Blumfeld

by Erik HageBlumfeld is an indie-rock group from Hamburg, Germany, in the Pavement vein; in fact Blumfeld has toured with the American band. Where Blumfeld differs from Pavement and from such fellow Teutonic indie-poppers as the Bartlebees is in their lyrics, which are in German -- though singer Jochen Distelmeyer is known to drop in the occasional English phrase. Blumfeld are considered a key group of the "Hamburger Schule," a musical movement that combines lo-fi, punk and pop elements with primarily German lyrics. The band is also known for its political bent, which doesn't allow for commercial sponsorship of its concerts or interviews with conservative media. Blumfeld, consisting of Distelmeyer, Eike Bohlken and Andre Rattay, released its debut, Ich Maschine in 1992. (Guitarist Tobia Levin wouldn't join up until after the second album.) The group has a habit of waiting a few years between albums, and their first international effort L'Etat et Moi followed in 1995. Verstärker, an EP, came out that same year. The effort pulled a track from L'Etat et Moi, fleshing out the release with three 1992 cuts. 1998's Old Nobody saw the group shrugging off Pavement comparisons and opting for a mellow sound and less challenging vocals (more singing and less of the spoken word snatches that cropped up on earlier efforts). The album also saw Blumfeld employing a new bassist and an additional keyboard player. Old Nobody, which boasted a more distinct pop sheen, went Top 20 on the German album charts and garnered an increase in international attention for the group.