Folk songs awaken memories and open a window into a time when stories were passed on through singing. Many appreciate their memorable melodies, while others consider them outdated. Yet folk songs possess an unmistakable beauty and reveal, in their simplicity, a striking clarity. With "Songs and Tales" the Vocoder Ensemble sets a clear mark for the rediscovery of this musical heritage. At the German Choir Competition in Leipzig in 2023 the ensemble was honored for outstanding achievements and received the special award from the label Rondeau Production, which enabled the production of this album. The ensemble members are convinced that folk songs preserve meaningful stories and remain an essential part of emotional and cultural education even today. The album brings together familiar German folk songs in contemporary arrangements alongside traditional melodies from Scotland, Ireland, Finland and Georgia. Well known songs such as "Die Gedanken sind frei", "Ein Jaeger laengs dem Weiher ging" and "Die Forelle" appear in a new light, while the international pieces broaden the horizon and show how music carries cultural identity and shared memory. "Songs and Tales" invites listeners to rediscover the lasting power of these traditional melodies and to hear the stories they have carried through the generations.