The legendary German post punk/synth punk group MESSER are releasing a compilation constituting of all kinds of rarities from b-sides and demos to collaborations and outtakes, titled Die Unerhörten (A Rarities Compilation), and scheduled to come out via Trocadero Records on March 14. Today, we’re glad to bring you the premiere of the song/video combo going by “Was ist das”, which you can view in all of its nostalgic glory from below;
MESSER have been carving their unique path through the sonic fields of post punk for fifteen years by now, which has seen the quartet thrive off of experimentation, dark yet comfy vibes, and ideas that are so out there that they make the distance from here to the sun seem quite minuscule. Even though the main cadence relies heavily on mentioned darker and bleaker tones, the retro-esque production simultaneously envelops the listener with a soft blanket. Whether or not that transaction ends in good faith or not, is up to you.
If “Was ist das” sonically doesn’t enthrall you enough, its accompanying video will surely do that. Being assembled of old footage across everything from what appears to be medicine and cigarette commercials and studies to war footage and drug infomercials and industrial documentaries mashed with tourist shots and cooking programs to whatever else with colors so syrupy that it’ll make you vomit rainbows. Ultimately you’ll just find yourself repeating it over and over and asking yourself the same question the track title so eloquently poses for you.
Die Unerhörten (A Rarities Compilation) is out on March 14, and you’ll find digital and tape pre-orders from here. Do also throw MESSER a follow on their Facebook and drop by their official site for more.
Promo photos by Moritz Hagedorn
