Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paul Kalkbrenner's 2008 semi-autobiographical Berlin Callingwas the first mature film
about the techno scene in Berlin.
Pop, Rock & Hip-Hop after 1990
Since reunification, hundreds of indie, punk, alternative and goth bands have gigged to ap-
preciative Berlin audiences. The still active Die Ärzte, Element of Crime and Einstürzende
Neubauten were joined by other successful exports, such as alternative punk rockers Beat-
steaks, and the pop-rock band Wir sind Helden, helmed by the charismatic Judith Ho-
lofernes, who released her first solo album in 2014. The Beatsteaks made headlines the
same year with their latest (and seventh) studio album.
Other fine Berlin music originates from a jazz/breaks angle (electrojazz and breakbeats,
favouring lush grooves, obscure samples and chilled rhythms). Remix masters Jazzanova
are top dogs of the downtempo scene. Their Sonar Kollektiv label also champions similar
artists, including Micatone. Reggae-dancehall has been huge in Berlin ever since Seeed was
founded in 1998. Its frontperson Peter Fox's solo album
Stadtaffe
(2008) was one of the
best-selling albums in Germany and also won the 2010 Album of the Year Echo Award (the
'German Grammy'). Also commercially successful is Culcha Candela, who have essentially
pop-ified the Seeed sound and released their fifth studio album,
Flätrate,
in 2011.
Home-grown rap and hip-hop has a huge following, thanks to Sido, Fler, Bushido and
Kool Savas, who co-founded Masters of Rap (MOR) in 1996. Also hugely successful are
Berlin-based Casper and Marteria. K.I.Z., meanwhile, are more of a gangsta rap parody.
Other famous Berlin-based artists include eccentric Canadian transplant King Khan, who
fuelled the garage rock revival; the country and western band Boss Hoss, the electro-folky
singer-songwriter Clara Hill, the indie rock band Gods of Blitz and the uncategorisable 17
Hippies.
Resources
Groove (
www.groove.de
)
de:bug (
www.de-bug.de
)
Spex (
www.spex.de
)
Resident Advisor (
www.residentadvisor.net
)
