Name: Grauzone (40 Years Anniversary Edition)
Brand: Grauzone

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

WRWTFWW 042LP

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-06-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Forced Exposure

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

4251804122153

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

WRWTFWW 042CD

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4251804122160

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "4251804122160"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Grauzone

Genre US

Label US

WRWTFWW Records

Grauzone was a Swiss Neue Deutsche Welle/post punk band that formed in 1980 in Bern. The band consisted of Christian Trüssel on drums, GT on bass, Martin Eicher on guitar, and Marco Repetto on saxophone. They gained commercial success with their song "Eisbär" but chose to focus on film and studio work rather than pursuing a mainstream career. In 1981, they released their self-titled LP before disbanding in 1982.

Drummer Christian Trüssel and bassist GT were members of the Swiss punk band Glueams before forming Grauzone. They joined forces with guitarist/vocalist Martin Eicher, who had previously supported them on the Glueams single "Mental". The group played their first gig as Grauzone in March 1980 at the Spex club in Bern. Later, Martin's brother joined as a guitarist and Marco Repetto joined as a saxophonist for live performances and recordings.

Grauzone achieved commercial success with their song "Eisbär", which was initially featured on the Swiss Wave compilation album in 1980 before being released as a single. The track reached number 6 in Austria and number 12 in the German charts. Despite this success, the band resisted commercial pressures and focused instead on film and studio projects.

New Wave / Post Punk

Back In Stock

A reissue of Swiss cult band Grauzone’s self-titled album in an expanded 40 Years Anniversary Edition packed with the original 1981 album plus 9 extra songs, as well as extensive liner notes by Swiss music historian Lurker Grand. The 19-track album is available as a double LP vinyl in heavy 350gsm sleeve and a digipack CD, both sourced from the original reels and put together under the supervision of band member and all around legend Stephan Eicher.

The pioneering band from Bern (Switzerland) had a short-lived but highly-regarded career which birthed a cult discography that still fascinates and resonates today. Consisting of core members Martin Eicher, Stephan Eicher, and Marco Repetto, and on-and-off participants Christian GT Trüssel, Claudine Chirac, and Ingrid Berney, the elusive group broke new grounds in the early 80s, experimenting with punk and industrial music, early techno sounds, minimalism, new wave, pop, and various electronics. With an innovative and polished approach to design, visuals, performance, and all around style and philosophy on top of their superb music, the constantly transforming unit developed a whole experience - the Grauzone experience: wild and unpredictable, yet sophisticated and cohesive, or as Swiss music historian Lurker Grand would call it, "an Art band with a Punk attitude".

Completely rejecting the music industry rules and refusing to play the game of promotion, touring, release schedules, and TV appearances even though they had a multi-platinum international hit with the song "Eisbär", the band quickly disintegrated in full convention-defying glory, leaving behind an inspiring music legacy for the world to discover and discover again, one generation after the other.

This extended version of their debut (and only) album beautifully crystallizes the Grauzone miracle/accident - where pop and youthful experimentation meet at (new/cold/no) wave and industrial crossroads, and where classic hits ("Eisbär", "FILM 2", "Raum", "Träume Mit Mir", "Der Weg Zu Zweit"...) flawlessly mesh with unconventional deep cuts ("In Der Nacht", "Film 1", "Maikäfer Flieg"...). Very simply put: Good timeless music with an edge.

Stephan Eicher went on to be, arguably, the most successful Swiss musician ever, with an international career extending from pop chanson to experimental escapades and collaborations with Moondog, artists Sophie Calle and Sylvie Fleury, and author Martin Suter among many other luminaries. Marco Repetto flourished as a techno and ambient producer, releasing multiple projects including releases on Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label.