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German ambient pioneer Markus Guentner delivers his most emotionally charged work to date. Nearly three decades into his creative output, he explores growth amid adversity to deliver a reflection on resilience through sound.

Markus Guentner unveils his latest work On Brutal Soil, We Grow, a collection of layered ambient soundscapes that navigate the space between adversity and hope. The album stands as a sonic meditation on what it means to be human in a world marked by hardship. We move through emotional wastelands shaped by restriction, alienation, and pressure, where growth seems difficult. And yet: we grow.

As the title suggests, this is not a work of resignation. On the contrary, Guentner expresses how even under the harshest conditions, life persists, creativity takes root, and humanity finds ways to blossom. The album is layered with brooding textures, fractured harmonies, and a spacious depth from which glimmers of hope quietly emerge.

On Brutal Soil, We Grow is an album of contrasts with a sense of clarity and solace emerging from the darkness. Rich in atmosphere and emotional nuance, it fits seamlessly into Guentner's impressive body of work and stands as a timely statement on resilience, transformation, and the quiet miracle of continuing on.

In a recent interview with OLAFAQ, Guentner reflected "Sometimes quiet movements are the most powerful. I'm not trying to move anyone. I'm just making a place where you can stand for a while." This sentiment permeates the album, which offers refuge without escapism, creating conditions to engage with reality differently and with more patience, depth, and openness.

In an era that constantly demands speed, efficiency, and productivity, Guentner's deliberate choice of slowness becomes an act of resistance. The album doesn't deliver quick gratification; instead, it creates space for reflection, and becomes a refuge from the relentless consumption that dominates contemporary culture.

All tracks written and produced by Markus Guentner

website | https://affinmusic.de/
design | http://markus-guentner.de/
mastering |https://www.artefactsmastering.com/

On Brutal Soil, We Grow

taken from the remix ep:
AROVANE & HIOR CHRONIK - IN BETWEEN (REMIX EP)
on A STRANGELY ISOLATED PLACE
feb2016

Arovane & Hior Chronik - Scale (Markus Guentner Remix)

Markus Guentner DJ Mix
KLUBMUSIK EIGHTEEN

Markus Guentner - KLUBMUSIK18

taken from the ep 'regensburg'
released on 'kompakt'

regensburg

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).

markus guentner

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