In 2001, Regensburg-based Markus Guentner and Affin’s Joachim Spieth first crossed  paths through their contributions to Kompakt’s Pop Ambient series. Their creative  synergy resurfaces with ‘Overlay,' a six-track album that amalgamates decades of their  distinctive styles - a harmonious blend of Guentner's ethereal, atmospheric textures  and Spieth's pulsating rhythms.  

“We envisioned a process akin to masking and unveiling, revealing certain elements  while fading others, mirroring the essence of the album titles themselves. This  reflects how we approached the audio material, a philosophy extended to our album.  This collaboration thrived on a foundation of trust, cultivated organically, much like  our previous joint endeavors. Musically, we entrust each other almost instinctively”.
  
With meticulously crafted tracks showcasing their artistry in creating evocative sonic  landscapes, this release marks the inaugural entry in a series of collaborative works  by the duo. 

"With this album, the flow of things knows no distinct start or finish—rather, it's a  continuous stream of material in motion." 

'Overlay' will be released digitally and on a limited edition CD on November 3 via  Spieth's Affin Records. 

All tracks written and produced by Markus Guentner and Joachim Spieth

design | http://markus-guentner.de/
mastering | https://artefactsmastering.com/
Affin | linktr.ee/AffinLTD  
links | linktr.ee/guentnerspieth
Press | maria@ko-hum.com

Overlay

Guentner | Spieth - Overlay

"The Dark Opens The Way (Markus Guentner Remix)" is the second digital single from forthcoming GALÁN / VOGT remix album "All The Time In The World" - out release Nov 23, 2023.
Mastered by Robert Babicz.
https://linktr.ee/galanvogt

Galán / Vogt - The Dark Opens The Way (Markus Guentner Remix)

thanks alot @josefishangingout and @jp_kiku for the invite

-Tibor Szemző – Tractatus  1995 Leo Records 
-Terre Thaemlitz - Names Have Been Changed (Sprinkles’ House Arrest) / 2018 Comatonse Recordings 
-Steve Reich - Zene Fadarabokra = Music For Pieces Of Wood 1983
- Thomas Brinkmann - Klick 0110  2000 Max Ernst
-Ursula Rucker - 7 (Dr. Rockit Rekiss) 2002 !K7 Records 
- Art of Noise - Moments In Love (Beaten)  1985 Island Records
-Max Mohr - Northern Star / Playhouse
- Jan Jelinek - Moire / ~scape
- Move D & Benjamin Brunn - Velvet Paws / Smallville Records
 -Stenoplatte
-Move D & Benjamin Brunn - Velvet Paws  
-Donald Trump – Saying china / USA
- Kelpe - Age Concerns / D.C. Recordings
- Oöphoi - Potala  / Drone Records 
-The Singers Unlimited - Michele  / SABA MBS
-Oöphoi - Potala 
-Paul Martin- Le Troublant Témoignage De Paul Martin  / Philips 
-Actress - Hubble / HONEST JONS
- Triple R + Walker – Aufraeumen !  / XXC3
-Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Moon / Noton

27.10.2023
Maybachufer 16, 12047 Berlin
ÜBER:
Listening Bar | Cafe | Gallery
Connect with sound, light and art in a queer space for modern Rituals✨Ambient focused dimension💗

hangout diskopeter 271023 @ kwia berlin

Astatine -unsung- (instrumental)

Astatine is an experimental dance piece written, produced and voice by Ж. The song was created and decorated using the sounds of ice, wind, and the tundra. Ж is the synthesizer of this sound and calls it strange-tundra.

If you listen closely to Astatine you can hear the crackings and shatters of ice noise to the rights and lefts of your ears.


LISTEN ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3wRCAsLtfg

Find Ж ...
https://linktr.ee/xxhe



Lyrics:
In the restitution, oh...

;On the rotations of the 
;heavenly mysteries of the 
;square earth stationary
;indiapheniety 

;I slept to down her red iris
;a gaze and i'd never seen it
;diae face of faces, chroma’s breathing
;I’m welding all day through  

eE
eE
eE
eE

eE
eE
oh oh
oh oh

;I ran my hands around sound things
;and scooped up instrument bowls and bells 
;flicked my nails 'gainst their metal wells to ring

;With folded thumb and finger flesh 
;i sculpt in strange tunes untame tones and voice s
;i'm unawake can’t feel the rest

;Whilst in the dark of metalling
;i folded sheets of her skin into place
;cura silk as film brushed with heaven
;i'm welding all day through

eE
eE
eE
eE

eE
eE
oh oh
oh oh

-
musical break
-

eE
eE
oh oh 
oh oh

eE
eE
eE
eE


lyrical themata:
.the holy process of writing music
.how does it happen
.i have no idea

Free Download

Astatine, `th unsungs

"The Dark Opens The Way (Markus Guentner Remix)" is from the GALÁN / VOGT remix album "All The Time In The World", released Nov 23, 2023.
Mastered by Robert Babicz.
https://linktr.ee/galanvogt

Galán / Vogt - Engrama (The Space Between Numbers Remix)

After Markus Guentner and Joachim Spieth's first joint album, "Overlay", was released last October, there is now a 10" lathe cut limited to thirty pieces, which will be released on February 2nd.

"Overlay Variations" uses elements that were taken exclusively from the album and puts them together to create completely new pieces of music. The recording is delivered with a print that shows the front of the cover and is hand-numbered on the back.

Furthermore, this 10" represents the start of a series that will be completed by the end of the year...

design | https://markus-guentner.de/
mastering | https://artefactsmastering.com/
Affin | linktr.ee/AffinLTD
Linktr.ee | https://linktr.ee/guentnerspieth

Overlay Variations

Guentner | Spieth - Overlay Variations

Astatine is an experimental dance piece written, produced and voiced by Ж. The song was created and decorated using the sounds of ice, wind, and the tundra. Ж is the synthesizer of this sound and calls it strange-tundra.

If you listen closely to Astatine you can hear the crackings and shatters of ice noise to the rights and lefts of your ears.


Lyrics:
In the restitution, oh...

;On the rotations of the 
;heavenly mysteries of the 
;square earth stationary
;indiapheniety 

;I slept to down her red iris
;a gaze and i'd never seen it
;diae face of faces, chroma’s breathing
;I’m welding all day through  

eE
eE
eE
eE

eE
eE
oh oh
oh oh

;I ran my hands around sound things
;and scooped up instrument bowls and bells 
;flicked my nails 'gainst their metal wells to ring

;With folded thumb and finger flesh 
;i sculpt in strange tunes untame tones and voice s
;i'm unawake can’t feel the rest

;Whilst in the dark of metalling
;i folded sheets of her skin into place
;cura silk as film brushed with heaven
;i'm welding all day through

eE
eE
eE
eE

eE
eE
oh oh
oh oh

-
musical break
-

eE
eE
oh oh 
oh oh

eE
eE
eE
eE


lyrical themata:
.the holy process of writing music
.how does it happen
.i have no idea

Astatine

Nocturna is the first collaborative album between New Zealand musician Andrew Thomas and German artist Joachim Spieth. Inspired by fleeting moments of beauty in nature, where light illuminates and then disappears into the shadows, Thomas began composing on the piano during Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Gathering piano fragments like treasured relics, he passed them on to Spieth some months later, as Summer was now dawning in the Northern Hemisphere.

Spieth wove the piano’s delicate tones into something new, preserving its organic essence while illuminating certain sounds and removing others. The textures within Nocturna are shaped by light, time, and the discernment of each artist - as what to keep became as important as what to leave out. The shadow of what used to be allows a strange and delicate mood to arise. Though the piano remains at the heart of the album, Spieth’s intricate sonic layers form a spectral web around the immersive soundscape, while the piano’s fragile notes climb tentatively like tendrils of a plant.

Nocturna sits on the threshold of ambient and modern classical, with elements of sound design that make it an especially pleasing piece with deeper listening. As Nocturna unfolds, it transports the listener into a space of contemplation and mystery—expansion and enclosure, and perhaps reflecting the increase in nocturnal activity of nature on a Summers evening. Light and shadow, the duality of hemispheres, and the promise of Summer’s arrival converge, and then fade once more into the night.

releases April 4, 2025

All tracks written & produced by Joachim Spieth and Andrew Thomas

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

Nocturna

Joachim Spieth | Andrew Thomas - Nocturna

Xxhe or Ж is an ice composer, vocalist, sound artist, serrulate sonancer, performer, novelist, poet, ballerina turned bending shape dancer, martial artist, experimental opera borner, and groundbreaking creator from San Francisco.

Known for writing a "strange-tundra" opera at the age of seventeen using the sounds of wind, ice, orchestral instruments, and the human voice, Xxhe styled a new genre and continues to invent new ways to write music.

The founder of the “Dialect Halls of Ж: the rooms to sonancers, movists and zuo dialects,” a collective which curates unusual and intimate performances, Xxhe is a gatherer of musicians, performing story-heavy dance pieces to their original compositions in both above and underground places - never without an extraterrestrial flare and a drop of otherworldliness.

Affin, founded in 2007 by Joachim Spieth, is an independent music label recognized internationally for its distinctive approach to electronic music. Focused on ambient and deep techno, the label emphasizes authenticity, artistic freedom, and album-oriented releases featuring immersive soundscapes.

A key element of Affin is its integration of sound and visual artistry. Longtime collaborator Markus Guentner has shaped the label’s visual identity with artwork that blends natural elements and digital manipulation, complementing its musical vision and creating a unified aesthetic for each release.

Affin prioritizes quality over quantity, combining organic textures with advanced synthesis to craft timeless, forward-thinking music. Rejecting formulaic marketing, the label fosters a sustainable, artist-centered model, supporting creative exploration and cultivating a collaborative community of like-minded artists.

Beyond its role as a label, Affin provides booking opportunities for its artists, facilitating performances in settings that reflect its ethos of intimacy and authenticity. This holistic approach has cemented Affin’s reputation as a platform for innovation and a haven for those seeking depth and substance in modern music.

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.

Karen Vogt is an Australian artist, vocalist and musician based in France. She uses her voice to create atmospheric, ambient and experimental compositions. She is mostly known for her distinctive vocals with dream-pop band Heligoland that she co-founded in 1999, produced by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins). In recent years she has been making experimental/ambient music. She is also half of duo GALÁN / VOGT. She is currently based in Paris, France and has a fortnightly radio show on CAMP.FR called Lost, Found, and Lost Again.

dj
7.6. jahreshauptversammlung 
mit karamelli @aantigen, @rolandson, paul, e, 4re, mixstück, buzmann
31.5 mit Felix Kubin, Funki Porcini, st. georgen
3.5 tam tam treppenbar münich
mit kat kat tat @kat-kat-tat
12.4 Nektar-Preparty muc 
mit @sahrabass @car0snebelfeld @jawwamusic

25.3 kurzfilmfest regensburg
plattenfilme mit jonas krokuss, @4evergreatdiscoverygirls , @johannes-kroeker , chris kämpfert, mr.mojo, acid maria, @dj_acid_maria 
28.3 pfaffenhofen stocker 
mit fuxdeifeshyper und ivo und 
15.3.25 tam tam treppen münchen mit evil e, @gutfeeling-records, amon yedi, silverdolls @thesilverdolls
14.3 tam tam treppenbar mit @heronymus und nikkei
3.1.25 johanniscafe dorfen all night long
28.2.25 bahnhof kötzting nach amon yedi mit und vor 4re
7.2 regensburg sauseneck 
mit paul wick, das korbi, buzman und mehr
2.1.25 straubing
26.01.25 bahnhof kötzing mit joel sarakula und jonny rock
4.1.2025 spital privat
----------------------
31.12.24 silvester bahnhof kötzting 
+ Josef Grassl @josefishangingout 4re, daskorbi, mixstück, buzman
23.12.24 regensburg vinyl bar mit mister g
25.12.24 besinnungsrave corner
 25.12.24 cafe holler & hillberg dtex mbluse
20.12.24 paf
13.12.24 cafe holler auflegen mit claudia holler
07.12.24 altes spital vor und nach konrad küchenmeister
30.11.24 kammerspiele muc 
mit hello marcel (cz), arun_da, ghetto.disco 
22.11.24 svitavy cz
mit hello marcel, joshek und marten de mosquito
2.11.24 Straubing Schwedenschanze + @dubiolin-jam
25.10.24 landshut + @dubiolin-jam
5.10.24 franzi obermühle mit dj nebelmaschine, nesstor, jotel california, höhenregler, amon yedi und mehr noch
4.10.24 kammerspiele münchen werkraum mit vivien goldman @viviengoldman monika bluse, eselsalbtraum, Melis Çom und florin mück als Duende
27.9.24 kunst für zukunft radolfzell bodensee mit nicki
21.9.24 kiebitzfest krassau passau
17.8.24 regensburg bunker mit @djsportfahrwerk 
10.8.24 hohlstraße zürich 
2.8.24 humulus lupulus festival vieth mit @tante_c , melli, aqua lord, mixstück, eber, KKzink, 
2.8.24 neuer kunstverein regensburg
26.7.24 uckermark mit lonis & bebi
16.7.24 stalin @ metronomy prag mit hello marcel @user-854707422 
12.7.24 schwetzendorf +@dubiolin-jam
6.7.24 ASHRAF SHARIF KHAN & @viktor-marek Afterhour Bhf Kötzting
5.7.24 gegen müdigkeit parkfest BELLA PARK heidelberg mit @perserreich 
29.6.24 e le kram dorfen @rolandson
28.6.24 easy tiger münchen mit @rolandson
22.6.24 rollschuhdisko eishalle pfaffenhofen mit wiesi
21.6.24 salzburg mit @dj-sticky-1
15.6.24 kunstverein pfaffenhofen
25.5.24 sommerfest samuelien regensburg @patrickjahn
24.5.24 Studio 12 Passau all night long
19.5.24 sommerfest küstrin 
mit @seebastian @aantigen, @maxim_noa juls, paul
17.5.24 KWIA berlin @josefishangingout and @jp_kiku
11.5.24 Altes Spital Viechtach mit STRÖME und 4RE @stroemeofficial
10.5.24 sommerfest herrnwies
8.5.24 Palettibar Regensburg
4.5.24 vieth technoparty mell support
30.4.24 tanz in den mai mit @saturno4000 und meatlove
20.4.24 Irgendein bunker regensburg - frag mich
6.4.24 Bahnhof Kötzting nach Hattori Hanzi 
@hattorihanzi-music mit @heronymus
5.4.24 la mer sauvage Filmbühne Regensburg
31.3.24 Straubing mit 4re
27.3.24 Cafebar Mona Muc - ravels-bolero-special
22.3.24 Bahnhof Kötzting
16.3.24 Pfaffenhofen Ilm After Show Roger Rekless
16.3.24 Geradi München
9.3.24 Rockcafe Prag
16.2.24 Hohlstraße Zürich 
9.2.24 Akademie Nürnberg AbsolventInnen Ausstellung bei paul wick
3.2.24 Straubing
2.2.24 Ex Pfaffenhofen mit evil e
20.01.24 Amberg Rapfrühschoppen mit BBou @boarischabou und dj meatlove
12.01.24 Straubing

31.12 Bahnhof Kötzting mit Various Artist
30.12 Presylvester Special Location Tamtam München
mit inga, mr vast, paul wick, m.Bluse @mr-vast-1
26.12.23 Bahnhof Kötzting mit Josef Grassl @josefishangingout 
25.12.23 Tunzenberg besinnungsrave
25.12.23 Cafe Holler mit Monika Bluse, Hillberg und D-Tex und Gré Maillard
21.12.23 Straubing
9.12.23 Altes Spital Viechtach Aftershow Joel Sarakula mit Herr Fossi
1.12.23 Alte Filmbühne Regensburg
4.11.23 Import Export Muc mit @rolandson
27.10.23 KWIA Berlin with @josefishangingout and @jp_kiku 
29.9.23 KFZ bodensee radolfzell mit @raumkundschafter
24.9.23 verenen glarus schweiz 
giordene , sodapop & ponygir, @johnplayer @styro2000 @ @ @ @
2.9.23 wannda festival muc 
5.8.23 spektakel dorfen
4.8.23 humulus lupulus festival
2.6.23 la mer sauvage festival
12.5 favoritbar muc mit peter arun pfaff
22.4. kunstverein pfaffenhofen
8.4.23 altes spital viechtach mit @xlmiddleton & MONIQUEA @1moniquea
25.3.23 nacht der luziden träume kammerspiele münchen
mit @pipimachen, @covahmuzak, valentin wagner, sewicide

15.11.2019 kammerspiele münchen mit @djhellofficial, @san-quentin, monika bluse, hardy funk
7.7.2017 muenchen mit jascha hagen und show kati

2007

TRU DISKO

tam tam - munich
city club - augsburg
people festival funkhaus - berlin (mit Dynamisch Akustische Forschung)
jonny knüppel - berlin
altes spital - viechtach
hohlstraße - zürich
wannda festival - munich
kwia - berlin
natraj tempel - munich
dublab.de
cafe holler - deggendorf
cafe bar mona - munich
la mer sauvage festival
gruam - munich
stalin - prag
ampere - munich
pao architecture summercamps - potoc romania  
palais rischer - heidelberg
bahnhof - kötzting
le rendevouz - passau
studio 12 - passau
tausendbar - köln
60hz - berlin
akademie der bildenden künste - munich
ois giasing festival - munich
kammerspiele - munich
alte utting - munich
noc noc festival - guimares portugal
humulus lupulus festival - scheyern
elektrogelände - salching
steiningers - straubing
heinz minki - berlin
tanz am berg - tunzenberg
import export - munich
klangbaustelle - straubing
zeitwerz - munich
slave 2 the rhythm domagk - munich
stattwerkstatt - linz
salon maudit - munich
fluc - vienna
aftershave - innsbruck
peace and noise festival - munich
akademie der künste - nuremberg
404 page not found - munich
agratamagatha festival
BMW - munich
blauer raum - zürich
Rockcafe - Prag
nossbross - venzka
open air weigendorf
aonvívio associação - guimares
x-roots festival - salching
cult. - scoul
ex - tegernbach
schnitzmühle - viechtach
muffatcafe - munich
spektakel - dorfen
die verenen schlafen nicht - schwanden glarus
kunst für zukunft - boden see radolfzell
sorgenfrei - straubing
stockerfabrik - pfaffenhofen
gegen müdigkeit - heidelberg
easy tiger - münich
Alternativní klub Tyjátr - Svitavy
vinyl bar - regensburg
tamtamtreppenbar - muc
sauseneck - regensburg

New tracks tagged #popambient