The German outfit Voltarenes emerged 20 years ago but has remained silent for much of that time. Now, they return with a striking new release. This EP features four tracks created as a tribute to classic analog synthesizers, with their signature analog sounds immediately transporting listeners back to the Minimal-Electro/Wave era of the 80s. The sound design is exceptional; crisp, cold, and evocative, calling to mind the work of pioneers like Fad Gadget, The Human League, and co. The German-language vocals blend seamlessly with the nostalgic yet fresh production, enhancing the EP’s overall impact. Let’s hope this EP is just the beginning of Voltarenes’ revival and that they continue to delight fans with more new material in the near future. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Nirgends”:

About Voltarenes

Voltarenes is a German minimal wave trio consisting of Lars Schneider, Mawe N. Klave and Flori, with members based between Hamburg-Altona and Munich. The project has been intermittently active since 2004. The debut album “Proceedings” appeared in 2009, followed in 2012 by “924”, a concept album centered on the Porsche 924. After a decade-long hiatus, the trio reemerged in 2023 with new tracks for a concert in rural middle Franconia.

The “Wave” EP was released on November 11, 2024 via Ant-Zen. Its four tracks – “Nirgends”, “Irgendwo”, “Brezenmann” and “Regen” – pay tribute to classic analog machines such as the Minimoog, the Minikorg and the 505/606 drum computers. The songs were finalized with sound engineer Matthias Schuster (Geisterfahrer, Bal Paré) at his Geisterfahrer Studio in Hamburg, with artwork by Stefan Alt. The EP marks the trio’s return after more than a decade of silence and is the release reviewed here.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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