BANQUE ALLEMANDE - Eins, Zwei

While Berlin. Germany isnt exactly nowhere, the amount of attention garnered by BANQUE ALLEMANDE since their inception in 2005 they might as well be from Quedlinberg. When I stumbled on them and was blown away by their songs, I started to wonder What the fuck is wrong with you people? Actually nothing: Banque Allemande (also known as dbZwoVier) have spent the last 5 years avoiding Berlins rock scene, chosing to play subway cars, a hamburger grill, and the like. They recorded a couple albums worth of fantastic songs, but never spread them around. What was posted on myspace got lost in the flood of bands there. They lurk in the shadows no longer. Banque Allemande has a relentlessness that reminds me of the Gordons and Rema Rema, the thuggish charm of Feedtime, and some 1-2-3-4 yucks of i dunno, name some late 70s euro punk outfit-but thats me hearing them. Their background is in the bands DISCOUNTER, TRUMPF AS, and MOSER INDIAN. Their ears are attuned to the hammering beats of Boys Noize. Or as they describe their sound: minimalistic, cut-down songstructures-yes please. rough sounds, straight beats-yes please. if what comes out is called punk-whatthefuck. Edition of 500 copies. -S-S