For the collaboration album "Overlay" by Markus Guentner and Joachim Spieth, which was released last November, a series of reworks by artist friends was prepared, the first part of which will be released at the beginning of May.

The composer Hollie Kenniff and the multi-instrumentalist/mastering engineer Rafael Anton Irisarri interpret the title "Nukleus" here, both in their own very special way.

The EP will be released as a limited 10" lathe cut with a hand-numbered cover art print and a sticker.

https://linktr.ee/guentnerspieth
linktr.ee/AffinLTD

Overlay Reworks | Pt. 1

Overlay Reworks | Pt. 1 (by Hollie Kenniff & Rafael Anton Irisarri)

Guentner & Spieth is the collaboration project of German artists Markus Guentner and Joachim Spieth, who first appeared musically in the 2000s in connection with Wolfgang Voigt’s Pop Ambient series on the Kompakt label. After getting to know and appreciate each other over the years, they combined their musical ideas for the first time in 2020 and have continued their joint productions ever since. Together, they create mesmerizing soundscapes that combine organic textures and digital precision.

Markus Guentner, a pioneer of the ambient genre, is known for his cinematic sound designs, while Joachim Spieth, founder of the world-renowned label Affin, is appreciated for his work in the field of tension between deep techno and ambient.

Their collaboration combines these strengths in minimalist compositions that enable introspective listening experiences and immersive sound journeys. With the album Overlay, released in 2023, they have created a debut album that was characterised in ‘A Closer Listen’ as ‘dripping with narcotised and eroticised romantic impulses and feels like a living revenant from a voluptuous dream’. A handful of 10’ lathe cuts were subsequently released, containing remixes of their album by Pole, Abul Mogard, Rafael Irisarri and Hollie Kenniff, among others.

Dark introspective ambient music from a cold little Scottish island.

Stream/Buy/Download : www.thelonelybell.bandcamp.com

Markus Guentner, born in 1981 in Regensburg, began his musical journey at the age of 13, when he started creating his first mixes on turntables and a mixing console. Just a year later, he began his DJ career in Regensburg’s clubs. At 19, he released his first tracks, which gained attention, particularly the “REGENSBURG EP” from 2000 on KOMPAKT, which featured a re-arranged bell recording from the St. Wolfgang Church. Shortly after, he released his debut album “IN MOLL.” Numerous contributions followed on the POP AMBIENT series.

In the 2000s, Guentner became a regular DJ worldwide and worked with labels such as Ware, Warner, and Sending Orbs. In 2002, his cover of the Talk Talk classic “Such a Shame” entered the German Dance Charts. He was also part of the “Hildegard Knef – Reform Session” in 2002.

Guentner’s music blends various genres and attracted fans such as Sven Väth and the Pet Shop Boys. His track “Express Yourself” was used in the 2015 film Equals, which won the “Best Soundtrack” award.

Since 2001, Guentner has also been working on film soundtracks, producing music for short films and projects like the ZDF show KAVKA. In 2005, he collaborated with Ivo Watts Russell (4AD) on a rework album for “The Hope Blister” and was involved in the art project “Flashbox.” Additionally, in 2006, he co-founded the music collective SUBLIME e.V. in Regensburg.

In the 2010s, Guentner’s musical style shifted further toward ambient and neo-classical music. Together with Heiko Badje, he founded the atmospheric project Stareaway and released another solo album, SHADOWS OF THE CITY (Moodgadget), in 2014. He also worked on music projects for various exhibitions and films. During this time, Guentner began performing more frequently as a live act worldwide (Substrata/Seattle, Enter./Ibiza, UpToDate/Bialystok, among others).

His music evolved further with albums such as THEIA (2015) and EMPIRE (2018), which featured collaborations with artists like Rafael Anton Irisarri, Julia Kent, bvdub, and Tom Moth. His 2020 album GRADIENT SPIRITS was created as a live improvisation during the pandemic, and his 2021 release EXTROPY explored humanity’s development through technology, concluding the triptych of his works.

Guentner is known for his consistency in the music scene. In 2023, his solo album ONDA was released, along with a collaboration with Joachim Spieth on the album OVERLAY. In 2024, he released the album KONTRAPUNKT, the 50th release from the label A STRANGELY ISOLATED PLACE, which is entirely made up of collaborations (including Abul Mogard, Hollie Kenniff, Arovane, and more).

Atmospheric dub techno with a deep touch ☆

Next dates -->
- Nov 16 @ vertigo rooftop bar leira portugal
- Nov 22 @ bside berlin with spazio recordings

Labels 🎵 Crossfade Sounds | Superordinate Dub Waves | Mixcult Records | Piranha Siberia Dub

techno dj & producer from bremen (germany)

Art
As an expression of our desire to escape
The unnerving feelings

Trying to rid ourselves of their importance
And in doing so, we discover meaning

At the bottom of our collective depression
Life does not say by what purpose to live

Only you do.

---

Curator of @lastheartbeating

Overlay Reworks | Pt. 1 (by Hollie Kenniff & Rafael Anton Irisarri)

Guentner | Spieth