Swiss post-punk act Grauzone will get a limited edition release of the live LP titled “Live [White]” on June 27, 2025. Issued by WRWTFWW Records in collaboration with distribution partner Audioglobe, the album documents the band’s April 12, 1980 performance at Gaskessel in their hometown of Bern.

The LP is presented on white vinyl in a heavyweight 350gsm sleeve.

This 9-track release captures Grauzone at their raw, formative stage, featuring Martin Eicher (guitar, vocals), Christian G.T. Trüssel (bass), Marco Repetto (drums), Stephan Eicher (synth), and Claudine Chirac (saxophone). It includes both obscure songs never officially released and early versions of fan-favorites such as “Moskau”. The cover artwork is designed by Stephan Eicher.

Described by the label as “a piece of Swiss music history,” the album offers a rare glimpse into the punk-oriented roots of a group that later became known for cold wave and minimal synth. The performance predates the band’s mainstream success and reflects a raw DIY ethos.

Tracklist:

About Grauzone

Grauzone was formed in Bern, Switzerland, in the early 1980s by Martin Eicher, Stephan Eicher, and Marco Repetto, with contributions from Christian GT Trüssel, Claudine Chirac, and Ingrid Berney. Known for their fusion of punk, industrial, cold wave, and early electronic elements, the group gained widespread attention with their hit single “Eisbär”.

Despite their success, Grauzone rejected conventional music industry practices. They refused promotion, touring, and media appearances, disbanding shortly after their peak.

After the group’s dissolution, Stephan Eicher pursued a successful solo career spanning pop, experimental, and multimedia collaborations. Marco Repetto transitioned into electronic music, releasing ambient and techno projects, including releases on Rephlex, the label founded by Aphex Twin.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Konstant is a new project and duo from Switzerland, and their debut album is a particularly pleasant surprise. The duo skillfully incorporates clear 80s influences, breathing new life into Electro-Wave. There’s also a subtle Grauzone influence, which makes sense given the band’s Swiss origins. However, their influences extend beyond New-Wave, incorporating elements of harder EBM as well as pure, psychedelic touches that take us into Krautrock territory. The songs are quite long but are also very well-crafted, each reaching a powerful climax. The German vocals further enhance the 80s vibe that permeates the album. “Unbändige Kinder” is a brilliant work and an absolutely phenomenal debut. (Rating:9).

Listen to “Unbändige Kinder”:

About Konstant

Konstant is a duo from Zürich, Switzerland, formed by Angelo Repetto and Nicolas Balmer, both long active in the city’s cultural scene. The band mixes new wave, krautrock and post-punk influences, sung in German.

The debut album “Unbändige Kinder” was released on September 27, 2024 as a joint release by Subject To Restrictions Discs and Default Mode Records. It was recorded, arranged and mixed by Domi Chansorn at Studio G5 in Zürich and mastered by Sneaker at Tail Out Studios, with collage artwork by Marco Repetto. It is the duo’s first album and the release reviewed here.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

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In September 2008, the minimal synth twosome from Berlin, known as Bakterielle Infektion, took to the stage alongside Absolute Body Control for a festival performance. That concert is now being immortalized as “An Evening in Berlin” and is set for release on vinyl. Notably, unofficial versions of the live songs have been making the rounds in collector circles for years on cassette, their quality varying widely. However, the full concert from 2008 can now be savored for the first time as an official release, with audio taken directly from the mixing desk.

The vinyl record will be available in a limited edition run, released through the do-it-yourself label Minimalkombinat, known for their work with artists such as Grauzone, Fraktus, Guerre Froide, and more.

Last year saw the pair, one of the early adopters of the burgeoning post-punk/minimal wave trend, drop “15 Jahre Infektiös (1996-2011)”. This was a comprehensive double LP filled with club hits, rare tracks, and never-before-released material. The release, strictly limited to 225 copies, consisted of 30 tracks available exclusively on vinyl.

Despite these releases, fans should note that a reunion under the Bakterielle Infektion banner is not in the offing. The project split up in 2011 and since then Roger Semsroth continues his foray into solo techno under a variety of monikers, while Uwe Marx is busy producing and performing with his bands, Pleasure Victim and Brigade Rosse.

About Minimalkombinat

The German record label Minimalkombinat initially made its name releasing lathe-cut vinyl records housed in handmade covers. Over time, they expanded their offering to include CDrs, again encapsulated in handcrafted sleeves. Many of their releases were limited to the distinctly niche number of 23 copies.

However, since 2021, Minimalkombinat has experienced significant growth, now issuing vinyl records in runs as large as 225 copies. Even as it evolves, the label maintains its unique hallmark – the commitment to handcrafted packaging, an artisanal touch provided by the label owner himself.

Steering the ship is Mario S., otherwise known by his pseudonym, M23.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Under the title “15 Jahre Infektiös (1996-2011)” the Berlin based dark electro duo Bakterielle Infektion will release a jam-packed double LP with club hits, rarities and previously unreleased material in September 2022. The release will be out via the DIY label Minimalkombinat (Grauzone, Fraktus, Guerre Froide, etc.).

The duo is one of the earliest representatives of the current post-punk/minimal wave hype.

The vinyl release “15 Jahre Infektiös (1996-2011)” will be limited to 225 copies and hold 30 tracks which are only available on vinyl. Yes, that’s correct, there will be no CDs, no streaming, no downloads. The material was mastered for vinyl by Kurt Dahlke (Fehlfarben, Pyrolator).

The release does not mean a reunion for the duo under the Bakterielle Infektion moniker though. Roger Semsroth continues to do solo techno under various names while Uwe Marx produces and performs with his bands Pleasure Victim and Brigade Rosse.

This compilation will be added to the band’s back catalogue consisting of these albums: “Scheintod – Gaswaffen” ‎(1997 – A.D.S.R.), “Sleepless” ‎(1998 – White Head Records), “Dreamless” (2000 – Genetic Music), “Cities Of Glass” (2005 – Genetic Music) and “Early Recordings” (2007 – Genetic Music). The latter compiles demo tracks written before 2000. Their first self-released demo was already brought out in 1996.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Grauzone was a (very shortlived) band from Berne, Switzerland that was active and disbanded in the early 1980s. Most famous for their 1981 hit “Eisbär” (“Polar Bear”) Marco Repetto, GT and Martin Eicher also had some success with the singles “Film 2” and “Wütendes Glas”.

The band however only released one album, “Grauzone (D No. 37)”. And that one is now reissued as a 40 years anniversary release on vinyl with extensive liner notes and including 9 bonus-tracks, not on the original album. The release also comes as a digipak CD containing the same tracks as on the 2LP (including the 9 bonus-tracks).

There is also a boxset conceived and supervised by original band member Stephan Eicher holding the 2LP, an 80-pages, an exclusive 9-tracks live-LP (featuring mostly unreleased tracks), liner notes and lyrics stickers.

After Grauzone GT and Marco Repetto formed a new band Missing Link, later Eigernordwand, with the former Glueams guitarist Martin Pavlinec and the drummer Dominique Uldry. GT supplemented the futurism oriented performance group “Red Catholic Orthodox Jewish Chorus” around performance artist Edy Marconi, in which occasionally Marco Repetto also played. Later the group changed their name to I Suonatori. Stephan Eicher from his side started a successful solo career. In 1988, Martin Eicher published his solo-EP Spellbound Lovers. In 1989, Marco Repetto started a new career as a Techno and Ambient DJ, musician and producer (a.o. mittageisen v2).

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Out via WRWTFWW Records in early May is the official reissue of Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single “Eisbär”. The release comes just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. The 3-track vinyl is sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm, and comes with its iconic artwork on a 350gsm sleeve.

Written by Martin Eicher after a nightmare in which he saw talking polar bears on the walls, and with music by the Grauzone crew consisting of Martin and his brother Stephan Eicher, Marco Repetto, Christian “GT” Trüssel, and Claudine Chirac (on saxophone), “Eisbär” is the best known track from the band and is already for tens of years thé track to play when you want to define early post-punk, new wave, pop, and electronic experimentation.

Also added is “Film 2”, an all-instrumental pre-techno piece. The maxi single ends with “Ich Lieb Sie”, a synth-pop meets doo-wop ballad.

Stephan Eicher went on to be the most successful Swiss musician ever, with an international career extending from pop chanson to experimental escapades and collaborations with Moondog, artists Sophie Calle and John Armleder, and author Martin Suter among many other luminaries. Marco Repetto flourished as a techno and ambient producer, releasing multiple projects including releases on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label.

Grauzone and WRWTFWW will continue to collaborate on the band’s 40th anniversary reissue campaign, with numerous projects planned for the year, including a vast selection of music, visuals, and literature never available before.

Here’s the video for “Eisbär.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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“Criminal” is the fourth studio album of The Soft Moon, containing 10 tracks, which is released on 2nd of February 2018 and can be ordered here.

Luis Vasquez (originally from Oakland but nowadays based in Berlin) is the multi-instrumentalist and singer behind this post-punk/darkwave project. The new album describes Luis going to war with himself through confession and finds him battling with shame, guilt, his own sanity, self-hatred, insecurity and self-entitlement. He reveals his feelings from his violent childhood which makes “Criminal” a self-reflective album, released to find relief for his own wrongdoings and for those done by others that have affected him.

Tracklist:
01. Burn
02. Choke
03. Give Something
04. Like a Father
05. The Pain
06. It Kills
07. ILL
08. Young
09. Born Into This
10. Criminal

Tourdates:
02 Feb 2018 One of a Million Festival – Baden, Switzerland
03 Feb 2018 C.S. Rivolta (record release party) – Marghera, Italy
06 Feb 2018 Pumpehuset – Copenhagen, Denmark
07 Feb 2018 Pustervik – Gothenburg, Sweden
08 Feb 2018 Slaktkyrkan – Stockholm, Sweden
09 Feb 2018 Bla – Oslo, Norway
10 Feb 2018 Grauzone festival – The Hague, Netherlands
11 Feb 2018 Urban Spree – Berlin, Germany *SOLD OUT*
12 Feb 2018 Urban Spree – Berlin, Germany *SOLD OUT*
13 Feb 2018 Urban Spree – Berlin, Germany *SOLD OUT*
14 Feb 2018 Le Trabendo – Paris, France
15 Feb 2018 Paradiso Noord, Tolhuistuin – Amsterdam, Netherlands
16 Feb 2018 The Dome & Boston Music Room – London, UK *SOLD OUT*
17 Feb 2018 Botanique – Orangerie – Brussels, Belgium *SOLD OUT*
18 Feb 2018 De Gudde Wellen – Luxembourg, Luxembourg *SOLD OUT*
20 Feb 2018 Amalgame Club – Yverdon-Les-Bains, Switzerland
21 Feb 2018 Magnolia – Milan, Italy
22 Feb 2018 Monk – Rome, Italy
23 Feb 2018 Lanificio 25 – Naples, Italy
24 Feb 2018 Covo Club – Bologna, Italy
07 Mar 2018 Feierwerk / Kranhalle – Munich, Germany
08 Mar 2018 UT Connewitz – Leipzig, Germany
09 Mar 2018 Hafenklang – Hamburg, Germany
10 Mar 2018 Gebaude 9 – Cologne, Germany
11 Mar 2018 Kleiner Klub – Saarbrucken, Germany
13 Mar 2018 Doornroosje – Nijmegen, Netherlands
14 Mar 2018 La Condition Publique – Roubaix, France
15 Mar 2018 Stereolux – Nantes, France
16 Mar 2018 L’Epicerie Moderne – Feyzin, France

27 Mar 2018 Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA, US
28 Mar 2018 Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY, US
29 Mar 2018 Théâtre Fairmount – Montreal, QC, Canada
30 Mar 2018 Longboat Hall at The Great Hall – Toronto, ON, Canada
31 Mar 2018 The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL, US
02 Apr 2018 Turf Club – St. Paul, MN, US
04 Apr 2018 Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO, US
06 Apr 2018 Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR, US
07 Apr 2018 The Crocodile – Seattle, WA, US
08 Apr 2018 Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC, Canada
11 Apr 2018 The Independent – San Francisco, CA, US
13 Apr 2018 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA, US
14 Apr 2018 The Casbah – San Diego, CA, US
16 Apr 2018 The Bunkhouse Saloon – Las Vegas, NV, US
17 Apr 2018 Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ, US
19 Apr 2018 Three Links – Dallas, TX, US
20 Apr 2018 Barracuda – Austin, TX, US
21 Apr 2018 Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX, US
22 Apr 2018 Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA, US
24 Apr 2018 The Wooly – Gainesville, FL, US
25 Apr 2018 Gramps – Miami, FL, US
26 Apr 2018 Crowbar – Ybor City, FL, US
27 Apr 2018 Aisle 5 – Atlanta, GA, US
28 Apr 2018 The Mothlight – Asheville, NC, US
29 Apr 2018 DC9 Nightclub – Washington, DC, US

Genre/Influences: Cold-wave, new-wave.

Background/Info: European Ghost is a new/cold-wave inspired band from Italy. The debut album “Pale And Sick” was released a few months ago on Unknown Pleasures Records.

Content: If you’re a bit familiar with the roster of the French label, you know you might expect to discover an album inspired by the 80s. European Ghost sounds in the purest new-wave/cold-wave tradition reminding me of formations such as The Danse Society, Grauzone and even Suicide. The songs reflect the true spirit of new-wave music, which is an aspect emerging from the deep bass lines, the icy synth lines and a global, desperate feeling. Some cuts also reflect an experimental touch.

+ + + : “Pale And Sick” is a lovely pastiche of new-wave music. I’m sure you’ll instantly remember 80s bands when discovering this work. I fully enjoyed the icy treatments running through the title track and the global coldness emerging from Lost Highway, which personally reminds me of The Danse Society. Another noticeable cut is the final song entitled “European Ghost”, which sounds like a wink to The Normal’s “Warm Leatherette”.

– – – : I get the impression European Ghost is still in search of an ‘own’ style and that’s maybe why this debut album brings numerous legendary bands to mind.

Conclusion: European Ghost clearly sounds like the ghost of new-wave music and will definitely appeal for all nostalgic fans.

Best songs: “Pale And Sick”, “Lost Highway”, “Preset”.

Rate: (7).

Band: https://europeanghost.it / www.facebook.com/europeanghost.it

Label: www.unknown–pleasures–records.com /  www.facebook.com/Unknown–Pleasures–Records-566180440115465

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, new-wave, EBM.

Bands: Psyche, Chris & Cosey, Ministry, Carlos Peron, Dark Day, Severed Heads, Fad gadget, Killing Joke, Klaus Schulze, T.A.G.C., Peter Godwin, Portion Control, Grauzone ao.

Content: This is a real particular and we might say conceptual compilation, but still a part of the Belgian and especially Antwerp history. “Liaisons Dangereuses” was a radio broadcasting in Antwerp during the 80s. The broadcasting was presented by Sven Van Hees (who became a recognized and praised DJ/producer) and Paul Ward. Their main aim was to introduce the audience with certain underground dance-music, which was not played on national radio broadcasts. If you got the opportunity to see the great movie/documentary “The Sound Of Belgium”, which is all about the history and evolution of electronic music in Belgium, you for sure remember to have seen an interview with Sven Van Hees in it and some old images from this broadcast.

I think we might say it all is about pioneers and visionary people who had understood that even the underground electro scene featured great, danceable music. Sven Van Hees who compiled this sampler selected 38 songs. This is a great track list, which will for sure bring you back into the good-old spirit of the 80s and mainly new-wave music composed by electronics. It also was a pleasure to rediscover somewhat forgotten bands and songs.

The 1st disc is an invitation to rediscover the early work of legendary names like Psyche, Chris & Cosey, Ministry, Carlos Peron, Dark Day, Vicious Pink, severed Heads, Savage Republic, Fad Gadget, O Yuki Conjugate, Informatics, Section 25 and even Killing Joke. We all will find our favorites, but I have a little preference for the classical Fad Gadget’s anthem “State Of The Nation”. Other essential songs are “Proximity Switch (Accidents In Paradise)” from Informatics and “Looking From A Hilltop” from Section 25. It also was pure fun to rediscover the somewhat unusual sounding “Turn To red” from Killing Joke.

This compilation doesn’t feature the darkest and most tormenting electronic forms like The Klinik, Front 242, The Neon Judgement, DAF, Skinny Puppy ao, but typical 80s bands dealing with great analogue treatments and some danceable vibes for alternative clubs.
The 2nd disc features a new selection of great bands and songs so it was a total pleasure to rediscover T.A.G.C., Kissing The Pink, Peter Godwin, All systems Go, Carlos Peron (again), Portion Control and Grauzone.

Grauzone’s “Film 2” remains to me a real cult classic of the electro-wave movement. Kissing The Pink’s “Big Man Restless” was for me one of those ‘forgotten treasures’ which I haven’t heard in years, but when hearing the first notes of the great electro tune running through the song I immediately felt like I was 30 years younger. “Big Sex” from T.A.G.C. is another essential cut while the somewhat tribal like “Crash Bang Wallop” of All Systems Go reveals a different style.

Sven Van Hees did an excellent job with this compilation. As some of the master recordings weren’t even available and he had to go back to the original records and remove the typical vinyl noises. “Liaisons Dangereuses” later on evolved into house, new-beat and acid music, which could be an interesting concept for a 2nd volume of this series.

This is an essential compilation, which also brings me back to all the local radio broadcasts dealing with alternative music and, which was during the 80s a real source to discover new music!

Conclusion: This is not just a compilation bringing old 80s new-wave tracks together, but an electronic legacy that has without a shadow of a doubt inspired numerous artists, producers and DJ’s during the next generations. But the main strength of all those bands is that their sound still has this magical touch, which is an ingredient ‘classical’ dance music has never had.

Best bands: Fad Gadget, Grauzone, Informatics, T.A.G.C., Kissing The Pink, Dark Day.

Rate: (DP:8½)DP.

Label: www.universalmusic.be / www.facebook.com/universalmusicbe

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com