Der Bürokrat – Der Bürokrat (Digital/CD/Vinyl Album – Stanze Fredde)

Der Bürokrat is an Italian-French collaboration between Ben (Hammershøi) and Jules (Zug), with the duo crafting a total of twelve tracks.
The project’s influences are firmly rooted in the magic of the 1980s, at times evoking a sense of nostalgia for the earliest Synth-Wave experiments. Certain moments embrace a minimalist approach, bringing to mind acts like Absolute Body Control, while elsewhere the sound shifts toward a more Pop-oriented direction, reminiscent of Welle:Erdball. Despite these clear references, the album maintains its own identity and, above all, a notable sense of versatility. Some tracks even take on a heavier edge toward the end, drawing inspiration from EBM.
All in all, this is an unpretentious and successful debut that, in my view, certainly deserves a follow-up. (Rating:7½).
Listen to “Excésse = Accept”:
About Der Bürokrat
Der Bürokrat is an Italian-French duo formed by Ben, known for the project Hammershøi, and Jules, of the project Zug. The self-titled debut album collects twelve tracks and was released on 20 February 2026 through the Turin label Stanze Fredde Records on digital, CD and vinyl.
The music draws on 1980s synth-wave and minimal synth, with some tracks leaning toward pop and others taking on an EBM edge. The album was previewed by the track “Excésse = Accept”.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
