly it’s like… woah. It doesn’t feel sad anymore; it feels powerful, almost defiant. Like someone saying, “Yeah, life sucks sometimes, but we’re still standing.” Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get chills from a brass version of this song, but here we are.
Then there’s “Do You Hear The People Sing.” Man, if you’ve ever heard the original, you know how epic it is already. But when Rekkenze Brass gets their hands on it, it becomes something else entirely. There’s this moment near the end where all the instruments come together—it’s loud, triumphant, and honestly kinda makes you wanna grab a flag and march down the street yelling about revolution or whatever. It’s wild how much energy they pack into what could’ve been a pretty straightforward cover.
The rest of the album has its gems too. Stuff like “Minstrels” and “Golliwogg’s Cake Walk” show off their playful side, while tracks like “Jesu, Meine Freude” lean more traditional and serious. And hey, props to them for throwing in some German flavor with “Muss I’ Denn…” because why not?
Here’s the thing though—what makes PerpetuumMobile stand out isn’t just the skill (which, don’t get me wrong, is insane). It’s the vibe. Listening to this album feels like hanging out at a party where everyone’s super talented but also super chill. No pretentiousness, no overthinking things. Just good music played with heart.
Oh, and random thought—I bet if Napoleon Bonaparte were alive today, he’d totally jam to this record. Think about it: military brass + classical roots? Totally his scene. Weird flex, I know, but hey, music makes ya think weird stuff sometimes.
So yeah, if you’re into brass bands, classical covers, or just wanna hear something different, check out PerpetuumMobile. You won’t regret it. Unless you hate fun. Then maybe skip it.
