Kontrast – Programm: Deluxe Edition 2022 (Album – Danse Macabre Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop.
Format: Digital, 2CD.
Background/Info: This album is a re-edition which comes to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Kontrast’s debut album “Programm” which was originally released by UpScene. The original songs of the album have been featured on the first disc while the second disc is a bonus one.The German formation would release four more albums.
Content: “Programm” is an eclectic piece of music which is clearly inspired by good-old Electro/Wave-Pop but still experimenting with other elements like EBM, Industrial sound treatments and a more atmospheric side as well.
The bonus disc brings alternative edits; some have been released formerly and others later on. But you’ll also discover extra songs like remixes -two have been made by Massiv In Mensch.
+ + + : This is an opportunity to (re)discover a great production featuring cool songs which even 20 years later are still dancefloor killers. But Kontrast also stands for a deeply artistic side which is coming through sound arrangements and delicate melody lines. Some lyrical parts are still hilarious but also a bit prophetic when listening to “Einheitsschritt” which became a hit. The second disc is quite interesting as well revealing darker versions like the “Freiheit”-edit together with Nebelgeist which sounds like pure :Wumpscut:. The original edit of “Freiheit” remains a beautiful song as well.
– – – : Kontrast got some recognition in Germany but remained a rather unknown name outside. That’s truly a pity when you’ll hear this great piece of music.
Conclusion: “Programm” hasn’t lost its original magic and remains a great and diversified piece of Electro/Wave-Pop.
Best songs: “Einheitsschritt”, “Freiheit”, “It’s More Fun To Kontrast”, “Todeskünstler” + “Freiheit – Duett”, “Einheitsschritt – Original Isecs Version”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/kontrasteinheitsschritt
Label: https://dansemacabre.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec
About Kontrast
Kontrast is a German electro-pop and wave-pop formation whose members have included Dirk Heinrich, Falko “H”, Frank “Lexi” Lange, Holger “Verfolger” Heinrich, Katrin Möller and Roberto “Lorenz” Lindner. The band debuted in 2002 with the album “Programm” on UpScene, followed by “Industrie<>Romantik” (2004) and “Vision und Tradition” (2008), among further releases. Danse Macabre Records marked the twentieth anniversary of “Programm” with the “Programm: Deluxe Edition 2022” reissue, pairing the original album with a bonus disc of alternative edits and remixes, including two by Massiv In Mensch.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
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.
