Bureau B is set to launch the compilation titled “KLAR! 80 – Kassettenlabel Düsseldorf 1980-1982” in both CD and LP formats on July 14th. The compilation is a much-needed initial exploration of the period from 1980 to 1982, a time when KLAR! 80 functioned as a cassette label. It also operated a store under the same name, exclusively specializing in cassette releases, located at Aachener Str. 115 in Düsseldorf, under the management of Rainer Rabowski.

Rabowski was also active in a few bands himself, such as Mentocome and Roter Stern Belgrad, and he also operated under the monikers Rara and Rara Düsseldorf.

KLAR!80 brought out 18 cassette releases of varying lengths along with a box set comprising three 12” vinyl EPs. This latest anthology delves deeper into the past than the previous compilation, “SAMMLUNG – Düsseldorfer Kassettenmusik 1982-1989” (2017), also curated by German musician and producer Stefan Schneider (Kreidler and To Rococo Rot), which highlighted the cassette scene in Düsseldorf during the mid-1980s.

The KLAR! 80 label ceased operations in October 1982, and all master tapes and artworks have since been lost. The recordings featured in this new compilation have been sourced from well-preserved cassettes in private collections, which have subsequently been restored and digitized.

Below is the tracklist for this new compilation.

1. Strafe für Rebellion – Blaue Mig
2. Roter Stern Belgrad – Ta Ku Sey
3. Und Piloten – Umsturz
4. Roter Stern Belgrad – alpha waves
5. Europa – Dein Zauber
6. Ralph & Ernie – Ralph & Ernie
7. Xao Seffcheque und der Rest – Mir fehlen die Worte
8. Rara, Axel & Ralph – Rara, Axel & Ralph
9. Eraserhead – OT
10. P.Projekta / G.Ranzz-M4
11. CHBB-Mau-Mau
12. Roter Stern Belgrad-Blas dein Knie ein
13. BLÄSSE-Taktlose Klapperschlangen

Below is the list of tapes released by the KLAR! 80 label (but rest assured, the tapes are extremely difficult to find, or at very expensive prices). You will see that the catalogue numbers are not chronological.

• Dilette – “Dilette” (Cassette, C10), Catalog Number: buhuu 1, Year: 1980
• Roter Stern Belgrad – “Session / Alpha-Waves” (Cassette, C-2), Catalog Number: buhuu 2, Year: 1980
• Various Artists – “Klar! 80 Sampler 2 – Sample And Hold” (Cassette, Compilation, C50), Catalog Number: buhuu 11, Year: 1980
• EKG (2) – “Ende / Japs Kommt” (Cassette), Catalog Number: buhuu 12, Year: 1980
• Die Zwei – “”Die Zwei” Und Das 3. Reich” (Cassette, C20), Catalog Number: buhuu13, Year: 1980
• Komödi Trakik – “Komödi Trakik” (Cassette, Album, C-1), Catalog Number: buhuu14, Year: 1980
• Eraserhead (5) – “Beside Our Heads Is A Forty-Five” (Cassette, MiniAlbum, C10), Catalog Number: buhuu 10, Year: 1980
• Herr Ickswo – “+-x” (Cassette, C10), Catalog Number: buhuu 3, Year: 1981
• Klang Da – “Klang Da” (Cassette, C20), Catalog Number: buhuu 4, Year: 1981
• Hans./S702/MC 100* – “Chlagér Nouveau” (Cassette, C10), Catalog Number: buhuu 5, Year: 1981
• Eraserhead (5) – “Dead End Street E.E.” (Cassette, C10), Catalog Number: buhuu 6, Year: 1981
• Various Artists – “Der Klar! 80 Sampler” (Compilation), Catalog Number: buhuu 7, Year: 1981
• Blässe – “Live” (Cassette, C30), Catalog Number: buhuu 8, Year: 1981
• Blässe / EKG (2) / Roter Stern Belgrad – “Massa” (3×12″, Album), Catalog Number: KLAR! I/1/2/3, Year: 1981
• Various Artists – “Klar! 80 Sampler Alles Oder Nichts” (Cassette, Compilation, C 6), Catalog Number: b/u 17, Year: 1982
• Various Artists – “Privat” (Cassette, Compilation, C 3), Catalog Number: b/u 18, Year: 1982
• Roter Stern Belgrad – “Wölkchen” (Cassette, MiniAlbum, C 3), Catalog Number: b/u 19, Year: 1982
• Roter Stern Belgrad – “Afars & Issas 2 & 3” (Cassette), Catalog Number: b/u 20, Year: 1982

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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After months of preproduction to redefine the sound and evolution, French darkwave artist Ludovic Dhenry is about to return with a new album for his project Exponentia. This time there will be a lot more focus on synths in the mix, which differs from the project’s previous albums as you can hear on the project’s Bandcamp page.

The yet untitled album will be released later this year on CD and as download.

Ludovic Dhenry is not exactly unknown to most of you who downloaded our “Face The Beat 6” free compilation. He is also the brain behind the Zauber project although his main focus remains Exponentia.

Here’s Zauber with “Sechs Krähen” taken from “Face The Beat 6”.

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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Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, Experimental, IDM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: You might know French musician Ludovic Dhenry from his involvement with Exponentia and Zauber, but he also from time to time release music under the Résonance Magnétique-moniker, which is more into Ambient music.

Content: “Paranormal Events” definitely sounds different from what I’ve heard of this project. The songs are clearly more into Electronic compositions, mixing pure minimalism together with Experimental and IDM. I also noticed one more cinematographic driven song (cf. “Things”). The other cuts are carried by dark bass lines, icy Electronic wave sounds and a slow cadence.

+ + + : I get the feeling this EP sounds like Résonance Magnétique V.2; a renewed sound experience, which became more Minimal-Electro driven and even touching ground with IDM like illustrated by the title song. Well I’m definitely in for this minimalism. The last track “Obscures The Horizon” is a fascinating and treat final for an EP, which took me by surprise.

– – – : From a very personal point of view I hope “Paranormal Events” will serve as a basis to move on with! I think the production needs a bit more diversity while the Cinematographic “Things” isn’t exactly the most accomplished work of the EP.

Conclusion: Résonance Magnétique has maybe reached a point that might open new sonic horizons for this project.

Best songs: “Obscures The Horizon”, “Paranormal Events”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/ResonanceMagnetique

Label: www.facebook.com/NerisRecords

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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Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, ambient-gothic.

Background/Info: Four years after the debut album “Revoke”, French artist Ludovic Dhenry (Exponentia, Zauber) strikes back with a new opus of 13 songs.

Content: Résonance Magnétique definitely sounds like the ‘ambient’ project of the artist. You for sure will recognize sound treatments and arrangements that will remind you of Exponentia, but globally speaking this album is driven by dark-ambient music with a ritual flavor on top. It sometimes makes me think of a primitive fusion between Sopor Aeternus, Das Ich and Raison D’Être. The tracks are instrumentals, revealing an ultra haunting atmosphere accentuated by subtle bells sounds and choir sounds. The main particularity is the rhythm, which is not that usual for pure dark-ambient.

+ + + : Résonance Magnétique is not the most familiar project Ludovic Dhenry is involved with, but it’s maybe his most original one. He transposes dark-ambient and gothic music into a new dimension where both genres are merging together. I like the extremely dark and ghost-like atmospheres hanging over the songs while the few ritual aspects get it more mysterious. It feels like a secret black mass.

– – – : The sound formula rapidly becomes repetitive and that’s often a remark concerning all projects of this artist.

Conclusion: “Sign” sounds like music for ghosts or… should it have been composed by a ghost?

Best songs: “The Crypt”, “Vein”, ”Sign”, “Grim Cave”.  

Rate: (7).

Artist: http://exponentia.pagesperso–orange.fr / www.facebook.com/ResonanceMagnetique  

Label: www.facebook.com/NerisRecords

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, gothic.

Background/Info: Zauber is the first project French artist Ludovic Dhenry got involved with. While this musician gained some recognition as Exponentia, he now strikes back to Zauber. This project is not exactly creating new music on regular basis.

Content: Zauber sounds more electronic than Exponentia although you can easily hear it’s the same operator behind the control desk. The vocals are just like for Exponentia sung in German while the music still has a little gothic touch although sounds more electro-90s like. This is the kind of release evoking the magic of the 90s and more precisely the German scene. It sometimes sounds a bit anguished while evasive strings hang over the songs. The typical choir strings are quite noticeable as well.

+ + + : While that much artists are constantly getting back to the 80s Zauber is definitely inspired by the 90s. It brings a lot of good souvenirs back to like reminding me of another great decade of electronic music. Ludovic Dhenry also is an artist with a very recognizable sound. I like the spooky atmosphere running through this opus, which is empowered by freaky vocal parts. Zauber is a good example of a pure DIY-artist.

– – – : My only regret about this album is that Zauber abuses a bit of his sound formula. The songs are pretty similar and that’s also because of a lack of equipment.

Conclusion: Zauber brings us back in time and I have to admit I enjoyed this 90s trip. I think the global production could be improved to reach a wider recognition. This is a real interesting artist who could maybe break through considering working with a real producer.

Best songs: “Er Stiehlt Die Liebe”, “Der Tod Schminkt Ihr Gesicht”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Zauber.official

Label: www.facebook.com/NerisRecords

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

Exponentia is a French solo-project set up by Ludivic Dhenry in 2012. The music clearly refers to typical gothic music styles and the shadow of Sopor Aeternus feels like recovering the songs, which are mainly sung in German language. The album titles (cf. “Allein”, “Sadness”, “Ghost” and now “Abend”) clearly reveals the dark and melancholic themes inspiring the sound atmospheres and the lyrical content. All music has been released on Exponentia’s own label Neris Records. This is an interesting artist with a real artistic approach.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Tell us something about your musical background and what incited you to set up Exponentia?

Ludovic: I wanted to create a Gothic musical project with elements of classical music, in the German musical style of bands as Lacrimosa, Sopor Aeternus, Goethes Erben, Das Ich etc … I love this musical style and classical and baroque music. Exponentia allows me to incorporate that into my compositions.

I also composed more electronic music, another music style I like a lot too, with my other projects Zauber, Eleventh Fear and Résonance Magnétique. I think all of my albums together form a world, an atmosphere. I learn by myself, and to improve myself, I studied for a year harmony, music theory and the technical engineer of sound in a professional music school.

Every day, I wake up at 4:30 am to work most of the day on music. This is my life I’m passionate about it.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the ‘sound’ of Exponentia?

Ludovic: I want to create an imaginary music world, populated by phantasmagorical and fantastic creatures. The lyrics and the atmosphere of the albums evoke the angels, demons, vampires, ghosts. Each album of Exponentia has a different sound. I like working on an overall sound, unique and consistent for each disk I produce.

Currently I am working on the next album, I’ve already the sound in mind. I have ideas for the atmosphere and the sound of further albums as well. Sadness and melancholy both are main sources of inspiration to compose great music and, which are recurring themes in Exponentia.

Q: You might be consider as a ‘DIY’-artist who clearly takes care for every little aspect and detail of your work. Tell us a bit more about it and what do you think about the idea to get signed to an established label? What are the ‘pro’ and ‘contra’ of being a ‘DIY’ artist?

Ludovic: Working alone on my project allows me to create exactly what I want, without compromise. It’s important to me. I like that all the details are refined as I wish. I can also create my album covers myself, it really is a great artistic freedom.

Of course, I would like to record and mix with symphony orchestra musicians in a big recording studio, with a producer, but it is financially impossible. However, in the future, there may be musicians to record some musical instruments in my studio, such as the guitar, for example.

Yes, I would like to be signed to an established label, but for now, no label wants to sign Exponentia. I received a proposal from a German label, but unfortunately the contract was really bad for the artist. I created Neris Records to produce my albums on CD and digital format, but, of course, I study all proposals from established labels. The negatives are that without an established label, there’re no big financial means for the production, promotion and distribution. It’s very difficult.

The positives are that I have total freedom regarding the creation, the content of the album, release dates, tracklist, cover. I can compose and produce all the albums I want, including other projects in other musical styles.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

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