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THE MARBLE MAN |
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Josef Wirnshofer: Guitar, Vocals, Drums, Bass, Organs, Harmonica, Accordion |
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In 2006 18-year old Josef Wirnshofer records a 9 track demo CD in the loft of his parents´home in Traunstein, Southern Germany. His homestudio consists of a fourtrack recorder, guitars, drums, several organs and an accordion. The songs, dominated by accoustic guitar and vocals, breathe the air of classical songwriting between Nick Drake and the young folky Beck. Following the title of Nico´s album “Marble Index” Josef calls his one-man project “The Marble Man”.
He sends the demo CD out to German radio stations and earns enthusiastic feedback all over. The editors are agreed that The Marble Man is a most talented singer/songwriter. By Bavarian youth station Zündfunk (Bayern 2 Radio) he is featured in detail and is spontaneously booked for the famous Bavarian Open Festival, alongside with big names like Catpower, The Books or The Thermals. There again, with a small backing band, The Marble Man arouses enthusiasm, also because of his charming and unobtrusive performance. Through the radio airplay Schinderwies gets in contact with the young artist and together they plan to release a full-length album. Josef gets back to his studio and completes the existing tracks, makes little touch-ups here and there and adds new songs.
“Sugar Rails” now has become an album of clever and authentic songwriting. “If you don´t feel like joining the parade/don´t be scared, you´re not alone/it´s not too late”, the young singer seems to encourage himself in the title track “Sugar Rails”. What we hear are big songs, excellently crafted between classical folk-picking and sonic outbursts with electric guitar and drums, in content wavering between resignation and a strong longing for departure. Every single instumetal phrase, every metaphor is carefully placed and most of the songs are flooded by a melancholy clarity. To his main influences The Marble Man counts The Velvet Underground, Kristofer Aström and Leonard Cohen. No wonder that the songs on Sugar Rails sound like the singer was two times older than he actually is. One thing is for sure: Josef Wirnshofer aka The Marble Man is going to make his way – a shining way!
Photo: Maria Dorner
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