KRACHT – Korridor
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Kracht is a newly formed German band consisting of two musicians, Falko (vocals, guitar) and Ralph (bass), hailing from Munich and Augsburg respectively. The drums are provided by a drum machine, though you’d hardly notice, as modern technology has reached impressive levels. The two have been friends for over 25 years and played together around the turn of the millennium. Back then, they were part of another band, which required making compromises to accommodate one another’s ideas. This time around, they decided to form a duo, as their musical tastes align closely. With a deep understanding of each other’s style and no external pressures, they can now work without compromising. Close to their fifties, Falko and Ralph draw much of their musical inspiration from the 1990s, a decade that shaped them as teenagers and young adults. During that time, Germany saw the rise of influential noise rock bands like Blackmail and Harmful, which left a lasting impact on the duo. Other inspirations include The Notwist and, more recently, Die Nerven. The name Kracht suits the band well, not only because they like to play loud and intense music, but also as a nod to Swiss author Christian Kracht. His postmodern novels Eurotrash, Faserland, and Imperium resonate with the band’s creative vision. The duo channels a similar energy into their music, as heard in tracks like Frost, City, and Fire. Interestingly, all the songs and the album title consist of single words, giving off a somewhat cold and minimalist vibe, which complements their style perfectly. Their sound leans heavily into post-punk influences, creating tracks that alternate between raw anger and melodic expression. Kracht’s music feels purposefully unconventional, resisting easy categorization. The duo seems intent on following their own path without conforming to expectations. This approach really works, at least in most cases. The exception is formed by Unterholz, one of the quieter and longer tracks, and it feels less polished and could be shorter. However, the album makes up for this with nine other tracks packed with energy and intensity. Currently Korridor is only available as a digital download or stream. The band hasn’t ruled out the possibility of releasing the album on vinyl or CD if demand grows, though they haven’t reached that point yet. Regardless, this outstanding debut is well worth exploring in all its detail. |
10 songs |
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40:33 minutes |
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***** *** |
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Genre: post-punk (self-released) Released: 15th November 2024 |
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