Not Sergeant PepperDirect from that parallel linguistic universe called variously the Netherlands and Holland - where an anglophone without any Dutch will typically encounter words that look and sound at once enticingly familiar yet totally incomprehensible - comes another Twilight Zone experience, in the form of Serzjant Paepers Oeits Haos Sterre Band. Can you see what it is yet?

It is, of course, everybody’s favourite proto-concept album, Sgt Pepper, translated into Venloos, a dialect spoken in Venlo. The project was the brainchild of reporter Twan Mientjens, who translated the English lyrics to the whole album, and then worked on a recording of same, which has just been released. More information at http://www.paeper.nl/ (if you read Dutch).

Here’s the track listing for anyone who wants a taste of Vanloos. There’s also one bonus track: can you guess what it is?

  1. Serzjant Paepers Oeits Haos Sterre Band
  2. Met ein bietje vrindschap en hölp
  3. Lucy in de lóch vol druime
  4. ‘t Geit weer baeter
  5. ‘t Gaat gestop
  6. Weg van hoès
  7. Veur ‘t benefiet van Breure’s Doortoch-hoés
  8. Deep in dich en deep oèt dich
  9. As ik veerentachtig bin
  10. Moeëje Mia
  11. Waer wakker
  12. Paepers Club van Zengers Zónder Band
  13. Eine daag in ‘t laeve
  14. Roeëzig Veld veur ieuwig. Bonus