Egotronic

Egotronic

Torsun and Hoerm of "Egotronic" on stage in 2007
Background information
Origin Berlin, Germany
Genres Electronic, techno, electropunk
Years active 2000-present
Labels Audiolith Records
Associated acts Frittenbude, Saalschutz, Plemo
Website egotronic.net
Members Torsun
Endi
KT&F
Past members Jennis
Torsun (2007)

Egotronic is a German electropunk band from Berlin formed in 2000. It is well known for its Antideutsch political views.

Band history

After a couple of projects released through self-publishing, Egotronic joined the Hamburg record label Audiolith Records in 2005, whereon their first single Nein nein/Luxus (No no/luxury) got released. The band went on a tour through Russia (accompanied by the artist Plemo) during the same year. In 2006, Egotronic released their first album Die richtige Einstellung (The right attitude). The second album, Lustprinzip (Pleasure principle) followed in 2007, the third one in 2008. Its fourth album, called Ausflug mit Freunden (Excursion with friends), on which almost every song is a cooperation with friends of Egotronic, was released on 30 April 2010. Their fifth album Macht keinen Lärm (Don't be noisy) is heavily influenced by classic punk music, making heavy use of guitars, and pop music, featuring more melodic and less trashy songs compared to earlier albums.

Genre

In their style, the band combines the attitude and the sociocritical pretensions of punk rock with elements from Electronic music and Synthpop. Egotronic closely cooperates with other Audiolith bands, such as Frittenbude or Saalschutz, which also show stylistic similarities. One of Egotronic's characteristics is the extensive use of Commodore 64 and Atari sounds, which are, however, produced on contemporary computers.[1] Especially sounds that are well-known from classic computer games are often used in the songs; even the music videos are reminiscent of those old computer games.

Political activism

Egotronic participates in the initiative I Can't Relax in Deutschland, which is an organization of artists, who criticize German patriotism and an increasing nationalization of pop culture. In its lyrics, Egotronic often communicates political messages, for example on the debates on Leitkultur or Jürgen Möllemann. In the song Nicht nur Raver (Not just ravers), Egotronic takes a stand in the discussion on the Riot of Rostock-Lichtenhagen and the Mügeln mob attack. Egotronic's anti-German attitude is subject to criticism, even within the left scene.[2] Public attention was drawn to the band for its Rave-style version of the English football song Ten German Bombers, which got released on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup in 2006. The leftist nationwide newspaper taz reported on the song.[3] In November 2009, a group of left-wing extremists violently prevented a screening of Claude Lanzmann's documentary Pourquoi Israël in Hamburg, which caused international media attention. The occasion of the protest had been a pro-Israel statement of Egotronic.[4][5]

Discography

Singles:

Albums:

References

  1. ↑ Band review (German)
  2. ↑ Criticism coming from Schönerfriedrichshain, 2004
  3. ↑ taz, 2. Juni 2006
  4. ↑ Article in Jungle World (German), leftist weekly newspaper
  5. ↑ Benjamin Weinthal: 'Why Israel' film canceled after violent German leftist protest, Jerusalem Post, 22 Nov 2009
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