Author Archives: André Savetier

Since 2011 André Savetier is actively working as a music journalist with an expertise on contemporary new wave music phenomena.
His scientific specialization is anthropology of music and anthropology of popular culture. Savetier remains intrigued by the interplay between the aforementioned social phenomena, the told (and untold) legends of music and its roots.

The Twin Peaks Aesthetics

13th February 2016 21:39 // 1 Comment // André Savetier

Twin Peaks was an American TV-series by David Lynch and Mark Frost, which was broadcast from 1990-91. The series, although short-lived, was a big success and captured a solid and devoted cult fan base and gained entrance into popular culture, where is has been featured and referenced in television shows, commercials, video games and films. Some even tried to make a similar series or even to rip-off the whole thing.

Maybe you have heard that the series will come back next year, 25 years after the last episode of the original was broadcast. Twin Peaks is, again, in the centre of attention. Let us, therefore, review the cult of Twin Peaks and discuss its impact on other series. Read More →

A Musical Review of 2015

31st December 2015 13:57 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Wow! 2015 was a great year for alternative dark music. While spending my New Year’s eve in the German capital of Berlin I managed to compile a solid best-of list for you – not without a little help from my friends – thank you!
As there were so many good songs this year I decided to split these into two categories: synth/electro-driven and guitar-based. At this point I want to express my deepest admiration and respect to the featured musicians and their music. Read More →

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An Alternative Christmas Playlist 2015

23rd December 2015 14:18 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Again it is time to celebrate Christmas. Like I did in the last few years, I compiled a playlist for you, in case you want to listen to music that fits the season and is actually good. Last year’s playlist you can find here.

I wish you all calm and peaceful holidays and all the best for the year to come! Read More →

Posted in: Popular Music // Tagged: darkwave, dreampop, post-rock, shoegaze, synthpop, trip-hop

My Top 5 Adventure Games

30th November 2015 20:02 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Dealing most of the time with popular culture on these pages, I hardly ever wrote about computer video games. Back in the days I used to play a lot of them, but recently I have to choose wisely, as the perception of spare time changes when one is not a student any more. I mostly play adventures, strategy games and RPGs. Let’s start with the most memorable and impressive adventure games I have played so far. Read More →

What happened to… Bill Pritchard?

3rd November 2015 19:13 // 2 Comments // André Savetier

Have you ever heard of the British singer-songwriter Bill Pritchard? No? Neither did I, until I recently came across his name through an obscure 80s playlist on YouTube. The list was rather mediocre, one or the other ear-worm amongst them, but nothing special. The very last song was Bill Pritchard’s ‘Invisible State’. “Wow”, I said to myself, “let’s find out more about this guy”! Read More →

Posted in: What happened to... // Tagged: england, english, new wave, post-punk, singer-songwriter

Uchronical Visions

Interview with Bob Eisenstein (Victor Sierra)

17th October 2015 18:06 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

European Steampunk outfit Victor Sierra just have released their third full-length album with the title Go for the Strange. For this reason I am re-publishing this interview which I did with Commander Bob Eisenstein two years ago (originally published on Polish webzine AlterNation). Find out how this interesting personality would describe the music they make, how he discovered Steampunk and what this idea means to him. Read More →

Posted in: Interviews, Popular Culture, Popular Music // Tagged: alternative culture, darkwave, dieselpunk, retro, steampunk, subculture, synthpop, teslapunk

This Charming Man

Morrissey live in Ljubljana

12th October 2015 23:13 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Now that was an awesome weekend in Ljubljana! I met some old friends, drank coffee with my favourite professor from whom I have learned many many interesting things about anthropology of popular music and culture during my studies back then, and attended two amazing concerts. On Friday there was a concert by the highly acclaimed post-punk revival band The Soft Moon and the day after – finally! – I saw the legendary Morrissey live.

Many tried to understand Morrissey, the perhaps most enigmatic personality of our time. Humanoid, yet a specimen on its own, Steven Patrick Morrissey managed to polarise throughout his musical career, since he gained fame as the front-man of The Smiths (1982-87). After several fights with band colleague Johnny Marr The Smiths disbanded in 1987, but Morrissey came immediately back, starting a solo career only eight months after the split-up.

Posted in: Popular Culture, Popular Music // Tagged: concert, icon, indie, ljubljana, morrissey, new wave, pioneer, smiths

Hotel Bellevue

Exploring an Abandoned Hotel Ruin in Ljubljana

21st September 2015 23:13 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

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I have had an affinity to climb around construction sites and in empty houses since my childhood years – anything that was forbidden. Something I still like to do. There are already a lot of urban explorers who present their “findings” on their web pages. Recently I have stumbled upon some really nice abandoned places which I wish to show you here.

In summer I spent some time in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. I had lived there for four and a half years and it is still the place I would call “home”. I know the city quite well and this time I wanted to see something I never came across before. And then I heard about an abandoned hotel very close to the city centre: the Hotel Bellevue. Read More →

Posted in: Abandoned Places // Tagged: abandoned, adventure, explore, exploring, hose, hotel, ruin

Goodbye, Viva Zwei

The Day the Music Died

2nd June 2015 17:24 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

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I don’t know why, but the last night I dreamed about Viva Zwei. 13 years ago the era of the TV-channel faced its closure. With its focus on alternative music and idiosyncratic concepts, Viva Zwei was unique for German – and, supposedly, even international – television. This is a lament to a time, when people with an extraordinary musical taste had the possibility to switch on the TV and find new good music.

January 3rd 2002: I switched on Viva Zwei and became very sad. The reason for that was that only video clips were on display. At the bottom of the screen was a ticker which said that Viva Zwei should be replaced by the new channel Viva Plus within a few days. I have to admit that I – like many other fans of Viva Zwei – still had the hope that Viva Plus would be similar to its antecessor. Read More →

Posted in: Popular Culture, Popular Music

Stories Around Music

Interview with the Argentinian Electro-Industrial Duo Vólkova

30th March 2015 22:22 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Founded in 2013, it didn’t take the Argentinian duo Vólkova a long time to become part of the peak in alternative electronic music. Also in Europe they gained foot easily, proven by a successful tour in 2014. In 2015 the duo will have concerts all around Europe again. On the ridge between minimal wave, industrial and electroclash Vólkova are critically acclaimed throughout the continent – which they very well deserve!

Vólkova are Paula Lazzarino (vocals and lyrics) and Cesar Canali (music). During a nice little talk Paula and Cesar revealed some facts of their band’s history, why they have a connection to Slovenia and how they like it in Europe. Read More →