RELEASES

Die Welttraumforscher

Die Rückkehr der echten Menschheit (1981 - 1990). Out March 5, 2021

This first Bureau B retrospective devoted to Die Welttraumforscher covers the Swiss project's early creative period from 1981 to 1990. The eccentric, heartwarming pop songs now sound like documents from a parallel world, interwoven with idiosyncratic fantasy, surreal stories and dreamlike apparitions. All tracks have been remastered and the artwork has been lovingly crafted with the original Forscher drawings.

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Die Welttraumforscher

Wir arbeiten für die nächste Welt (1991 - 2012). Out March 5, 2021

The second collection sees Bureau B zoom in on the years 1991 to 2012 in the Welttraumforscher universe. A more pensive atmosphere of melancholy pervades the tracks documented herein, as if the more spherical musical journeys and expeditions undertaken by creator and sole member Christian Pfluger lead to increasingly enchanted worlds.

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Mapstation

My Frequencies, When We. Out February 26, 2021

The title stumbles along, much like the rhythms gathered here. "My Frequencies, When We" is the eighth Mapstation album Stefan Schneider has released since 2000. Hailing from Düsseldorf, the electronic music artist and producer finds inspiration in African and South American folklore, dub and, naturally, Krautrock, taking his time to process his responses in a consistently thoughtful manner, never resorting to cliché.

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Camera

Prosthuman. Out February 19, 2021

With the band's tenth anniversary in their viewfinder, CAMERA are all set to push the button on "Prosthuman", their fifth studio album in February 2021. As befits an age in which realities can change in the blink of an eye, from one day to the next, the Berlin band never tire of changing themselves, their music or personnel. As Karlheinz Stockhausen noted: "New methods change the experience. New experiences change man." Taking this as their lead, Michael Drummer (the drummer) and CAMERA surprise us once more on "Prosthuman" as they reinvent and reformulate their sound without sacrificing the project's identity which has matured over the past decade. Less surprising is the fact that some record stores give CAMERA their own section, alongside Krautrock pioneers like NEU!, Can and La Düsseldorf.

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Richard von der Schulenberg

Moods and Dances 2021. Out January 29, 2021

Revered Hamburg musician, synthesist and DJ RVDS joins the Bureau B ranks with the meditative and mellifluous sounds of 'Moods and Dances 2021' – a musical present from the future past.

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Conrad Schnitzler

Paracon (The Paragon Session Outtakes 1978-1979). Out January 22, 2021

In the late 1970s Peter Baumann invited Conrad Schnitzler into his Paragon Studios where they recorded the album "Con" that we re-released a couple of months ago. 10 outtakes from this time were now compiled into the album "Paracon (The Paragon Session Outtakes 1978-1979)". Thanks to Wolfgang Seidel, co-author of these pieces, who opened up his archive of recordings to Bureau B.

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Pictures: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

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Conny Frischauf

Die Drift. Out January 15, 2021

Viennese artist Conny Frischauf's music is a whirl of Kraut, leftfield electronica and synth pop. She playfully shines a new light on on tradition to create a fresh, contemporary sound. Having released a brace of EPs – "Effekt & Emotion" (International Major Label, 2018) and "Affekt & Tradition" (Kame House, 2019) – Frischauf now presents her debut album, Die Drift.

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Der Plan

Die Peitsche des Lebens. Out November 20, 2020

Eleven years had passed since the release of Geri Reig, their debut album. Tiki and electronica, noise and schlager, psychedelia and industrial, Kurt Martin and jerry-rigging, Cargo Cult and Ata Tak, Wuppertal and Düsseldorf, Hans-Albers-Platz and West-Berlin, Emulator I and Emulator II, old pizzas and new masks, making the most out of the least and living in the gallery, abstraction and pop, Japan and Japlan. A lot going on in those eleven years! "Die Peitsche des Lebens" is our final instalment (for now) in our little series of classic Der Plan album reissues.

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Der Plan

Es ist eine fremde und seltsame Welt. Out November 20, 2020

A cynic might propound the notion that to reissue an album entitled "Es ist eine fremde und seltsame Welt" at this particular moment would be to hit the nail on the head with painful exactitude. No cynics here, however, only music lovers. We are Bureau B and we have already re-released four classic albums by Der Plan: Geri Reig - BB104, Normalette Surprise - BB105, Die letzte Rache - BB129 and Japlan - BB 130. It gives us great pleasure to present to you reissue number five.

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Neuzeitliche Bodenbeläge

Der große Preis. Out November 13, 2020

Neuzeitliche Bodenbeläge is the musical vehicle of Niklas Wandt and Joshua Gottmanns. They released a single – Ich verliebe mich nie – in 2018 and an EP entitled Leben in 2019 on the Düsseldorf label Themes For Great Cities. Now the time has come for the Berlin duo's long-awaited debut album. The 7 tracks comprising Der große Preis distil the inimitable NB sound which blends velvety synth-pop and crystalline digi-dub, basslines like cubes of glass and whiplash snares. The album title certainly lives up to its name: The Grand Prize. This is adventure time, from wild romance to petty crime – it's all waiting for you right here.

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Martin Rev

See Me Ridin'. Out October 16, 2020

Martin Rev's fourth solo album See Me Ridin' was originally released on the New York label Reachout International Records (ROIR) in 1996. Received by the critics with amazement, it proved to be a watershed moment in his career.

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Martin Rev

Strangeworld. Out October 16, 2020

Martin Rev's fifth solo album – Strangeworld – was originally released on the cusp of the new millennium. The label responsible was Puu, a Finnish imprint belonging to Tommi Grönlund and Mika Vainio's Sähkö Recordings which came to fame in the 1990s on the strength of its uncompromising minimalist sound. Four years earlier, in 1996, Rev had unleashed See Me Ridin, an album which surprised its listeners with keyboard melody sketches and distilled doo-wop compositions. It was also the first solo album to feature Martin Rev on vocals. Strangeworld started where its predecessor left off. Melodic passages dissolved into a thicket of fragments and set pieces, coalescing in a celestial shimmer between rhythm loops and Rev's voice, which assumed the role of an additional instrument rather than a standard singing part.

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Pose Dia

Front View. Out October 9, 2020

Front View is the album debut of film-maker and musician Helena Ratka, alias Pose Dia. A soundtrack and theatre composer, as well as resident DJ at Hamburg's Golden Pudel Club, Ratka emerged onto the scene as one half of Shari Vari (together with Sophia Kennedy). Now all these pathways or winding roads have converged to create Pose Dia and an impressive album of many facets – a self-assured debut.

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CONRAD SCHNITZLER

Auf dem schwarzen Kanal 12". Out August 28, 2020

"Auf dem schwarzen Kanal" is one of the most outstanding, most sought-after releases in Conrad Schnitzler's extensive catalogue. It was the only Schnitzler record to appear on a major label and saw him flirting with the experimental new wave sound that was emerging in 1980, particularly on the title track. Nevertheless, it still managed to sound idiosyncratically unlike any other music around at the time. Recorded with Wolfgang Seidel at Peter Baumann's Paragon Studio in Berlin, the four tracks take us on a caustic, dissonant mutant disco trip which has lost none of its fascination in the years since. It gives us at Bureau B great pleasure to reissue this long lost work!

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TOLOUSE LOW TRAX

Jumping Dead Leafs. Out September 11, 2020

A 38 minutes exorcism, dionysac sexyness fueled with romanticism, made of mechanical incantations mixed with spectral vocals of forgotten imaginary tribes, words from a physicist (Incomprehensible Image), and mystical breathings... To remind you that music is demanding your soul and body, fully. This is Tolouse Low Trax's 4th solo album Jumping Dead Leafs.

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SORBET

Life Variations EP. Out September 18, 2020

SORBET is a new project from producer, drummer & vocalist Chris W Ryan (Robocobra Quartet). The first release via Bureau B Life Variations is a suite of three tracks borne from the same musical seed. "Every time I sat at the piano I played that same chord progression and it felt never-ending. It felt like I could play the same two chords for a lifetime".

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SCHLAMMPEITZIGER

Ein Weltleck in der Echokammer. Out September 25, 2020

"Ein Weltleck in der Echokammer" is the tenth Schlammpeitziger opus and his second album to appear on the Hamburg-based label Bureau B. The first notes of the opening title track Weltleck instantly confirm that this is no run-of-the-mill record. Jo Zimmermann confounds expectations as he wraps the art-electro sound of Schlammpeitziger in otherworldly dub echo loops – a surprising, yet perfectly coherent development. Not that these eight sun-drenched tracks are exclusively in the realm of dub rhythm; they are also sprinkled with disco beats, beguilingly low-flying bass and dreamy, sweeping melodic arcs – everything for which we have come to love Schlammpeitziger. He launches us into outer space before bringing us back down to the prosaic dancefloors of earth.

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HARMONIOUS THELONIOUS

Plong. Out August 28, 2020

Harmonious Thelonious is the solo project of the Düsseldorf musician Stefan Schwander. His works combine American-influenced minimal music with African rhythms and European melodies. "Plong" is his first album on Bureau B, hypnotic, danceable, irresistible.

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SOWAS VON EGAL 2

German Synth Wave Underground 1981-1984. Out August 14, 2020

Two years have passed since the successful release of the first "Sowas von egal" compilation. "Sowas von egal" is a collaboration between the Hamburg record label Bureau B and the Hamburg party series Damaged Goods where they present rare, obscure synth & wave discs from the early 1980s which absolutely deserve to heard. It was clear from the outset that "Sowas von egal 2" would need to scale similar heights of excellence as its predecessor, featuring carefully selected, sought-after, danceable tunes. In contrast to the first volume, most of the acts here were only active in the early 1980s and have not released any records since then. The tape artists were particularly invested in the DIY ethic – as is often apparent in their sound aesthetics and the unbridled energy which has lost none of its intensity today. Their art was seldom – if ever – tempered by commercial considerations or sales strategies. A year in the making: "Sowas von egal 2" is a worthy successor to part 1!

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CON-STRUCT

Conrad Schnitzler / Frank Bretschneider. Out August 7, 2020

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CONRAD SCHNITZLER

Con. Out August 7, 2020

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GUNTHER WÜSTHOFF

[to|digi]tal. Out July 24, 2020

Having completed his military service as a naval radio operator, Gunther Wüsthoff was in the midst of his German and fine art studies when he encountered Rudolf Sosna und Jean-Hervé Peron. It was May 1969 and each of them had a guitar so they decided to make music together. Polydor International headhunter Uwe Nettelbeck tracked them down on 23rd February 1971, prompting them to form the legendary krautrock band Faust with three other Hamburg musicians a few days later. Wüsthoff stayed with the band for five albums and three tours through France and Great Britain before leaving in 1974. In subsequent decades, Wüsthoff had various technical jobs at Studio Hamburg and Filmhaus Hamburg and also studied technical editing so he could work as a freelancer. He continued to play music, introducing electronic instruments and computers into his work at an early stage. This collection spanning the years 1979-2007 offers a clear insight into how he consciously integrated these means of production into the recording process.

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BAAL & MORTIMER

Deixis. Out June 26, 2020

Since 2014 Baal & Mortimer is the project of Alexandra Grübler, created in Düsseldorf, sonically exploring questions of resistance, autonomy, language and identity. After the release of "Earthrise" on the label HEAVEN in 2018, her debut album "Deixis" will be released by Bureau B this year. She has collaborated with Black Merlin, Musiccargo and Rupert Clervaux and was most recently a mentee of Laurel Halo for the Berlin Amplify program.

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HARALD GROSSKOPF

Synthesist (40th Anniversary Edition). Out June 5, 2020

For the 40th anniversary this classic of german electronic music is released as 2-vinyl with new interpretations by Steve Baltes, Thorsten Quaeschning, Paul Frick, Keidler, Pyrolator, Love-Songs, Stefan Lewin, Camera and Tellavision.

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Pictures: Picture 1 (1980) / Picture 2 (1981) / Picture 3 (Harald & Udo 1980) / Picture 4 (2017) / Picture 5 (2017)

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LOVE-SONGS

Nicht Nicht. Out May 22, 2020

Hamburg-based Love-Songs' debut album Nicht Nicht continues the band's striving to mesh defined grids with improvisatory snapshots to create their very own take on organic electronica. Since 2012, the electro-acoustic trio were able to explore the possibilities of their free-flowing interplay through the course of several EPs and the mini-album 'Inselbegabung'. Meandering through its seven tracks Nicht Nicht contains the Trios most aerially shimmering tracks to date flanked by tribal bouncers. Form, deform and somewhere in between.

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LAPRE

Banzai (Elektronische Musik aus Berlin 1985 - 87). Out May 1, 2020

Rudolf Langer (formerly of Tyndall) and Peter Preuß teamed up to create Lapre as a vehicle for their adventures in sonic experimentation. They set about capturing their nocturnal rehearsal room sessions on tape, Langer on synthesizer and Preuß on guitar. Banzai, the second collection of Lapre recordings, concentrates on their creative output from the years 1985 to 1987. It documents the duo's impressive latter phase, moving on from their earlier cosmic collages into an altogether more playful state of mind.

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DIE WILDE JAGD

Haut. Out April 17, 2020

Die Wilde Jagd is the music project of producer and songwriter Sebastian Lee Philipp. With the aid of his co- producer Ralf Beck and various guest musicians, he created a self-titled debut album in 2015 and a highly praised follow-up disc, "Uhrwald Orange", in 2018. The band's third album – "Haut" – is now set for release on Bureau B. Die Wilde Jagd regularly tour throughout Europe and beyond as a Live duo comprising Sebastian Lee Philipp on guitar, electronics and vocals and Ran Levari on drums.

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ELEPHANT CHATEAU

Dreamings & Offshore Drilling – Pearls And Turtles. Out April 17, 2020

The complete other-worldly beautiful works of Elephant Chateau are now reissued on the new compilation "Pearls and Turtles" which will be out on April 17th via Bureau B. All tracks have been carefully remastered from the original tapes. Including an extentive interview by music journalist Bjørn Schaeffner and a new artwork by Elephant Chateau's Johannes Vetsch.

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ROEDELIUS

Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978. Out April 10, 2020

For the first time ever this Roedelius audio sketchbook had been digitalised and available to the public in 2014 on a limited (500 units only) 3-LP box set called „Roedelius Tape Archive 1973-1978". The recordings offer us a deep insight into the creative process of his music. Fleeting notes, slivers of ideas, so to speak, moments of inspiration. Finger exercises, experiments in harmony, studies in rhythm are also preserved on these magnetic tapes. Since the box set has been sold out for a long time, we decided to release the essence of those 3 LPs on a 1 LP compilation: "Roedelius Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978"

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Pictures: Picture 1

ROEDELIUS

Selbstporträt Wahre Liebe. Out April 10, 2020

The first part of Hans-Joachim Roedelius' Selbstportrait (Self-Portrait) series was originally released under the title 'Sanfte Musik' on Sky Records in 1979. Now, some forty years later, a new instalment has arrived in the form of an album entitled 'Wahre Liebe'.

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BUTZMANN/KAPIELSKI

War Pur War. Out March 27, 2020

We are delighted to annouce the reissue of another of our long time favourites: Frieder Butzmann & Thomas Kapielski's collaborative album "WAR PUR WAR", originally released on Zensor in 1987. This utterly unique work is an idiosyncratic mix of eccentric electro-pop and bizarre sonic collages and has gone on to become a sought-after collector's item. Now lovingly remastered, with refreshed artwork and two bonus tracks, complete with previously unpublished photos and liner notes by Frieder Butzmann.

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JIMI TENOR

NY, Hel, Barca. Out March 6, 2020

Finnish composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Tenor has joined forces with Bureau B to release "NY, Hel, Barca" – a retrospective compilation spanning the years 1994 – 2001. The double LP features early works and selected tracks from his first six albums, long since deleted. The 20 tracks on "NY, Hel, Barca" document key stages of Jimi Tenor's remarkable creative path, underlining the prolific and varied nature of his artistic output. Then as now, he shines like a satellite hovering over the European pop landscape.

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CEL

CEL (Felix Kubin & Hubert Zemler). Out February 14, 2020

The "janus-faced Poltergeist of the retro-futuristic electronic dance music" Felix Kubin and the polish drummer Hubert Zemler, inspired by Jazz, contemporary music and Improv, teamed up together to create this project that convinces with its innovative electronic concept and sounddesign. With Kubin pushing his sound generators to the limits of the frequency spectrum and Zemler playing impulsive and machine-like beats, these two musicians are able to design a beautifully dark soundscape.

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DEUX BALEINES BLANCHES

Singende Drähte. Reissue from 1986. Out February 7, 2020

DBB was the name of Stefan Schneider*s avant-pop-project who concurrently with his studies of photography at Duesseldorf's Kunstakademie had begun his musical explorations in the early 1980s, which also led him to cofound the bands Kreidler (1994) and To Rococo Rot (1995). "Singende Draehte" showcases some of his early work in the field. The somewhat sketchy and abstract character of these 14 tracks, "Draehte" (wires) is slightly reminiscent of the esthetics of contemporary labels like Les Disques du Crépuscule or early 4AD. yet they sound surprisingly modern even 30 years after they were first released.

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HELDON

Un rêve sans conséquence spéciale. Reissue from 1976. Out January 31, 2020

Richard Pinhas' legendary synth & guitar prog band HELDON was always its own beast and by 1976, whith their fifth album, it was thriving and roaring like never before. More work was being completed in a proper studio, the Moog helped strengthen the sound and direction, and Pinhas' rotating cast of collaborators was solidifying into something resembling a regular line-up, with François Auger on drums and Patrick Gauthier on synthesizers. The result was a darker, heavier, and more intense sound.

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HELDON

6 — Interface. Reissue from 1977. Vinyl/CD/digital. Out January 31, 2020

HELDON was continuing to evolve rapidly. Thanks to the increased presence of drummer François Auger and synth/Moog man Patrick Gauthier, Pinhas' project had solidified into a harder and heavier unit. Despite its often warm and near-funky feel, "Interface" has been cited as an influence on key industrial and noise musicians including Wolf Eyes and Merzbow. "A lot of people told me that 'Interface' and bands like Throbbing Gristle started the initial so-called industrial music but I was not aware of this at the time. But if you tell me it's pre-industrial music I'm okay with that, of course", Pinhas says in the liner notes of our release.

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HELDON

Stand by. Reissue from 1979. Vinyl/CD/digital. Out January 31, 2020

With their seventh and final album of the 70s HELDON certainly went out on a high. "Stand By"s mood remains urgent and gripping throughout, fashioned via immense synthesizer sounds, a plethora of interweaving drum patterns, spiralling guitar chops and lurching riffs. It's been likened to krautrock, yet Pinhas never paid attention to the German scene. There are other similarities to parallel innovations that John Carpenter was making in the field of sci-fi/horror soundtracks.

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