Weltklang

Infobox musical artist
Name = Weltklang


Img_capt = Weltklang, 2004.
Img_size = 250
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Schwerin, Germany
Genre = Electronic music, Neue Deutsche Welle, German Punk, Minimal wave, Electronica, New Wave, EBM
Years_active = 1980–present
Label = International DeeJay Gigolo Records, Exil-System, VOD, Electro Emotions
Associated_acts = P1/e DJ Hell Mono 45/UPM Hits Berlin Kinder Aus Asbest Die Sympathische Kommunistin
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/vebheimat]
Current_members = Thomas Voburka René Steuns

Weltklang is a German electronic music project that was formed in 1980.

Current members are Thomas Voburka and René Steuns.

Background

Weltklang was formed in the East-German town of Schwerin, German Democratic Republic in 1980.

The mastermind behind Weltklang is Thomas Voburka, who also founded the Berlin based electronic music label Exil-System in 1979.

Weltklang is particularly noted for the innovatively sparse and yet classic Minimal wave track “VEB Heimat”, which was originally released in 1980.

"VEB Heimat"

Weltklang's first release, the 7” single “VEB Heimat/Hoffnung / Sehnsucht ??” was brought out in 1980.

Inspired by the fast rise of Neue Deutsche Welle and by the Punk subculture's DIY attitude Voburka's main principle was to remove all dispensable ornamentation and polish from his music, and to use the simplest and most minimalist structures. On "VEB Heimat" for instance he made sole use of a simple Roland SH09 Synthesizer line cite web| last =| first =| title = Comment by Thomas Voburka at Sonicstate| work =| publisher = Solidstate | url = http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/_inc/user_comments.cfm?id=100&p=6| accessdate = 2008-08-26] - a very stripped down monophonic analogue synthesizer from Roland Corporation's classic SH-seriescite web| last =| first =| title = Roland SH09 fact sheet at Sequencer.de | work =| publisher = Sequencer.de | url = http://www.sequencer.de/syns/roland/SH09.html| accessdate = 2008-08-27] .

The song itself was based upon a very minimalist, radically filtered bass sequence and a yet destructive, (un)musical arrangement. In addition to this sparse backing, the track featured a furious and repetitive vocal line by Voburka, reiteratively quoting an excerpt from the national anthem of Austria, Land der Berge, Land am Strome.

Whereas the first half of the song title “VEB Heimat” refers to the socialist-tinted expression "Volkseigener Betrieb" (a state owned workplace or establishment in the German Democratic Republic) the second word “Heimat” is a thoroughly and hard to translate German term, comparable to "homeland" in English.

Response

Not hugely successful at firstcite web| last =| first =| title = Interview, Krachcom| work =| publisher = Krachcom.de| url = http://krachcom.de/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=7022| accessdate = 2008-08-26] , the unique and futuristic sounding “VEB Heimat” managed to equal an international cult status over the following years, particularly within the Minimal wave and Minimal Electro music scenecite web| last =| first =| title = Overview of classic Minimal Electro releases| work =| publisher = Wikipedia| url = http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_Electro| accessdate = 2008-08-27] .

Today Voburka's Weltklang project is seen as one of the true classics in electronic music and for many DJs and Musicians “VEB Heimat” has grown to an all time favourite.

Weltklang has since then often been referred to by artists such as DJ Hell or Optimo (Espacio)cite web| last =| first =| title = Interview, Schwarzes NRW| work =| publisher = Schwarzes NRW| url = http://www.schwarzes-nrw.de/?p=28| accessdate = 2008-08-27] . In 2003 for example - 23 years after its original release date - "VEB Heimat" made it into the top 3 of DJ's Hell's charts of the yearcite web| last =| first =| title = DJ Hell, official website| work =| publisher = DJ Hell | url = http://www.djhell.com| accessdate = 2008-08-26] . Ever since its original release in 1980 “Veb Heimat” has been re-released on numerous occasions, primarily for compilation albums. Apart from its integration in compilation albums such as 80's Minimal Electronics (Volume 1), Return Of Flexi-Pop 3 (Tribute To Flexi-Pop 13)cite web| last =| first =| title = Tracklist, Return Of Flexi-Pop 3| work =| publisher = saltyka | url = http://saltyka.blogspot.com/2007/12/various-return-to-flexipop.html | accessdate = 2008-08-26] and The Call Of The Bansheescite web| last =| first =| title = Tracklist, The Call Of The Banshees| work =| publisher = kzsu | url = http://kzsu.stanford.edu/eklein/comp/compc.html#509 | accessdate = 2008-08-26] , in 2003 Veb Heimat was also used as opening track for DJ Hell's hugely successful New Deutschcite web| last =| first =| title = New Deutsch review at Amazon| work =| publisher = Amazon | url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Deutsch-Compiled-Thomas-Baer/dp/B0000A9DOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219818161&sr=8-1| accessdate = 2008-08-26] compilation which was released on International DeeJay Gigolo Records.

2004 - Present

On the occasion of Weltklang's 25th anniversary, in 2004 Voburka decided to reform the project, together with London based programmer, producer and engineer René Steunscite web| last =| first =| title = Weltklang Interview at Neon Welt| work =| publisher = Neon Welt | url = http://www.neon-welt.de/Weltklang-Interview.htm| accessdate = 2008-08-26] .

Since then Weltklang have produced various remixes for artists such as Aeronautica, Alter Ego, Asmodeus X, Fall Of Saigon, Kinder Aus Asbest, Mono 45UPM, P1/e, Plastic Japanese Toys, Soldout and Sonnenbrandt as well as the somewhat obscure "Liebesgrüsse aus Ost-Berlin" compilation albumcite web| last =| first =| title = Liebesgrüsse aus Ost-Berlin review| work =| publisher = Totally Ambush| url = http://totallyambush.co.uk/2006/11/02/weltk _pr. accessdate = 2008-08-26] . Not only for their original Material but also for their remixes Weltklang remain true to their minimalist and deconstructive DIY approach.

On Stage

Furthermore from 2005 on Weltklang have played various, sporadic live shows throughout Europe, with critically acclaimed gigs in Belgium, Germany, Sweden and most recently Ukraine.

Discography

Releases:

Unofficial Releases:

References

External Links

* [http://www.myspace.com/vebheimat Official Weltklang Myspace Website]
* [http://free.pages.at/aspects/exilsystem/exil-system.htm Exil-System Label Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/exilsystem Official Exil-System Myspace Website]
* [http://www.totallyambush.co.uk Website of programmer, engineer & producer René Steuns]

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Weltklang Weltklang at Discogs]
* [http://musicbrainz.org/show/artist/?artistid=183664 Weltklang at Musicbrainz]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/weltklang Weltklang at Last.fm]

* [http://www.minimal-elektronik.de/english/tips.htm Minimal wave music recommendations]

* [http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=SPDH-jpbArs&feature=related/ Youtube video, Weltklang live in Bochum, Germany]
* [http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=jYD-i9za73k&feature=related/ Youtube video, Weltklang live in Gothenburg, Sweden]
* [http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=7jafdc5y3vI Youtube video, Weltklang live in Kiev, Ukraine]

* [http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=weltklang&domains=wfmu.org&sitesearch=wfmu.org Playlists, Radio WFMU]
* [http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=weltklang&domains=eastvillageradio.com&sitesearch=eastvillageradio.com Playlists, East Village Radio]
* [http://www.castexotic.com/psychnight.html Playlist, Psych Night, Vancouver]
* [http://www.optimo.co.uk/playlists.htm Playlist, Optimo (Espacio) , Glasgow]
* [http://www.3particles.com/procedure Playlist, Mark Williams, Washington DC]
* [http://www.best-of-80s.de/vbforum/showthread.php?t=4920 Minimal Wave/Neue Deutsche Welle Forum]