Werkraum

Werkraum is the creative music works of German musician Axel Frank.

Overview

Growing up in the fields of experimental music and post-industrial music with several other projects since the early 1990s, Axel Frank began to adapt a more melodic neofolk, electronic and dark ambient approach. Under the new name "Werkraum" (German for "Work Room"), Frank released this material on CDRs and multiple compilations in the late 1990s and early 2000s until debuting with a full length LP on Cold Spring Records in 2004. Frank continued to release material on various compilations until and after the release of 2005's "Kristalle", Werkraum's second album, focused on more melancholic and psychedelic original folk music tunes, based in parts on traditional and early music. With "Early love Music" in 2008, Frank sets a mark on his way to an own and characteristic mixture of traditional folk music and modern folkrock with his elaborated guitar and string play, which gets more and more recognition worldwide.

Members of the British Gothic-Folk act Lady Morphia, German singer Antje Hoppenrath, the members of the late sixties US Folk band Changes and from the Austrian Folk band Sturmpercht have also contributed to Werkraum. Frank has since become a member of Austrian alpine tradition Folk band Sturmpercht, where under the pseudonym Hanns Aufschring he plays a distinctive musical role, while his work with Werkraum continues. In the recent past, Frank also works as talented Studio- and Masteringengineer for international artists like In Gowan Ring or Waldteufel as well as for local and European independent labels. Frank is living in Berlin, Germany and is father of a son.

References

*Diesel, Andreas und Dr. Gerten, Dieter: "Looking for Europe - Neofolk und Hintergründe.", Zeltingen-Rachtig 2005, ISBN 3-936878-02-1
* Speit, Andreas u.a. (Hrsg.): "Ästhetische Mobilmachung: Rechtsextreme Tendenzen in der Dark Wave- und Neofolkszene.", Münster 2002, ISBN 3-89771-804-9

Discography

Albums And EPs

Compilations

External links

Official

* [http://www.werkraum.org/ Official Werkraum Site]
* [http://www.bucranion.de/ Blue Lounge Studios]

Unofficial

* [http://www.myspace.com/werkraum Werkraum at MySpace]

Interviews

* [http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20050909110637775 September 2005 interview with Axel Frank by Malahki Thorn]
* [http://cp05.ionhosting.com/~joelh/werkrauminterview.htm February 2006 interview with Axel Frank by Joe Mlodik]

Reviews

* [http://www.heathenharvest.com/article.php?story=20040830061803410 Review of "Unsere Feuer Brennen!" by Malahki Thorn/Heathen Harvest (USA)]
* [http://www.compulsiononline.com/news66.htm Review of "Kristalle" by Tony Dickie/Compulsion (UK)]
* [http://lunarhypnosis.com/werkrauminterview.htm Interview by Joe Mlodik/Lunar Hypnosis (USA)]
* [http://theshadowscommence.99k.org/werkraumlove.html Review of "Early Love Music" by The Shadows Commence (Sweden)]