Skip to content
WRWTFWW Records is very honored to announce the official reissue of Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single with timeless classic "Eisbär", proto-techno beast "FILM 2", and romantic synth ballad "Ich Lieb Sie", just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. The three-track vinyl is sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm, and comes with its iconic artwork on a 350gsm sleeve.
Ich möchte ein Eisbär sein…Written by Martin Eicher after a nightmare in which he saw talking polar bears on the walls, and with music by the Grauzone crew consisting of Martin and his brother Stephan Eicher, Marco Repetto, Christian "GT" Trüssel, and Claudine Chirac (on saxophone), "Eisbär" is the most recognizable title from the band, a sublime mix of ingredients reflecting the transitional era it comes from - the raw energy of punk music still palpable, combined with the audacity of early electronics, the warm groove of a disco gem, beautifully fragile lyrics, and one of the best basslines ever. It became a mega hit, totally unplanned, but how could you resist such a track?
Our take: Perfectly-executed reissue of the 1981 debut EP by this German post-punk / minimal synth band. “Eisbaer” is a minimal synth masterpiece, and if you like records like the Normal’s “Warm Leatherette,” Solid Space’s Space Museum, or Visage’s “Fade to Grey,” you need this song in your collection. Like Visage’s “Fade to Grey,” it’s a glossy take on the sound, with loud, thumping drums that will dominate any dance floor. And over that pounding beat you’ll hear synth lines as straightforward and as memorable as any foundational rock and roll riff. While the two tracks on the b-side don’t quite reach the heights of “Eisbaer,” they’re well worth your time. Like I said, this is an all-time classic, so if you have a minimal synth collection, this needs to be in it as much as the Sex Pistols or the Bad Brains need to be in your punk collection.