Zuruckspulen
Some call Zurückspulen’s style indietronica or electropop, but Glenn and Karl like to think of themselves as simply reliving the “New Wave”, synth-pop years. Their dominant instrument is the synthesizer, and they like to use the unadorned sounding monophonic ones so prevalent in the late 70s and early 80s. They do their best to stay true to the style, so if Zurückspulen’s music makes you feel like you have transcended time, they have done their job.
You can listen to most of their music for free on SoundCloud or Spotify, but if you care to take their tunes on the go, their albums, “Lost in Time” and “Backtrack” are both available for purchase and download. Also in the works is a third studio album named, “This Present Prison.”
If you’re at all like me, you’re stuck in the 80s. It was the decade where music and fashion became synonymous. Music also became portable with the advent of the Walkman, and we wore the outfits to match our sound, no matter how outrageous it may have been. It wasn’t just a pastime, it was a way of life. It’s hard to believe, but nearly 30 years ago the 90’s came about and changed everything. We had to grow up and get jobs and were forced to conform to employers’ standards dress codes, but we NEVER gave up the music.
After 30 years, I still seek music that can transcend time and take me back to when I was who I wanted to be. To this day, the roaring of a Moog or Oberheim synthesizer still gives me the chills as it can transport me back to that fantastic and fun era. I formed Zurückspulen, (quite appropriately named, as it is German for “rewind”), with Glenn Kirchner in order to scratch that nostalgic itch. We try our damnedest to remain true to the style despite the technology that makes music making so much easier. We don’t tour, as we would look pretty silly in the outfits we wore back then, but we do hope people will kick back in their lazy boys and take the same trip back as we do. Keep the synthpop alive.
-Karl
Q&A
1) Who are the members of your band and how did you meet?
Karl Unsichtbar and I, (Glenn Kirchner) met about five minutes before the band was formed. As soon as we learned of each other’s history with synthesizers and love of New Wave music, we decided we’d need to form a band dedicated to reliving the good times.
2) How long have you been in Austin and how long have you played music?
Karl moved here in 1985 and I moved here in 2005 to get the hell away from Chicago’s crappy winters. As far as playing music, I have been playing since the mid-eighties, while Karl started in the early eighties. He got his degree from Berklee, but I was never formally trained. I still can’t read a note of music, but learned by imitating the greats very early on. In the early 90’s I did take several courses on synthesis at St. Thomas University in Minnesota taught by Roger Dumas. Roger has several gold and platinum records for his work with “Lipps Inc.” and “Janet Jackson”. He also wrote the manual for the ARP 2600 and several Moog synthesizers.
3) Has the city of Austin had any influence in the style or direction of your music?
I visited 6th street several times long before ever moving here. I was so amazed that, in such a small vicinity, there were so many venues with really good bands playing different genres of music. It impressed the hell out of me. Karl and I have learned quite a bit about the Austin music scene. I can’t believe what a Mecca it is for great electronic music.
4) Do you perform live shows in Austin, and if so, what are your favorite venues?
We are, and will continue to be studio musicians. Creating the music takes us back to the 80s. We hope listening does the same for others.
5) Are there other bands in Austin you’d recommend to your fans?
Most of them are a part of this web site. If you haven’t had the opportunity to do so, check out “New Neon” and “Hamerzya”. Their shows are great. If you can’t make it in person, listen to their tunes online. It’s well worth the trip you’ll take back to the good old days – when the music was awesome and your parents paid all the bills.
6) What musicians have most influenced you?
Depeche was certainly the biggest for me and Karl. What really started it for me was the 1981 compilation “Some Bizzare Album”. Bands who got their start on that visionary album included Depeche Mode, Balncmange, B-Movie, The The, Soft Cell, etc.
7) What’s the best thing to that has happened to your band?
Our music has been played all over the world thanks to the Internet. I am proud to say we have been on Chris Watts’s “In the Moog Show”, Rusty Eagan’s “Electronic Family Tree Radio Show”, Strawberry Tongue’s “Friday Night Faves” and on several independent radio stations. Most of all though, having Morgan King, who was on the original Some Bizzare Album, release our latest album, well, that’s the coolest thing ever. It tells us we’re doing our job when it comes to keeping the 80s alive.
8) Any cringe-worthy moments the band has endured that you’re willing to divulge?
We cringe quite a bit when we think of the name of the band. It sounded cool at first. Zurückspulen is German for “rewind”, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do with music. The fact that it was German also gave it a “European” new wave feel. The problem is, no one other than Karl can remember the damn name of the band, and if they do, they sure as hell don’t know how to pronounce it. And how the hell do you make a “ü” on a laptop with no number pad? It sure makes speading the word about the music hard. Looking back on it, Karl and I would have been much better off just naming it “Rewind”. Oh, well.
9) Is there anything you’d care to share or anything else you’d like to let us know about?
The Yamaha DX7 killed the fat, juicy, analog sounds we so loved from the late 70s and early 80s.
10) Give us one fun fact.
Karl’s last name means “Invisible” in German.
