As always there should be a German artist appear on the list. I was glad that Stuttgart based band Die Nerven release another new album this year. It is the third one in a very short time and probably it is their best. They still play another kind of angry post-punk with massive guitars but know they reduce their speed in few songs to create a sound that is more than angry music played in a hurry. If you don't understand the words it is not necessary to try to translate because most of them are senseless arty phrases. But the music stands for itself and if you will try some contemporary German post-punk you might not find anything better.
I featured Die Nerven (The Nerves) on this place a few years ago as one of the best local bands at my place. Now they released a new album Fake. They call them most rottenly tempered band in Germany because they put depressive lyrics in their music. But for me it is a band, grown up in the tradition of Hüsker Dü, Fugazi and Sonic Youth with their noisy and speedy sound but also a bit of a little bit of Krautrock. All genres mixed to their very unique sound that makes them only in today's German new sound (and not only that they come from my greater district).
I waited weeks to get to this festival. Finished my works in the office and went to the train to Mannheim. First I got to my brother to leave my luggage at his place and we went off to the festival. Retrospective I have to say that more of the half of the artists were from Germany. And there was a lot of new music from my home country to explore.
The first band we saw live on Friday were Neufundland, a new band from Cologne. Their sound is torn between post-punk darkness, tender impact, electronic dance music and great melodies. And lyrics like Joseph Stalin buys uniforms at Primark or There is nobody prescribes to me how I have to lose makes them different even in Germany.
The next artist that impressed me was SG Lewis, a producer based in Reading that combines classic songwriting with club culture. It was a really great combination of both genres. Filled with a fundamental bass he sings his lyrics in a very entertaining way. Looking forward for his next outputs.
Lilly Among Clouds is a project by a young German female singer from Würzburg. She has a fantastic voice sometimes like a siren but always beautiful. She combines her (pop)songs with massive dubstep ingredients. A voice between Norah Jones and Alanis Morrisette makes her songs something special.
Liima is a project by Danish/Finish collaboration from members of Efterlang and percussionist Tatu Rönkkö. To describe their sound is rather different. Rhythm-based trips by the sound worlds which lift the difference between concert hall and dance floor and added with reverb singing. It worked amazing live.
After a few hours on my feet I went to a smaller spot where I could sit down and listen to well unknown artist. Expecting nothing from Martin Kohlstedt he took me into another dimension. He is a wonderful piano player with huge addicts to electronic sounds. Of course nothing for the main stage but fantastic music for a time of your own. If you like Nils Frahm you could love him.
Late in the evening I went into the smaller tent they built up at the festival and was reserved for the newer heavier and faster sounds. I've gone there to listen once again to a post-punk band from Stuttgart that I featured a few month ago. Loud, fast and emotional music with heavy influence of the early 80's independent sounds. It was loud, fast and awesome to hear them live again. Probably a great hope for German independent music today.
Although we were tired we both wanted to listen to Meute a German Techno Marching Band. And it was worth waiting for them. Only the bass drum made the rhythm and a lot of horns joined it. Nothing more than fun listening to them.
A few month ago I posted a song by Die Nerven, a new German indie rock band as they released their newest album. I played this record several times during the last weeks and it still didn't lost its attraction to me. A post punk guitar, a steady playing rhythm section and a gloomy voice is sometimes all you need to have fun.
A few weeks ago I started with a co-worker a little pub-hopping in Stuttgart after work. We hit some local hot spots. Later this evening we stumbled into a concert from a local punk band in a very small venue in Stuttgart. It was not the music that my co-worker usually listen to but for me it was enlightenment. Seldom heard a band playing post punk/post New Wave in my local era. Deeply based in the bass-dominated sound of Joy Division with noisy guitars and pressed out lyrics. I really love their new record and I think it will company throughout the next month.
Give them a listen and enjoy.
This is another song from their latest record that is worth to listen
