Category Archives: Popular Music

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

Goodbye, Viva Zwei

The Day the Music Died

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

viva2-small

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 →

Posted in: Interviews, Popular Music // Tagged: coldwave, darkwave, gothic, industrial, minimal synth, minimal wave, music, new wave, synth, synthpop

Skryabin / Скрябін

Front-Man of Ukrainian Synthpop Band Died

11th February 2015 18:38 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

A week ago I have been to L’viv, Ukraine, to visit my dear friends, who I did not see for a long time then. When I saw people gathering on the Shevchenko square lighting candles, I thought it had something to do with the war in the east of the country. Only later I found out that the legendary musician Andriy Kuzmenko, founding member and front-man of the band Skryabin, had died on February 2nd in a car accident in Dnipropetrovs’k. Wanting to contribute to the condolences I am going to introduce you to one of the best musical groups of Eastern Europe. Read More →

Posted in: Popular Music // Tagged: alternative, darkwave, minimal synth, music, new wave, post-punk, rock, synth, synthpop, ukraine, ukrainian

A Musical Review of 2014

The Best New Music of the Last Year

7th January 2015 19:07 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Almost exactly two years ago this page went online. To be honest, I didn’t know in which direction this whole thing would go, but shortly after it turned out that there IS an interest in what I am writing about. My readership is growing steadily and many musicians are writing to me to introduce and discuss their music. I want to thank you very much for your attention! 🙂

While Central Europe is covered with snow these days I fled the cold and am sitting now at a sunny beach in Bodrum, Turkey. Before enjoying the dolce vita too much I am compiling a musical review of 2014 for you.

For alternative/dark music 2014 was another great year. Instead of the usual 10 songs I will present you 11 (because I couldn’t decide), which were released in 2014 – in no particular order. Read More →

Posted in: Popular Music // Tagged: alternative, coldwave, darkwave, gothic, list, new wave, post-punk, post-rock, review, synthpop, zimna fala

An Alternative Christmas Playlist 2014

23rd December 2014 20:32 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

Remember my last year’s alternative Christmas playlist? If you don’t, you can look it up here. The idea of this playlist was born out of the necessity to escape the so-called “Christmas songs”. They ambush the unaware and innocent individual, to manifest themselves in the brains of their hosts. Let’s see if I am able to find another ten songs which serve as an enjoyable and appropriate alternative to the generic Christmas songs. Read More →

Posted in: Popular Music // Tagged: acoustic, alternative, christmas, electronic, gothic, new wave, playlist, post-punk

XIII Wroclaw Industrial Festival

11th November 2014 11:50 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

After an endless car ride we eventually arrived in Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia, Poland. Uncountable times I have spent here, made some dear friends and it appears that behind every street corner, below every tree I can find pieces of memories and stories of my personal history with this city. This time I came here because of the Wrocław Industrial Festival, organized this year already for the 13th time. Read More →

His Master’s Voice

Interview with Times/Venus in Furs

30th October 2014 11:46 // 1 Comment // André Savetier

Now that’s a thing: I finally got in contact with one of my most favourite musicians, Times from Venus in Furs. Although being one of the pioneers of new wave music, there was hardly an evidence of his existence on the Internet. The mysterious man is back and finally I got the chance to ask him all the questions that came up over the years.

Posted in: Interviews, Popular Music // Tagged: brighton, interview, new wave, synthpop, times, venus in furs

Polish Coldwave · Zimna Fala 4

17th October 2014 18:43 // 3 Comments // André Savetier

There can never be enough Polish coldwave. Recenty, I came across some coldwave bands from Poland, which I am going to introduce to you in another chapter on Zimna Fala: The Shipyard, Schröttersburg, Manta Birostris and Liście.

If you missed my other articles on Polish coldwave, or you don’t know yet, what Zimna Fala is, here are the links to the previous chapters: 1, 2, 3. Read More →

Posted in: Popular Culture, Popular Music, The Sounds of... // Tagged: coldwave, poland, polish coldwave, schröttersburg, shipyard, zimna fala

An Alternative Venue Guide

8th September 2014 17:19 // Leave a Comment // André Savetier

crossclubprague

While travelling I am always searching for nice bars and clubs to spend a nice evening at. On the Internet one can find such venues, but it also takes some time. So the idea came up to make a list of interesting places all over Europe. You can find it here.

This list of venues will be updated regularly. If you have anything interesting to contribute, please use the comments or write me an e-mail.