Weltklang

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

Weltklang
Weltklang, 2004.
Weltklang, 2004.
Background information
OriginSchwerin, Germany
GenresElectronic, Neue Deutsche Welle, German punk, minimal wave, electronica, new wave, EBM
Years active1980–present
LabelsInternational DeeJay Gigolo Records, The Vinyl Factory, Strut Records, !K7 Music, Exil-System, Vinyl On Demand, Electro Emotions
MembersThomas Voburka
René Steuns

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[1] - a very stripped down monophonic analogue synthesizer from Roland Corporation's classic SH-series.[2]

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 first,[3] 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 scene.

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).[4] In 2003 for example - 23 years after its original release date - "VEB Heimat" made it into the top 3 of DJs Hell's charts of the year.[5]

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)[6] and The Call Of The Banshees,[7] in 2003 "VEB Heimat" was also used as opening track for DJ Hell's hugely successful New Deutsch[8] compilation which was released on International DeeJay Gigolo Records.

In 2018 "VEB Heimat" was chosen by JD Twitch for his German Post Punk Compilation "Kreaturen der Nacht", released on Strut Records and distributed by !K7 Music.

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 Steuns.[9]

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 album.[10] Not only for their original Material but also for their remixes Weltklang remain true to their minimalist and deconstructive DIY approach.

In 2009 the remixes were bundled on the 2x12" "Weltklang - Remixes", released on Exil System.

In 2019 the album "Klášter" and the 12" "Vorwaerts" were released on Exil-System.

Due to the 40th anniversary in 2020, the single sided 4" "Freundschaft" was released on vinylograph.

In 2021 the 12" "Rueckwaerts" and the 2x12" "Vorwaerts/Rueckwaerts" were released on Exil-System.

The 6 Tracks of the 2022 Weltklang album "Weltraum", released on Exil-System, were mainly recorded by Voburka between 1972-1976 and edited by him in 2021. Instruments used on this record are the Arp Odyssey, Moog Sonic Six and the Roland Space Echo.

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

Selected Releases:

Release Format Label Year
Weltklang - Veb Heimat / Hoffnung Sehnsucht ?? 7" Exil-System 1980
Weltklang - Exil-System Remixed 12" Pripuzzi 2005
Weltklang - Veb Heimat (Demo) 7" VOD 2007
Weltklang - Remixes 2x12" Exil-System 2009
Weltklang - Klášter 12" Exil-System 2019
Weltklang - Vorwaerts 12" Exil-System 2019
Weltklang - Freundschaft 4" Vinylograph 2020
Weltklang - Rueckwaerts 12" Exil-System 2021
Weltklang - Vorwaerts/Rueckwaerts 2x12" Exil-System 2021
Weltklang - Weltraum 12" Exil-System 2022
Weltklang - Musik für Plattenbauten feat. Kinder aus Asbest 12" Exil-System 2023
Weltklang - Aguirre 7" Exil-System 2023


Tracks Appear On:

Release Track Format Label Year
Call Of The Banshee Weltklang - VEB Heimat CD Sub Terranean 1994
Deutsch Magazine (By Terranova) Weltklang - VEB Heimat CD - 2003
New Deutsch Weltklang - VEB Heimat 2LP International Deejay Gigolo 2003
New Deutsch Weltklang - VEB Heimat CD International Deejay Gigolo 2003
The Japanese Gigolo Inferno Weltklang - VEB Heimat 2CD Music Mine Inc. 2003
Exil-System 1979-2004 Weltklang - Hoffnung / Sehnsucht ?? 12" VOD 2004
Exil-System 1979-2004 Weltklang - 49 Second Dance 12" VOD 2004
Exil-System 1979-2004 Weltklang - VEB Heimat 12" VOD 2004
Liebesgrüsse Aus Ost-Berlin Weltklang - VEB Heimat (EKSS Remix) 12" Exil-System 2006
Classic Electro Weltklang - VEB Heimat CD Electro Emotions 2008
Classic Electro Weltklang - Visions CD Electro Emotions 2008
Classic Electro Weltklang - VEB Heimat (Simon Colon Mix) CD Electro Emotions 2008
Classic Electro Weltklang - Auferstanden aus Ruinen (Aeronautica Remix) CD Electro Emotions 2008
So Low P1/E - 49 Second Romance (Weltklang Remix) 2LP The Vinyl Factory 2016
So Low P1/E - 49 Second Romance (Weltklang Remix) CD The Vinyl Factory 2016
JD Twitch - Kreaturen der Nacht Weltklang - VEB Heimat 2LP Strut 2018
JD Twitch - Kreaturen der Nacht Weltklang - VEB Heimat CD Strut 2018
Exil-System 1979-2023 HIT Weltklang - Tik Tok 12" Exil-System 2023
Exil-System 1979-2023 HIT Weltklang - Dukovany 12" Exil-System 2023
Exil-System 1979-2023 HIT Weltklang - Polaroid 12" Exil-System 2023
Exil-System 1979-2023 HIT Weltklang - Tanzmusik 12" Exil-System 2023

Unofficial Releases:

Release Track Format Label Year
Return Of Flexi-Pop Vol. 3 Weltklang - Hoffnung / Sehnsucht ?? CD Flexi-Pop
80's Minimal Electronics, Volume 1 Weltklang - VEB Heimat LP -

References
  1. "Comment by Thomas Voburka at Sonicstate". Solidstate. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  2. "Roland SH09 fact sheet at Sequencer.de". Sequencer.de. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  3. "Interview, Krachcom". Krachcom.de. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  4. "Interview, Schwarzes NRW". Schwarzes NRW. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  5. "DJ Hell, official website". DJ Hell. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  6. "Tracklist, Return Of Flexi-Pop 3". saltyka. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  7. "Tracklist, The Call Of The Banshees". kzsu. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  8. "New Deutsch review at Amazon". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  9. "Weltklang Interview at Neon Welt". Neon Welt. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  10. "Liebesgrüsse aus Ost-Berlin review". Totally Ambush. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
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