Published by Alessandro Violante on March 28, 2018
Sleepwalk started releasing music during early ’90s, and are considered pioneers in the field of so called “dark electro” European scene. After having released their first album entitled Door to insomnia in 1995 by Khazad-Dûm, an offshoot of Celtic Circle Productions, best known for yelworC and for being the most important dark electro label, they’ve kept on releasing several albums until they released Tempus vincit omnia with Nader Moumneh’ Electro Aggression Records. We’ve decided to interview them to know something more about it.
Hi guys! It’s a pleasure to talk with you. Do you want to talk us about Sleepwalk? What can you tell us about it?
A: With our new album we celebrate 25 years band history. Sleepwalk was founded by Oliver Spring and Bruno Ruch in 1992. Today the band members are Bruno Ruch, Andreas Lehmann and Charly (who is also member of tEaR!doWn).
Sleepwalk’ Tempus vincit omnia
I remember some years ago I’ve listened to your album released by Khazad-Dûm in 1995, you are an historic project in the field of “dark electro” music. How and what has changed in your music since then?
A: Beside the line up change the only thing that changed are the technical possibilities. Every album is like a snapshot of moods, it was in the beginning and it is now. The tools have changed over the years and gave us more possibilities to work with samples, vocals and soundscapes.
Let’s focus on Tempus Vincit Omnia, your new album released five years later Nibiru. It seems to me a kaleidoscopic album, as well as every Electro Aggression Records release. There is an alternation of more syncopated songs, classic EBM tunes, instrumental songs and several (an entire album) interesting remixes. Can you talk us more in-depth about it?
A: It’s the first album on which we worked with three people. So we had nearly 30 demos in the end and picked the most promising to work on them. After “Nibiru” we wanted to went back to our roots, that means more classic dark electro with some EBM influences. I think it worked quite well. It took five years, cause we did not wanted to pressure ourselves. We spent a lot of time experimentating with vocal effects and sound details.
Sleepwalk’ Tempus vincit omnia
It seems to me quite different from Nibiru. This last one seemed to me more classic-EBM oriented, while Tempus Vincit Omnia is a mixture of dark electro atmospheres, sounds and rhythms and classic EBM tunes. Do you agree with this consideration?
A: It is really different from “Nibiru”. But i wouldn’t say that “Nibiru” was classic EBM oriented. It was more song oriented, lets say “poppier”. “Tempus Vincit Omnia” has more classic EBM influnces than “Nibiru” had.
Fortunately Nibiru hasn’t destroyed our Earth and we’re here talking with you about your music. What the lyrics of your new album are about? Is it a concept album as well as it was the previous one? Listening to the songs, I’ve felt a certain pessimism and discontent.
A: “Tempus Vincit Omnia” is not a concept album. The lyrics are mainly my view on the world today. Maybe i could write optimistic lyrics about love and peace, but that wouldn’t satisfy me. In times of Trump, populism and another cold war it is my need to take a position.
You can be considered a pioneer. Which young projects would you like to suggest us?
A: There are many young projects worth listening to. My favs at the moment are 2nd Face and Cardinal Noire.
Sleepwalk’ Tempus vincit omnia
If I’m correct, you come from Bern, in Switzerland. Is there a quite big dark electro / EBM scene?
A: Bruno is from Bern (Switzerland), Charly and me live in northern Germany. Compared to the german scene the swiss scene is small, but not less enthusiastic and active.
The relationship between man and machine has always been a common theme of electro industrial music. In Tempus Vincit Omnia’ cover artwork there are an heart and gears. Is it a good or bad relationship?
A: The cover artwork of “Tempus Vincit Omnia” isn’t so much in the context of man and machine. It is more in the context of life and transience. “Tempus Vincit Omnia” means “time conquers all”. The clock is ticking for all of us. The heart is the symbol for life, the gears symbolize the time. And as much as we destroy this planet and ourselves, time moves on. It is the only constant.
#Fuck Pplsm seems to me a sort of critique towards a society slave of social media. Am I right? What’s its meaning?
A: Right. Populism is the greatest danger of our time and social media is its mouthpiece. I cant stand people using their media power to influence people in a bad way. Stiring up fear and hatred leads to more fear and hate and in the end to violence. Thats not the world i want to live in.
Why have you changed your label and moved to Electro Aggression Records? Your previous albums were released by Scanner Records. Is there a specific reason? Do you think that being released on a label rather than on another can influence the sound of a music project?
A: The work on “Nibiru” was really exhausting. The topics of the lyrics were limited. That is sometimes really frustrating. After the release of “Nibiru” we felt like we need a restart. Nader of Electro Aggression Records was interested for years to work with us. So we made that big cut and began to work without the feeling that there has to be a finished product in a certain time. If your hear “Tempus Vincit Omnia” you will realize that it was a good decision. I don`t think that a label can influence the sound of a music project. It’s always a creative process and depends on the mood of people that are involved in the development process.
Thanks for your time. If you want, greet our readers!
A: We thank you and greet all readers of FLUX webzine!