Carambolage - Eilzustellung-Expres LP

Originally released 1982. On their sophomore album Eilzustellung-Expres, Carambolage’s ranks were bolstered by the arrival of Janett Lemmen, who had deputized for the pregnant Angie on a recent tour. Like its predecessor Carambolage (1980), the record was produced in Fresenhagen by R.P.S. Lanrue and released on the Scherben label David Volksmund Produktion. Like a whirlwind girl gang on the road, the LP revs up with dynamic guitar riffs, indulging their “turned on to the max” sexual desires, before the mood shifts to the deeper realms of life on the Eilzustellung-Expres (express delivery): melancholy musings on dismaying love affairs, a song about contradictory feelings experienced in childbirth, culminating in a declaration of love for Angie’s new daughter Lisa. The baby was always on board when Carambolage went on tour. The idea of her father Kai Sichtermann (Scherben bass player) taking her on tour would have been too much even for the left-leaning alternative Ton Steine Scherben. Making a mockery of male privilege, Carambolage delivered an album orbiting punk and pop in a classic line-up: Britta on drums, Elfie’s snotty vocals and effects-drenched guitar and keyboards, Angie on bass. The trio is augmented by Janett’s screeching saxophone on the instrumental track Maschine and a squeaky baby sample (Lisa?). I Remember You brings proceedings to a close in something approaching Schlager*.