Minimal Wave Records

Störung was formed in 1981 by two young individuals from Europe (the Netherlands specifically). Eugenius and Arian Brunwin gifted the eighties their unique style of experimental ‘minimal wave’. Both in various recordings as well as on stage.

Late seventies of the previous century, Eugenius played a number years as a guitarist in conventional rock bands (Private Factory and Organic 4oh4). The lack of pure musical freedom and expression that was the result of playing in these bands made him decide to pursue and explore a totally different direction in order to remove musical limitations. The solution was found in creating a simple line-up consisting of only two musicians accompanied by rhythm machines. The rhythm machines were utilized as a foundation and triggered bass lines of sounds that came out of keyboards and bass line computers. The first result was a track written and recorded in 1981 called ‘the Situation’. The track consisted of a lead guitar, bass guitar and rhythm machine. It was followed up by a number of songs, introducing the combination of distorted guitar sounds and keyboards. Memorable songs originating from 1981 are ‘Radio Lines’, ‘Two Miles’, ‘Enjoy Your Leather (Jacket)’, ‘Macabre’, ‘Just Too Bitter’, ‘All Bow’ and ‘Dreadfull Dance’. ‘Dreadfull Dance’ and B side ‘All Bow’ was released on single (Clogsontronics) in 1981.

In 1981 en 1982, Störung toured extensively around Europe and the band gave numerous concerts and radio appearances. In 1982, the band released their first album ‘This Is Future’ (on Clogsontronics records, produced by Ton Willekes). As the ‘Dreadfull Dance’ compilation was never released (until the year 2007), the band re-recorded some of the Dreadfull Dance compilation tracks namely ‘Radio Lines’ , ‘Two Miles’ and ‘Dreadfull Dance’. Both in 1982 and 1983, live recordings were made at VPRO Radionome and of a live concert at a venue called ‘the Trojan Horse’. The track ‘Empire SX’ was released in 1983 on a Clogsontronics compilation album. A song called ‘Warschau Pact’ introduced the use of conventional drums (toms) vigorously played by Eugenius on stage. The band went into several studios in 1984 and recorded ‘Arabian Nights’, ‘Desert Dance’, Europe Calls You’, Woman Of The Dark’, ‘Sun Go Down’ and ‘Siberia’. These recordings were also never released but the band continued to record and released its second album ‘Inside the Black Box’ in 1985. The album contained songs such as ‘the Border’, ‘Circus Time’ , ‘Sharpen the Metal’ and it was followed up by a European tour that lasted from 1985 to early 1986. The band gave its last concert mid 1986. After ‘retiring’ from stage a recording containing a song called ‘Wildstorm’ was finalized in 1987. This recording wrapped up the eighties and was named ‘Sewer Age 9’. Plans for the following decade were made but the band officially broke up in 1988. Still, during the nineties and following years Eugenius continued to record. The world would never have noticed the non-released songs until Eugenius resurrected the heritage of the band. The forgotten material has been offered a second life. An initial release is a brain-draining track called ‘INDUCTION - the Enochian Remix’, written and recorded in 1999 that saw the day of light in 2007. More releases are scheduled for 2007 and beyond. A stage appearance is not part of the arrangements yet but the willpower to make this happen is there!

Reprinted with permission from Störung.