GRAUZONE - s/t 2LP

Expanded 40 Years Anniversary Edtn includes nine extra songs.

Extensive liner notes by Swiss music historian Lurker Grand.

The pioneering band from Bern had a short-lived but highly-regarded career which birthed a cult discography that still fascinates and resonates today. Consisting of core members Martin Eicher, Stephan Eicher, and Marco Repetto, and on-and-off participants Christian GT Trussel, Claudine Chirac, and Ingrid Berney, the elusive group broke new grounds in the early '80s, experimenting with punk and industrial music, early techno sounds, minimalism, new wave, pop, and various electronics.

With an innovative and polished approach to design, visuals, performance, and all-around style and philosophy, the constantly transforming unit developed a whole experience -- the Grauzone experience: wild and unpredictable, yet sophisticated and cohesive, or as Swiss music historian Lurker Grand would call it, ''an Art band with a Punk attitude.''

Completely rejecting the music industry rules and refusing to play the game of promotion, touring etc even though they had a multi-platinum international hit with the song ''Eisbar'', the band quickly disintegrated in full convention-defying glory, leaving behind an inspiring music legacy for the world to discover and discover again, one generation after the other.

This extended version of their debut album beautifully crystallizes the Grauzone miracle/accident -- where pop and youthful experimentation meet at (new/cold/no) wave and industrial crossroads, and where classic hits (''Eisbar'', ''FILM 2'', ''Raum'', ''Traume Mit Mir'', ''Der Weg Zu Zweit'') flawlessly mesh with unconventional deep cuts (''In Der Nacht'', ''Film 1'', ''Maikafer Flieg'').

Stephan Eicher went on to be, arguably, the most successful Swiss musician ever, with an international career extending from pop chanson to experimental escapades and collaborations with Moondog and more. Marco Repetto flourished as a techno and ambient producer, releasing multiple projects including releases on Aphex Twin's Rephlex label.