Present Paradox' latest work, "A Trace To Keep Control", takes the listener into the feeling of losing control by addressing personal upheavals, the end of familiar closeness, the pressing climate crisis and the social shift to the right. The album is an artistic exploration in which the personal interweaves with the political and social in the lyrics.

The musical landscape of "A Trace To Keep Control" skillfully combines elements of krautrock, post-punk and experimental rock into a dynamic mesh. Saxophones and clarinets add a jazzy touch to some of the tracks, giving the 49-minute album an extremely multifaceted dimension.

The album will be released on May 17, 2024 via Timezone Records. It presents itself as an artistic manifesto that captures the challenges of the perceived loss of control and explores the path to orientation amidst the uncertainties in a musical way.
credits
releases May 17, 2024

All Songs written and performed by David Kleinekottmann

Saxophone on "Ready To Hide" & "Ephermeral Ghosts" by Antonio Necchi

Flugelhorn on "After The Rain" by Flippo Tungo

Tenor Clarinet On "A Lense To Find A Trace" by Michael A. Grant

Artwork by Dr. Screen

Recorded in Maastricht, Essen & Dortmund

All Rights Reserved by Present Paradox © 2024

With many thanks to: Geert, Danny, Michael, Antonio, Flippo

Special thanks to: Friends (Dennis, Adam, Tukan, Marcel, Gina, Tobias) & Family (Karin, Josef)

Artist Support

A Trace To Keep Control

Recorded between 2012-2013 
Thank you for listening!

released 24 October 2013
ALBUM CREDITS:
All Tracks are written and produced by David Kleinekottmann
Guitar played by Dom
Guitarpart on "Topic" jamed by Dom 

Institutions (full stream)

Ghostpoet - Meltdown (Present Paradox Remix)

Lyrics: 

Staring at today's headlines
in an empty compartment
warning tape and a lost bag
a cold wind in downtown

I'm walking
I'm walking

I keep walking
I keep walking

I know it won't come back
step out and deal with that
a different normality
the keys stay in the keyhole

I'm walking
I'm walking

I keep walking
I keep walking

Caesura

Warning Tape And A Lost Bag

Ignorance Is Bliss

The Light Has Changed

The Eyes Of All

Shield

Dr. Rieux

Routine (Institutions B-Side)

Changed

Twisted

New album "A Trace To Keep Control". Releasedate: 17. May 2024. Timezone-Records. Pre-Order Now.

All Songs written and performed by David Kleinekottmann

Saxophone on "Ready To Hide" & "Ephermeral Ghosts" by Antonio Necchi

Flugelhorn on "After The Rain" by Flippo Tungo

Tenor Clarinet On "A Lense To Find A Trace" by Michael A. Grant

Artwork by Dr. Screen

Recorded in Maastricht, Essen & Dortmund

All Rights Reserved by Present Paradox © 2024 


Lyrics:

When I heard
what you said
when I heard 
what you said

Something was wrong 
this spring was dead 
something was wrong 
this spring was dead 

A sun reflection 
on the dish
no consolation 
in the air
I went out
lost in the park
mile for mile
lost in the dark 

What you said
what you said
don't get sad

Once I figured out
the unwritten truth 
the jugdes gavel 
still didn't fall

When I heard
what you said
when I heard 
what you said 
what you said
what you said
don't get sad

You never really asked me
Yyu never really asked me

We lost our glue 
in challenging times
I've no clue 
how to fix the crack

Fullstop

Present Paradox

The Crack

Support / Buy / Stream

Lyrics:

I'm sorry for all the boxes
we have to carry out now
we have to fill with the past
we erase the traces 
and lay new ones 
in far away places
would you like to keep this?
or shall we throw it away 
like we did before

I can't wait 
for the dawn
of the new day

I feel sorry for all the boxes
that are now closed and carried out
driving fast out of this space
No more possiblity
to change our mind
to change and turn around
the road goes steeply down
because all promises no longer
mean anything, mean anything 

If you ask how I'm 
I would say I'm ok
if you ask how I'm 
I would say I'm ok

The Boxes

Lyrics:

Outside our bodys 
on an black surface 
we project an image 
that we fill up with
with every word 
sended away
expecting a future 
that will never occur

I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
yeah, I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar

Outside our bodys 
and far away from 
we create an image 
fragile as glass 
would it be love 
or get lost in the bytes

Yeah, I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
I'm just a profil, a profil
Yyeah, I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
I'm just a profil, a profil
I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
Yeah, I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
Yeah, I'm just a profil
an interchangeable avatar
Yeah, I'm just a profil

a profil, a profil, a profil, a profil, a profil, a profil

An Avatar On A Black Surface

An Avatar On An Black Surface

Lyrics:

Was it all in vain
for what the fight
we go backwards
did it ever happen
a hole in our history
a name erased from the book
authoritarian tempations
the call of the false prophet
the curve to the right 
in the distance the cliffs
do you intend to
to stop the ride

and all I hear and see 
is a repeated denial
is a repeated denial
is a repeated denial
denial, denial, denial

Was it all in vain
for what the fight
we go backwards
did it ever happen
a hole in our history
a name erased from the book
authoritarian tempations
the call of the false prophet
the curve to the right 
in the distance the cliffs
do you intend to
to stop the ride

and all I hear and see 
is a repeated denial
is a repeated denial
is a repeated denial
denial, denial, denial

Denial, Denial

New album "A Trace To Keep Control". Releasedate: 17. May 2024. Timezone-Records. Pre-Order Now: https://presentparadox.bandcamp.com/album/a-trace-to-keep-control

All Songs written and performed by David Kleinekottmann

Saxophone on "Ready To Hide" & "Ephermeral Ghosts" by Antonio Necchi

Flugelhorn on "After The Rain" by Flippo Tungo

Tenor Clarinet On "A Lense To Find A Trace" by Michael A. Grant

Artwork by Dr. Screen

Recorded in Maastricht, Essen & Dortmund

All Rights Reserved by Present Paradox © 2024 


Lyrics: 

Was it you? 
or was it me?
who have stolen 
the flowering tree 
was it you 
or was it me?
who called 
the excavtors?
was it you
or was it me 
who fell for the cheap trick

Slip slop slap seek slide
I think we're ready to hide

it is too simpel much too simpel 
how I let you get away with 
because you because you 
have let the soil dry up
now i can no longer walk
the streets are flooded with water

Slip slop slap seek slide
oh I think we're ready to hide 
ready to hide, ready to hide
oh ready to, ready hide, ready hide

Ready To Hide

Lyrics:

Darling 
do you hear the alarm? 
we must leave now
we must leave Middelburg
the dikes are breaking
we don't have much time left

they're all running away from the flood
they're all running away from the flood

Darling
do you hear the alarm?
forget the bags and the money
forget the notes and the books
you take the car and I'll take the bus
oh lord, who knows when we'll meet again
they're all running away from the flood
they're all running away from the flood

The Flood

Lyrics: 

We came back from time to time
to change the color of the frame
the ghosts, the ghosts 

We came back from time to time
to change 
the sense of the words
the ghosts, the ghosts

We came to change it all 
chaos without control
the ghosts, the ghosts

Listening this song
in an urban jungel 
i can't decide 
where to go next
all is filled 
with this one color
i shouldn't stay here 
filled with unrest

Ephemeral Ghosts

Gurus Circel

Lyrics:

Through the sonic barrier
and cloud layers
into infinity
an undisturbed view
hard to miss
the many cracks
the dull yellow
the red spots
hello headquarters
what is the plan
the sky turns
from blue to red

I will not lose my mind
but we're still losing time

The cracks 
are spreading
swallowed a village
leaving a hole
and all the beautful 
lights around 
can not distract 
from the disaster

I will not lose my mind
but we're still losing time

We need to take control 
we need to take control 
take control
take control

We Need To Take Control

Lyrics:

Sure 
I know why don't write any word
I know that we're in an impass 
consisting of distored mirror images

Sure
I know what could have been 
if we followed the river
before it dry out

And I'm not here
to sort you out 
to please you
so you 
can break my heart

One more time I see clear
one more time I see clear
to change certain things

Sure 
I thought we could take pictures
I thought we could visit the path again
and feel the warm wind

Sure 
all predictions were wrong
all words lost in the tunnel
they falled into infinity

And I'm not here
to sort you out 
to please you
so you can
break my heart

Distorted Mirror Images

Lyrics:

After the rain
drops hanging 
from the trees
the air is clear
wisp of fog 
on the horizon
the bus follow 
it’s trace

So it’s carries me 
out of this town
out of this town

So it’s carries me 
out of the valley
out of the valley

After the rain
nothing is wrong
nothing to worry
nothing hurts
wisp of fog 
on the horizon
and old image
passing by

So its carries me 
out of this town
out of this town

So its carries me 
out of the valley
out of the valley

After The Rain

Lyrics:

As the rain dries 
on the windowpane 
you notice how everything
around you has changed 
hardly anything 
that reminds you of the past
 
Why stay when your name is already called?  
why cling when the wind is pulling you away? 
why wait when you've found another trace?

It was lovely under the tree 
but now the leaves have fallen and I move on 
I use my lens to find the trace
that leads me away from here into the valley 

Why stay when your name is already called ? 
why cling when the wind is pulling you away? 
why wait when you have found another trace?

Move on, move on 
you found another trace 

Why stay
why cling
why wait

A Lens To Find The Trace

Space for Wishes

Grow Slow

The Rhythm of Spring

Stone

Rails to tomorrow

opening my travel bag
a book of hundreds notes
I left the wooden floor 
alone in my room 

opening the shutters
minor chords and cut of beats
went to all doors 
over the institutions floor

I lost my way 
in a dark spring fog
with goodbye tears
I took a seat

and we talked about
all fears and darkness
with a new map 
I started again

a drink with friends
a date at the river
a kiss at night
wishes and disappointments

on TV-screen 
and LED
I took the train
for a two hour ride

a cave to hide
when she said goodbye
the rhythm was still 
there in my heart

six people on a field
a horse in the woods
a dance in the dunes 
the luck to have you

applause and congrats
a film nobody sees
with the steering wheel
through weeks of bad sleep

I really don't know
if it was right or wrong 
 all can I say
it came from my heart
and now I'm here 
in front of the mic
a warm light 
falls through the window

I shouldn't fear 
the coming things 
the good or bad 
the bright or dark

I can‘t ask this train to stop, stop
I can‘t ask this train to stop, stop

Support / Stream / Buy

Rails To Tomorrow

Alarm Clock

Why can't I sleep? 
in the middle of the night
short cutted scenes 
in a bizarre light

in front of the ocean
a hole in the sand
your hand on my shoulder
your constant breath

Why can't I sleep?
Why don't you let me go?
short cutted scenes
a broken glass

a hole in the sand
they laughing about you
I turn around
and you ask if I'm OK

why can't I sleep
why can't I sleep
why can't I sleep
why can't I sleep

Alarm Clock

Leave the old house

Am I sleeping /
Or Am I awake /
Am I sleeping /
Or Am I awake / 

wake up my friend /
can't you hear them /
whispering, whispering /
spells into your ear /
poisoning your mind /
intrude your dreams /

(spoken part)
you  think you clever  / well, you not / 
you  think  you got it / well, you don't /
you think  have me / well, you don't /
you think one day / well, no, no / 

wake up my friend /
the witches are gone /
the streets are empty /
the borders are open / 
you should take your love by the hand /
and leave the old house /

(spoken part)
you  think you clever  / well, you not / 
you  think  you got it / well, you don't /
you think  have me / well, you don't /
you think one day / well, no, no /

Leave The Old House

When, When

under the lantern /
there is a long shadow from tomorrow /

if you step through / 
this gate it won't open again /

silver skyscrapers /
they are looking down at you / 

you lost the code  / 
to open the box with your luggage /

thousand of people /
rush through the rail station / 

your phone / 
has no connection any more /

In a future home / I'm afraid all doors are locked /
In a future home / I'm afraid I won't find the keys /
In a future home / I'm afraid when all lights are out /
In a future home / oh I don't want to be there alone /
					
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                    

when the director leaves the studio and stares into the sun /
when the student wakes up after the argument /
when the taxi driver drives through the sunrise in Berlin /
when the passenger drinks his first coffee of the day /

when, when / hmmmm
when, when / hmmmm

when the night is over all doubts are gone /
when the night is over all doubts are gone /

and the black glasses / are no longer on my face /
and the black glasses / are no longer on my face /

When, When

Pursuers

sorry / 
apologize / 
I'm blinded / 
a white light /
you take the money / 
you make me fear / 
can tell me / 
why I fail /

tell me / tell me / tell me / 

traffic lights / 
flickering /
I'm in a cabin / 
on the motorway /
shaking of / 
the pursers /
can tell me / 
who you are? /
tell me / tell me / tell me/

Pursuers

The music project "Present Paradox" by Dortmund-based David Kleinekottmann provides insights into the often opaque nature of the present. The result is a fusion of melancholic and danceable elements, expansive and intimate at the same time, diverse and yet familiar. Since 2013, Kleinekottmann has been regularly releasing LPs/EPs that move between indie, experimental rock and electronica.

Present Paradox

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks