Some of the most inventive electronic music today is being produced in Germany. Düsseldorf's Moglebaum, inspired and influenced by artists in their field such as Bonobo, Sohn and Big Wild, easily joins the modern canon of electronic and acoustic fusion. And their new Grown Heart EP is easy evidence.
From the very first track, "Echo of Time," this five-piece sets the stage for a worldly, jazz-centric exploration of current trends in electronic dance and pop music. The tune "Forever Wild"—the first one made on the EP—was even inspired by an all time favorite jazz song of theirs, "Strasbourg St Denis." Their music is playful, futuristic, and passionate; heavily layered with homemade samples from field recordings of coffee machines, shopping bags and cactuses. While musician Moglii is the mastermind behind production, vocalist Franzi ties everything together with her soulful interpretation of the English language, on top of the live saxophone and drums.
I get sent a lot of electronic music these days--my email inbox is overflowing with it. It's what everyone wants to do, to create, to become known for it seems. So it's easy to dismiss just another group that describes themselves as some experimental form of electronic music. But when I pressed play on Mogelbaum's Grown Heart EP, I couldn't ignore the sense of vibrancy and urgency in their sound. They formed as a live band, and that comes through strongly in the recording. There are so many electronic acts that I would rather hear recorded through a great sound system than see live, but Moglebaum is not one of them. These five are a family who can read each other's minds in the way that only musicians can, and I'm convinced it makes for an immersive and engaging live experience. I'm excited to see where they go next.
In lieu of a live show, take a quick peek behind the making of Moglebaum and their new EP, from the band themselves.
From the very first track, "Echo of Time," this five-piece sets the stage for a worldly, jazz-centric exploration of current trends in electronic dance and pop music. The tune "Forever Wild"—the first one made on the EP—was even inspired by an all time favorite jazz song of theirs, "Strasbourg St Denis." Their music is playful, futuristic, and passionate; heavily layered with homemade samples from field recordings of coffee machines, shopping bags and cactuses. While musician Moglii is the mastermind behind production, vocalist Franzi ties everything together with her soulful interpretation of the English language, on top of the live saxophone and drums.
I get sent a lot of electronic music these days--my email inbox is overflowing with it. It's what everyone wants to do, to create, to become known for it seems. So it's easy to dismiss just another group that describes themselves as some experimental form of electronic music. But when I pressed play on Mogelbaum's Grown Heart EP, I couldn't ignore the sense of vibrancy and urgency in their sound. They formed as a live band, and that comes through strongly in the recording. There are so many electronic acts that I would rather hear recorded through a great sound system than see live, but Moglebaum is not one of them. These five are a family who can read each other's minds in the way that only musicians can, and I'm convinced it makes for an immersive and engaging live experience. I'm excited to see where they go next.
In lieu of a live show, take a quick peek behind the making of Moglebaum and their new EP, from the band themselves.
How did you all meet and come together to make music? What do each of you play and perform in the group?
We're a five-piece band from Germany and also long-time friends. There is Franzi, who is singing and writing all the lyrics. There is Simon aka Moglii, who is doing the production and doing most of the songwriting together with Franzi. On the drums we've got Michael, and the saxophone is played by Jonas. Last but not least there is Italian Alessandro, who is creating a lot of the sounds and samples you hear in that songs.
Your mix of electronic and acoustic elements is part of a popular trend these days, but the way in which you do it is unique. What genre or mix of genres do you define Moglebaum as?
Thats a hard question because we're trying not to think in categories like "genres" so much. We call it "organic electronic" music, because there are a lot of analog synthesizers, acoustic drums, instruments like saxophone and violin and field recording mixed with electronic/digital elements. Franzi is also bringing a lot of pop and soul into it.
We're a five-piece band from Germany and also long-time friends. There is Franzi, who is singing and writing all the lyrics. There is Simon aka Moglii, who is doing the production and doing most of the songwriting together with Franzi. On the drums we've got Michael, and the saxophone is played by Jonas. Last but not least there is Italian Alessandro, who is creating a lot of the sounds and samples you hear in that songs.
Your mix of electronic and acoustic elements is part of a popular trend these days, but the way in which you do it is unique. What genre or mix of genres do you define Moglebaum as?
Thats a hard question because we're trying not to think in categories like "genres" so much. We call it "organic electronic" music, because there are a lot of analog synthesizers, acoustic drums, instruments like saxophone and violin and field recording mixed with electronic/digital elements. Franzi is also bringing a lot of pop and soul into it.
photo by Lukas van Bentum
What's the story behind the making of this EP?
We've been making music together for a few years and the project has arisen as a live band. After releasing our single "Raindrops" in summer 2016, which was a great success for us (#1 on Spotify's global viral charts, more than 1M hits) we've decided to come with another album or EP. We started jamming in a friends house in Oberammergau (a very small village in Bavaria/Germany) and finished them in Cologne, where Simon (Moglii) has his studio.
We've been making music together for a few years and the project has arisen as a live band. After releasing our single "Raindrops" in summer 2016, which was a great success for us (#1 on Spotify's global viral charts, more than 1M hits) we've decided to come with another album or EP. We started jamming in a friends house in Oberammergau (a very small village in Bavaria/Germany) and finished them in Cologne, where Simon (Moglii) has his studio.
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Where does the title of the release, "Grown Heart," come from? What does it mean in relation to the album and for the band? "Grown Heart" stands for the process of making music together. We're a grown family and live band and the new EP reflects that special relationship in its music and title. Check out more music by Moglebaum at their website and Facebook page. |
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