Markus Kienzl – THREE
Markus Kienzl, founding member and influential figure of the Vienna-based band institution Sofa Surfers and now also a sought-after film composer (SKY, Netflix, ZDF, ARD, DR, ARTE, …), presents his new solo album simply titled “THREE”.
“THREE” is the condensation and consistent development of his previous works at the intersection of electronics, hip-hop, dub, rock, and soul, making it his most cohesive and coherent album yet.
THREE – The Album
THREE atmospherically ties in closely with the electronic elements of his previous albums and focuses on dark hip-hop and driving songs, all grounded in a slightly defiant, rock-infused downbeat. The album thrives in its very distinct sonic landscape, drawing on the input from Kienzl’s work with Sofa Surfers and his solo projects, now perhaps formulated even more stringently. Despite its homogeneity, THREE remains consistently engaging and experimental. Kienzl and his vocalists work from years of experience and previous works but also incorporate influences from current productions and styles. However, the foundation always comes from Kienzl.
What remains from his earlier productions is the light-hearted juvenile rebellion, the defiant push against things that don’t fit, the reflections of urban paranoia, and the necessary energetic catharsis that makes everything okay again. The driving sharpness and dry grounding in hip-hop, dub, and funk are still present, but this time much clearer and more permeable. Alongside its predecessors “PRODUCT” (2005) and “DENSITY” (2009), “THREE” can be considered the late conclusion of a trilogy of albums and the third pillar in the world-building of its own sonic realm.
THREE – The Production
“I work alone, mostly, and solely from my own ideas. The legendary radio producer, label operator, and DJ Werner Geier once said about Tricky that his sound was a reflection solely of himself, being ‘with himself alone.’ I work similarly; I can construct my sound worlds in the studio every day, lose myself in them, in a comforting or irritating way. The vocalists come in later and then shape the final piece with me. I delve deeply into the details; every sound, every tone, every noise should make sense in the overall structure. At the core of my productions, however, is always intuition.” Kienzl reflects on his way of working.
THREE is song-driven and therefore also shaped by its guest vocalists. Together with Oddateee, SAEDI, Semtex MC (aka MC Santana), and a guest appearance by Loretta Who, Kienzl conjures a dense and charged atmosphere, an intense sonic amalgam from the depths of the city.
THREE Metrocosmos
The “Deluxe Metrocosmos Edition” of THREE includes an additional thirteen instrumental tracks that form the soundtrack for the ARTE TV series “METROCOSMOS” (or “Metroskosmos” in german speaking countries). The short film series by director and longtime collaborator Timo Novotny portrays five European cities in its first season, focusing on their subway systems. Each approximately 25-minute episode shows personal stories and connections in the city’s underground. Locations in the first season include Naples, Prague, Vienna, Berlin, and Paris. More about METROKOSMOS can be found here.
THREE – Track by Track
On “Confused,” the New York and Lyon-based Oddateee speaks about a reality distorted by social media, where worth and self-worth depend only on the number of likes and followers. SAEDI addresses encountering one’s childlike self, the heavy burden of one’s experiences, and the influences that largely determine the present on “Chained.” In “Liestyle,” SEMTEX MC tackles disloyalties in friendships and relationships, and the injuries after betrayals of trust. “Screenbitch” with SAEDI plays out in the fantasy world of digital platforms, dealing with hate online, especially from anonymous and here so-called screenbitches. In “Blurred,” Loretta Who joins Oddateee and both air their grievances about spaced-out friends. Oddateee reflects on “I Often Wonder” about flat-earthers, climate change deniers, and Trump fans. On “Breathe,” SAEDI breathes out on “Breathe” and tells the story of a toxic guy on “Hustler.” The album peaks with a block of three tracks: “Alive,” “Grimy,” and “Face To Face” showcase Oddateee and Kienzl at their best, with hard beats and heavy themes, from insincerity and lies to calls for learning from bad experiences. The grand finale comes with SAEDI and her rendition of “What A Wonderful World,” leaving the irony or seriousness to the listeners.
Markus Kienzl concludes: “I find the new album more transparent and clear than many of my previous works. In recent years, I have primarily produced film music, and that has certainly influenced my production process. I see the album as a counterbalance to working on compositions for films and series; it’s a kind of homecoming to my musical roots.”
THREE Credits:
All music written by Markus Kienzl except “Wonderful World” written by Bob Thiele (as “George Douglas”) and George David Weiss
Lyrics on “Confused”, Blurred”, “I often wonder”, “Alive – FCK That Sh_t” , “Grimy”, Face to Face”, “Still alive” written by Oddateee
Lyrics on “Chained”, “Screenbitch”, “Hustler” written by SAEDI
Lyrics on “Blurred” co-written by Loretta Who.
Produced and mixed by Markus Kienzl
Mastered by Michael Holzgruber
listen here: markuskienzl.lnk.to/THREE
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Kienzl