Opinions about "Dial 1702" (2007)
“These guys are the epitome of what many people say they want in their music—innovation, creativity, adventurousness, professionalism, talent. … Mix baroque with traditional European folk filtered through Aaron Copland and Planxty, toss in a bit of Mozart and a yodel or two (and some damn fine yodelling, too) and inject a combination of Grateful Dead and Van Der Graaf Generator and you have some idea of the music.” (Dave Pyles - www.acousticmusic.com/USA, 2008)
“The world music band Hotel Palindrone reliably prove with every album how irrelevant any kind of frontier is, and how much fun you can have if you go beyond limits. Their new CD “Dial 1702” combines again Alpine, Scandinavian, and Balkan musical traditions – and anything else that comes into their minds. With great ease that makes you dance! The fascinating aspect about it: You never feel any welding seems. It is all simply – music! Guido Tartarotti – Kurier/ Austria, 2008)
“Que lui demande-t-on à ce bon groupe folk ? Qu’il connaisse plein de répertoire différent pour nous faire danser des choses variées tout en étant original, surprenant, inventif : des bourrées, des scottishes, polskas, laridés, valses ! Eh bien, Hotel Palindrone c’est tout ça : du délire, de l’invention, de la distanciation, du goût et du bon, une musicalité pleine et entière. Une belle et saine folie. A découvrir à tout prix. Ah oui, un détail étonnant : ils sont Autrichiens.“ Awarded BRAVOS!!! (Estelle Ramuz – Trad Magazine/ France, 2008)
“The Austrian-Irish ‘Thernberger Hochstückezeit“ are exemplary on an album which blends traditional sounds from various European countries. A mixture that works! Hotel Palindrone, our showpiece concerning world music, don’t play pub-folk or dry academic interpretations of traditional music – but they make us happy.” (derStandard.at/ Austria, 2008)
“Austria is up-and-coming. This is also due to the enthusiastic and urbane guys of Hotel Palindrone from Vienna. They brilliantly bewitch any audience with their variety of musical ideas, and with the way they play their instruments. Again Hotel Palindrone take us on a tour through time and space.” (Wilhelm Rodrian – breizh/ Germany, 2008)
Opinions about "Samo Riba" (2003)
“All multi-instrumentalists, they’re equally adept at Swedish and Balkan music … connecting them together with traditional Alpine music and their own compositions. … It’s a great time and the musicians are obviously enjoying themselves: Add that to their great abilities, and you have a record that’s pretty much irresistible.” (CN – sing Out!/ USA, 2004)
“This Austrian band experiments broadly with all manner of European folk music, … but ultimately creates their own unique sound … . This live recording from a 2003 performance is ample proof that Austria is finally joining the ‘newly composed folk’ movement of Europe with style.” (cdRoots/ USA, 2004)
”Live recording of a punchy Austrian quartet playing a wide variety of European dance music with a bit of singing. The 16 instruments they play well, all help to sustain the interest.” Appraisal: Thumbs up” (fRoots/ GB, 2004)
“An excellent band of multi-instrumentalists, who like to put a slight twist on tradition, mixing it up with their own rooted compositions. Yes, it’s music to dance to - you’d be hard-pressed to stay still, in fact. Well worth tracking down.“ (globalvillageidiot/ USA, 2004)
“Hotel Palindrone, Austria’s only drone bandof stature, has released their long-awaited live album. ... There are extremely varied sets, often with a touch of jazz. ... Interesting arrangements and lyrical elegance: Hotel Palindrone prove that the unison of bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies and other instruments does not necessarily result in a rough and archaic sound.” (Richard Schuberth – Concerto Magazin/ A, 2004)
“Une heureuse surprise. Un groupe folk autrichien largement influencé par le
revivalisme francais des années 70 mais avec tout ce qu’ il faut d’innovation musicale pour entrer dans le troisième millénaire. … Hotel Palindrone existe depuis 1995 et s’appuie sur le répertoire européen avec une démarche totalement acoustique. Certains ont pu les voir à la Fête de la Vielle à Anost en 2000. Espérons que autres organisateurs auront la bonne idée de les faire venir par chez nous.”
(Thierry Laplaud – Trad Magazine/ F, 2004)
“… The equally enticing booklet … shows that the way in which they chose the various tunes is quite a story on its own. … vibrant record. … This unexpected surprise from Austria is a welcome inclusion in the ranks of world music.” (Nondas Kitsos – Roots World Recording Review/ USA, 2004)
“All sets show wit and a feeling for the fine details, but this does not mean .... that form is more important than substance. Even the weirdest chords support the tunes, the melodies groove just by themselves. Onlymusicians who have been working together for years can play this way.” (Andi Neumeister – Tradivarium Folk/World Newsletter/ A, 2004).
“… one of Austria’s most innovative folk groups. … Musicians who developed their own outstanding style: Pan-European Folk Music.” (A. Goriup – breizh/ Germany, 2005)
“… they prescribe a living cell therapy to a stale folk movement which has come into age. Well-balanced their sound: Blending jazz, klezmer and ethno-music. (Hannes Doblhofer - Brennstoff/ A, 2006)