Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Six track - Limited Edition CD in Lancing Pack Gatefold Sleeve
Tracklist
01. Ice Fall (8:35)
02. Speed Fight Date (6:31)
03. Persistence (6:27)
04. The Wall Behind The Door (7:07)
05. Where Are You? (The Family Tree) (6:00)
06. The Lookout (Seyhan III) (10:44)
Includes unlimited streaming of Perform & Consume
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Manfred Thomaser (Arsine Tibé, !distain, The Independent Seasons) and James Knights (KNIGHT$, Scarlet Soho, Boytronic) have joined forces. The result is DEMOKRATIE, a widescreen, cinematic sonic experience fusing the individual talents of both into an entirely unique and cohesive whole, emerging from the twin cities of Munich in Germany, and Winchester, England.
Following a first meeting backstage at Berlin’s ORWOhaus venue in 2019, it seemed to be destiny that the two artists would collaborate at some point, and discussions began several months later with a view to adding James’ vocals to one of Manfred’s instrumental pieces - this resulted in ‘Ice Fall’, and DEMOKRATIE, as a project, began to grow from there. Aiming to experiment freely outside of their parent projects, both new and unfamiliar sounds and textures were explored, each artist bringing their vision and experience to something completely outside of their usual working parameters. Manfred is the driving force behind the project, creating the platforms and soundscapes and touchstones over which James’ soaring vocals can flourish, and the chemistry of this arrangement is clear throughout, the vulnerability and diversity in the singing simply stunning.
The tracks themselves are expansive, patient, and broad in scope, scale and diversity. ‘Ice Fall’ is stately and glacial, towering and ethereal, plaintive vocals over a swoosh of keyboards and increasingly dominant percussion. ‘Speed Fight Date’ is urgent and futuristic, a sci-fi soundtrack, dramatic and intriguing, ‘Persistence’, in contrast, is sparsely beautiful and calmly positive. And then there is the more pointed pop of ‘The Wall Behind The Door’, the dark twists and turns of ‘Where Are You?’, or the gentle nostalgia of ‘The Lookout (Seyhan III)’, which soars and glides gracefully off into some wonderful, imagined future. This is an album for the soul. It is not enough to simply hear these songs, to fully experience the richness on offer here, they must be experienced, on every level of the senses.
At a time when the world became such a small and frightening place, creativity, like so much in our lives, became a challenge most of us have never faced before. The collaboration that has led to DEMOKRATIE transcends not only physical borders and boundaries, but also the immense hardships and pessimism that threatened to squeeze all life and hope from the creative arts, and there is a genuine relief and palpable joyfulness extending throughout this extraordinary album.
‘Perform & Consume’, the debut album by DEMOKRATIE, will be released on October, 29th 2021 via Specchio Uomo.
(Written by Stephen Kennedy)
credits
released October 29, 2021
Ice Fall
(lyrics: Manfred Thomaser / words: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
Speed Fight Date
(lyrics: James Knights / music: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
Persistence
(lyrics & music: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
The Wall Behind The Door
(lyrics: James Knights / music: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
Where Are You (The Family Tree)
(lyrics: Manfred Thomaser / music: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
The Lookout (Seyhan III)
(lyrics: Manfred Thomaser / music: Manfred Thomaser & James Knights)
Demokratie is a cinematic soundtrack-focused band formed by Manfred Thomaser (!distain, Arsine Tibe, The Independent Seasons) and James Knights (KNIGHT$, Scarlet Soho, Boytronic).
supported by 7 fans who also own “Perform & Consume”
Its electronic cadence is a musical base that transports me to my beginnings in electronic music, the musical seal of this band occupies a privileged space in my being. A64 IVOXX
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