What do I mean by this? Well, Bielefeld is a city in Germany that has a running joke that it does not exist. Do you know anyone from Bielefeld? Have you ever been to Bielefeld? Do you know anyone from Wyoming? Have you ever been to Wyoming? Exactly! I still have yet to meet anyone from Wyoming, so who knows if it’s really out there.
Album: bielefeld
Artist: weltraumrauschen
Release Date: September 29, 2023
Genre: #Slowcore #DreamPop #Experimental
Sub-Genres: #LofiIndie #IndieRock
Description:
bielefeld was recorded between April 2020 and December 2021 on cassette, analog, digital, and an ¼ inch tape. The album has 11 tracks with a runtime of 47 minutes. For some reason, weltraumrauschen’s Rate Your Music page states that he died in 2021, which is very much false. I guess disappearing for like three years just automatically means you died. Recently he has been posting to his bandcamp and YouTube channel.
My favorite track of the album is “Was Machst Du Mit Mir” which to my understanding means something along the lines of, “What are you doing with me.” Another line that I can also comprehend is “neben dir” which is “next to you”, and guess what, they rhyme. I know, shocker. Do you have to understand German to appreciate this song? Nope. It is a great slowcore song though that resembles the works of Duster. There is a specific song that it reminds me of from Duster, but for weeks I still cannot place my finger on it, so if you figure it out you should tell me.
“Tascam 644 Tape Demo Instru” is a mouthful, but I can appreciate it. Upon my first listen-through, a certain sound got stuck in my head, that being a sort of UFO/alien sound throughout the song. Just like my first listen-through of “Orbitron” by Duster with the convenience store doorbell, and unfortunately, that is all I hear from now on. Don’t let that discourage you or anything, this song is perfect to listen to as background music, at least that is how I have been listening to it. Despite the track title saying “Instru”, it is not strictly just instrumentals like “instru ‘92” is.
Overall bielefeld is a solid slowcore/sad album. weltraumrauschen has another new release stefan that released on October 27, 2023. If you like the sound of German lofi-indie you can check out 125 Rue Montmartre, who are from Bielefeld (or are they).
RIYL:
Duster
Eiafuawn
125 Rue Montmartre
Unrecovery
Recommended Tracks:
Was Machst Du Mit Mir
instru ‘92
Losing
Tascam 644 Tape Demo Instru
Bielefeld
Reviewer’s Name: K Galich
Date of Review: October 25, 2023