After courting international audiences with 2010's
The English Ones, Siberian-born German-raised vocalist
Helene Fischer returns to more familiar territory with her fifth studio album,
Für einen Tag, hoping to further stake her claim as the natural successor to
Andrea Berg's Queen of Schlager-Pop throne. Produced by regular collaborator
Jean Frankfurter, its 16 tracks contain her usual blend of slightly camp uptempo singalongs ("Villa In der Schlossallee," "Die Holle Morgen Fruh") and Eurovision-friendly power ballads ("War Heut Mein Letzter Tag," "Ich Lebe Jetzt"), although this time round, there's a slightly more eclectic vibe among the tinny synth-brass hooks and Europop beats. The jaunty Highlands jig of "Du Kennst Mich Doch" and the gentle accordions on "Lass Diese Nacht Nie Mehr Enden" bear the hallmarks of her partner
Florian Silbereisen's traditional Volksmusik output; there are convincing attempts at big-band jazz ("Nur Wer den Wahnsinn Liebt"), steel guitar-laden country ("Ich Will Spuren, Dass Ich Lebe"), and flamenco-tinged pop ("Copilot," "Allein im Licht"); while an emotive duet with
Michael Bolton on an acoustic cover version of
Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" suggests she hasn't fully abandoned her English-speaking crossover ambitions just yet. The majority of
Für einen Tag may sound like it's stuck in the '80s, but for fans of the genre, it's a confident comeback that should cement her status as the leading figure of the next generation of German schlager-pop stars. ~ Jon O'Brien