Whole – Bias (CD Album – Blackjack Illuminist Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro/rock-pop.
Background/Info: Alexander Leonard Donat and Thomas Schernikau met a few years ago now. They’re based in Berlin and released their debut work by the end of 2018. Notice by the way the album is also available as a very limited cassette release.
Content: “Bias” is mixing different influences, but always comes back to pop music. It mainly sounds electronic, but you also can hear some indie-rock/pop elements emerging at some songs. The link with rock music comes from the band-feeling. Most of the songs are rather quiet, but a few cuts in the end are more punchy and even hypnotic.
+ + + : There are some cool electronic treatments running through this work. I personally prefer the more hitting “Berghain”. In a totally different style “Tongue To Machine” has something delicate and soundtrack-like. A last song I want to mention is “Get Away” for its impressive guitar apotheosis. This track also has something punkish I like.
– – – : “Bias” is quite diversified and I think it rather reveals a band in search of sound identity. Several songs need a bit more accomplishment, but especially some extra power.
Conclusion: The debut album of Whole features some interesting ideas, but they now have to get a bit more elaborated.
Best songs: “Berghain”, “Tongue Machine”, “Get away”.
Rate: (6).
Artist: www.facebook.com/WHOLEband
Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist
About WHOLE
WHOLE is Alexander Leonard Donat and Thomas Schernikau, a duo based in Berlin, Germany. “Bias” was their debut album, released in late 2018 in a limited cassette edition alongside the digital/CD formats.
WHOLE went on to release “Tongue To Machine” (2020), “Hydra” (2024) and “Ten Commandments” (2024). Donat also records as Vlimmer and as part of Fir Cone Children. On 9 October 2026, WHOLE released its third album, “THING”, through Blackjack Illuminist Records, adding industrial, darkwave, post-punk and EBM elements to the band’s synthpop base.
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.
