Ruins of Berlin Dexter Romweber Duo Artist

{|Dexter Romweber|} has been making music since {|Flat Duo Jets|} called it a day in 1998, but not much of it has been making it onto record, and {|Ruins of Berlin|}, credited to {|the Dex Romweber Duo|} (with his sister {|Sara Romweber|}, formerly o... Read more

{|Dexter Romweber|} has been making music since {|Flat Duo Jets|} called it a day in 1998, but not much of it has been making it onto record, and {|Ruins of Berlin|}, credited to {|the Dex Romweber Duo|} (with his sister {|Sara Romweber|}, formerly of {|Let's Active|}, on drums) is only his third album to appear in the ten-plus years since his old band rode off into the sunset. Anyone who wonders if {|Romweber|} has lost his touch during his layoff (or in the five years since his last album, 2004's {|Blues That Defy My Soul|}) will be happy to know that {|Ruins of Berlin|} confirms he's still a guitarist, songwriter, and singer to reckon with. However, this isn't the {|Flat Duo Jets|}, even if the simple instrumentation and frequent nods to the musical past are familiar stuff; while the {|FDJ|}'s at their best were a ball of frantic energy, {|Ruins of Berlin|} is the sound of a more measured and contemplative {|Dexter Romweber|}. There's little in the way of amped-up {|rockabilly|} here (though the opener, {|Lookout,|} finds {|Romweber|} trading some speedy licks with {|Rick Miller|} of {|Southern Culture on the Skids|}), and atmospheric midtempo numbers like {|Lover's Gold,|} {|Camilla's Gone (Let It Snow),|} and {|People|} (no, not the {|Barbra Streisand|} oldie) are more consistent with the album's mood. But anyone who ever spent much time listening to {|the Flat Duo Jets|} knows {|Romweber|}'s taste for classic {|jazz|} and {|pop|} tunes has always informed his music, and on {|Ruins of Berlin|}, he's just allowed them to take a larger place in the picture, alongside the faux-Eastern European folk of {|Polish Work Song,|} the fractured guitar workout of {|Grey Skies,|} and the jaunty travelogue of the title tune. {|Romweber|} also gets some well-deserved payback from longtime fans {|Neko Case|}, {|Chan Marshall|}, and {|Exene Cervenka|}, all of whom contribute lovely guest vocals to this set, and if you're afraid this might be a {|rock & roll|}-free set, {|Picture|} and {|Cigarette Party|} both generate enough heat to make fans happy. If this is a somewhat more sedate effort than the hot-wired {|Flat Duo Jets|} of yore, {|Ruins of Berlin|} shows {|Dexter Romweber|}'s passion and gifts are as strong as ever, and the result is a compelling album from a one of a kind talent with plenty to offer. ~ Mark Deming Less