And it is this excitement, this desire to find something new and unheard, to give vinyl space to artists, to be present and represent this music, that leaves Kernkrach, Jörg and Heinz, the shop and the sub-labels, a cut above the rest.
A fertile ground for cultivating new talent
I have been writing about Kernkrach and its cosmos of sub-labels for about 12 years. The last time was in March two years back. Since then, the world of music has been transformed, the world itself might be more accurate. Yet, despite such turbulence and uncertainty, returning to Kernkrach imparts a sense of comfort alongside a thrill of excitement. I caught up with Jörg Steinmeyer, the man behind this multifaceted label, with almost two decades of history, to talk past, present and future of this amazingly industrious imprint.
Like with the birth of so many labels, Kernkrach did not have the most straight forward of deliveries. Steinmeyer muses how the “idea came in 1990/91 – with the name My Propeller Record with “some cassettes” and the concept of “a new crazy label” brewing “in my head.” In 2002, with his friend Heinz they started “Das Institut Zur Freundlichen Nutzung Von Kernkrach” which was reduced down to “Kernkrach,” a central platform which went on to spawn sub-labels like “Hertz-Schrittmacher, F.K.K.-Musik, Hertzschnitt, Skippytronic, Hühnerschreck Räkotz and Nancy Records.” While the genus and structure might be complex, there is a method to the madness with the focus being “Minimal-Wave, NDW and Synth-Pop. Hühnerschreck is for Punk, Nancy for Darkwave.”
This patchwork of platforms allows Kernkrach to harvest and produce a bumper crop of styles whilst proving a fertile ground for cultivating new talent. “Our focus is on the present” states Steinmeyer, “There are too many fantastic bands all over and we’d love to release their mega sounds.” Despite the difficulties that 2020 has presented to all, there has been a concerted effort from the Münster imprint to release these “mega sounds.” In June Widdendream debuted with Wave of Silence. A five track mini album created by the pairing of Alex Clarke and Mei-Lee Chen, the duo is emblematic of contemporary synth pop. Clean catchy melodies are countered by sombre, yet soulful, vocals and speeding drum patterns. Hailing from San Francisco, lyrics depict the uncertainties that whirl around us in this modern world while chords and pads bring some form of nostalgic comfort.
The twin, and contrasting, ideas of the future and nostalgia are key features of this Münster imprint, as is vinyl. Where does this come from? “My mother told me always that I loved records—as a baby. So the music comes to me like energy. Beginning in the 60s with Beat and progressive Rock. Kraftwerk and their electronic WAS MY SOUND. In the 70s there were some more good bands and the 80s brought the music I love—and I was thinking about saving these sounds for the future.”
Alluded to throughout our conversation is the other founder of the “Institut,” the silent partner of our conversation but prominent member of the team and label. “Heinz” aka Sütterlin has intermittently appeared on Kernkrach , releasing a self-titled 7” and album. Although his machines have been quiet for a while, his last release coming out in 2004, “Heinz” is still a very active member and partner of the imprint. This is plain to hear in the POP, die Platte collection Sütterlin compiled and Hertz-Schrittmacher released in November 2019. A rollercoaster ride through German left field pop, the collection brims with weird and wonderful incantations and includes everything from analogue pop reworks to vocoder laments. A beautifully comprehensive compilation and a serious labour of love.
Art is what we want. You play music—we create the sleeves. Long before the others/big labels came—I think we were the first ever worldwide to produce sleeves from environmental waste!
It is not just its sound and its constellation of labels that sets Kernkrach apart, its artwork does as well. From releases housed in napkins, 7”s accompanied by gloves and even one release being a bottle of liquor, the Münster platform has gone in the opposite direction of many of their contemporaries and chosen to embrace the elaborate. Jörg is rightly proud of this, “Art is what we want. You play music—we create the sleeves. Long before the others/big labels came—I think we were the first ever worldwide to produce sleeves from environmental waste!” Such an attitude has given everything an amazingly unique feel, that these releases are one of a kind and their content is the same.
A mainstay, and uncovered gem, has been Mängelexemplar, a Düsseldorf duo who first arrived on Hertz-Schrittmacher in 2012 and just dropped their fourth album in March of this year. Non Plus Ultra is pure burning emotion expressed through a synthesizer. Tracks like “Hej Hej Hej” burst forth with retro computer game innocence. Others, like “Irrenhaus” pump with a sweaty late night EBM energy. At the core of the album is the synth, the warm pads, chilly scales and bleep of a not too distant future. Reflecting the Kernkrach spirit, the past is ever present in the sounds of Mängelexemplar, in the cold war spy soundtrack of “Ki” and the marching mechanical melodies of the title piece.
Kernkrach goes even further than just providing a platform for artists and their sounds, it can even be found on your high street (well, if you live in Münster.) This oasis of all things synth was created from more than just a true unbridled love of the music, health reasons also came into the decision. Steinmeyer is reflective when discussing his decision to change his focus on work. “I had light heart attack in 2018” and “reduced the hours at my job.” This liberation of time was coupled with a “coincidence,” a store space having just become available in Münster. This welcome twist of fate has allowed a world class record store to flourish into “the best record store in the world” jokes Steinmeyer. Jörg realises that such passions can be trying. Things have been “difficult” with COVID, but a font of support from “friends, fans and vinyl-lovers help” to keep this special pocket of synth music alive and allow it to thrive.
After nearly twenty years releasing music, what does the future hold? The simple answer is, more. Enthusiasm trundles forth when the topic of what’s next comes up. “Actually we’re working on a compilation: KOSMONAUTS. Wait and see! Thirteen fantastic bands/songs from all over the world! For me one of the BEST releases ever!” tells a breathless Steinmeyer whose excitement is infectious.
And it is this excitement, this desire to find something new and unheard, to give vinyl space to artists, to be present and represent this music, that leaves Kernkrach, Jörg and Heinz, the shop and the sub-labels, a cut above the rest.
www.kernkrach.de | Bandcamp | Record Store
