ドイツが誇る世界的バンド=ラムシュタインのフロントマン ティル・リンデマン。
ペインやヒポクリシーでの活動で知られるスウェーデン人ミュージシャン ピーター・テクレン。
2人の奇才によるプロジェクトのアルバム第2弾。全11曲収録、6面パネルのデジパック仕様の通常盤。

ドイツでゴールド・セールスに認定された全編英語詞のデビュー作『スキルズ・イン・ピルズ(Skills In Pills)』(2015)、そして11カ国のアルバム・チャート及びアメリカを含む43カ国のiTunesで1位を獲得したラムシュタインの新作(2019)に続く、注目のリリース。
前作とは全く異なるアプローチで制作された今作では、ティル・リンデマンが激しく、ユニークな楽曲をドイツ語で披露する。

アルバム『F & M』は、ティル・リンデマンとハンブルグにあるタリア劇場とのコラボレーションで、グリム兄弟の童話『ヘンゼル&グレーテル』を現代風に解釈した戯曲からインスパイアされた作品だ。恐怖、貧困、裕福、カニバリズム、死などがテーマになっている今作には、絶賛された同戯曲からの5曲と、新たに制作された6曲が収録されている。

発売・販売元 提供資料 （2019/10/10）

The end of the 2010s was a bountiful time for Rammstein fans. In addition to another set from guitarist Richard Z. Kruspes Emigrate side project, the industrial metal titans returned with their first album in a decade. All the while, frontman Till Lindemann was busy working on his own artistic endeavors, teaming with Lindemann co-conspirator Peter Tagtgren on 2018s modern stage adaptation of Hansel und Gretel. Songs from the appropriately dark and perverse retelling later found new life on Lindemanns sophomore effort, F&M (Frau & Mann, German for woman and man). As on 2015s Skills in Pills, F&M allows both men to spread their wings away from their main duties with Rammstein and Pain. However, unlike that shock-hungry and often absurd debut, F&M balances the twisted camp that Lindemann is especially known for and infuses it with emotional heft. Part of the appeal this time around might owe to the fact that Till is in his natural element, performing and writing lyrics in his native German. Thus, the songs sound less forced and campy, while the lyrics benefit from his underrated poetry (Skills Yukon and Home Sweet Home were just hints at what was to come). The most compelling of the bunch happen to come from Hansel und Gretel. These highlights include the pounding Allesfresser (Omnivore), the explosive Knebel (Gag), and the beautiful Schlaf Ein (Go to Sleep). Both theatrical and emotive, the tracks blend seamlessly with the songs written for the album, injecting atmospheric dread, touches of drama, and a depth that just wasnt found on Skills. For the Rammstein fans, the non-Hansel und Gretel songs are familiar enough to pretend they are lost Rammstein B-sides (the pulsing industrial-disco Platz Eins takes it all the way back to the synth-washed glory of Herzeleid), though Tagtgren puts enough of his own wild spin on the production to separate this material from that of its much bigger cousin. The riotous title track -- which rides the repeated cries of aye-ya-yay! -- and the slinky tango of Ach So Gern (Oh So Much) provide an interesting mid-stretch distraction, but overall, F&M sticks to what Till and Tagtgren do best: crushing riffs and towering theatrics with a wink and a smirk. Taking the initial promise of such a musical union, the duos collaboration finally pays off with F&M. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Rovi