Sportfreunde Stiller – Live (Universal) Released 01/10/05

I would hazard a guess that not many of you have heard of Sportfreunde Stiller, unless you are a keen German-rock enthusiast, or have come across their contribution ‘Independent’ on the Fifa 2003 computer game.  Well sadly I fall into neither of these categories, and until recently was not familiar with SS’s reputation, unlike our German cousins who most certainly have, as ‘Live’ is SS’s fourth album, a culmination of their three successful studio albums.

Sportfreunde Stiller (translated most closely as Sportfriends Stiller) formed in 1996, taking their name from their old football trainer Hans Stiller.  This indie-rock, football-crazed German three-piece have managed to develop an excellent formula for success – study the Britpop sound of 1995 by inheriting slices of early Blur, Supergrass, and… Marion (remember them!?).  Then jumble it all up, add some trumpets and keyboards, dress in footy shirts and M&S corduroy slacks, ingeniously name an album Burli (translates to Our ‘kid), sing all lyrics in German, and Bobs your uncle.

The result strangely enough is a mixed bag. On the downside, there are some really shite Britpop imitations like ‘Ein Kliener Schrit’ (one small step) and ‘Tag Wie Dieser’ (Days like these), disturbingly like a German Shed Seven cover act.  On the flipside, if you forget about the downside, SS have a feel-good indie-rock sound that takes you back to the wonderful memories of the Britpop-era.  ‘Komm Schon’ (Come on) is an excellent sing-along anthem, which anyone can relate to, as the chorus bangs out the complex lyrics “Bah-ba-ba-ba-bah bah-ba-ba-ba-ba-bah”.  The crowd favourite ‘Ich Roque’ (I rock) despite the German dialogue, is also universal to relate to. 

If you’re not fluent in German and not too keen on a whole album without English lyrics, then Sportfreunde Stiller are not for you.  However, if you’ve recently found yourself screaming the lyrics “eine, zwei, drei, vier” to The Rakes’ legendary ‘Strasburg’ and are now in search of something more comprehensive,  or you are simply curious to know what the **** German-Britpop sounds like, then look no further.  Roque on Sportfreunde Stiller!