Hope, live at Reeperbahn Festival 2018, recorded on September 21st. Talking about the band Hope you may hear the term “Neue Deutsche Wucht” (“New German Impact”) popping up in the conversation – a reference to the 80s genre “Neue Deutsche Welle” (“New German Wave”). However, Hope has little in common with that era but rather sounds like their very own updated version of DAF, Kraftwerk or Rammstein with solemn singing and etherial rhythms – a feast of elegant ambient, darkwave and noise.
The Berlin-based four-piece was founded in 2009 and has since re-invented Post-Rock. The songs on their current self-entitled album “Hope” (Haldern Pop Recordings) appear somewhat unwieldy at first glance. But songs like “Kingdom”, “Cell” or “Raw” are straightforward: the titles short and precise, the music reduced to the essentials and yet full of hidden emotions. It’s music that gives you chilling goosebumps. No wonder Algiers immediately invited the band to be their opening act.
This is another indication that contemporary music is alive and well and trying out new things everywhere. As I continue to harp on it; language should be no barrier to your enjoying these bands and being inspired by them. Hope is a wonderfully complex set of intricate while expansive sounds. Yes, they are very reminiscent of some of the German bands of the 70s which I have held dear ever since I first heard them, but they are not retro in the least. This is a band worthy of watching. For the moment, they are sticking close to home – however, they have one gig in Manchester slated for later this month. So things are looking up for their expanding fan-bases and reaching beyond the German border.
I have no idea if they have anything planned for the U.S., but they would certainly be a welcome addition to SXSW or any of the other showcase festivals going on.
In any event, have a listen and see what you think – my bet is they are a band to keep an eye out for.
