Overseen by producer Hartmut Krecht,
Santiano, a five-piece band from northern Germany, mix traditional music genres such as shanties and Irish folk with modern pop and schlager (the group's violinist, Pete Sage, is best known for his appearances on
Achim Reichel's shanty-inspired albums). The group's debut album,
Bis ans Ende der Welt, presents both original compositions and cover versions, some of them with new German lyrics: "Scarborough Fair" becomes "Garten Eden," "David's Song" becomes "Weit Übers Meer." The record entered the German album charts at number 26 and climbed to number three several weeks later. ~ Christian Genzel