Berlin-based kraut-rockers Schiguli have returned with a new album, Lichtecho, released on December 1st, which is good for fans of classic krautrock acts like Kraftwerk and Can. The band has been playing together since 2020, captivating audiences with a heavy psych-post-rock soundscape that echoes the pulsating krautrock of yesteryear. And being that the band’s in Berlin, they deserve to use the krautrock genre label more than most modern acts.
That being said, Schiguli believes they’re unrestricted by genres, as they’ve created live performances fueled by instant composition that erupt into dynamic, free-spirited experiences. The new album, Lichtecho, was recorded live at Studio K61, encapsulating the band’s free-flowing improvisations.
“A musical journey that’s tough yet melancholic, frenzied yet powerful—a sonic manifesto from the heart of Berlin’s underground scene” is how the band describes their music. After listening to the new album, I agree. The post-rock influence can be heard, as the instrumental madness hits peaks and valleys, creating a pleasant listening experience that kept me fully engaged.
For Lichtecho, all four band members played together in the same room, with the drum kit mic’d and cabinets of guitars and bass mic’d in separate rooms, ensuring a true live creation of the album.
Schiguli’s four-piece ensemble includes Battist Rabay (also of Maybe a Retch), the melodic craftsman from East Berlin; Ben Haeringer (also of Murrayglossus), the groove captain from Hessen; Marcel Damme (previously of Kasaan), the sonic maestro from Leipzig; Martin Haugen (previously of Monstertones), the rhythmic conjurer from Norway. The group has rehearsed in Weissensee, Berlin, since 2020, with the latest member, Ben, joining in 2022.
Lichtecho consists of six songs, all on the longer side, with “Hyperloop” starting the action. The motorik beat and synth effects place us in psychedelic territory here, giving us a frame of reference for what’s to come. “Sandwurm” brings a more atmospheric feel, creating a relaxing soundscape that you can sense is about to explode at any moment. The track has suspense, with a slightly ominous tone used so often in post-rock. Eventually, the tension boils over, and “Sandwurm” boasts a loud, colorful array of sounds near the end.
The title track – “Lichtecho” – follows a formula similar to “Sandwurm.” There’s the slow start, the build-up, and the epic finale. “Komet” is a pleasant interlude, switching things up and giving us more of that fast-paced drum beat. “Zerzura” provides one of the cooler guitar riffs on the album and more excellent drumming from Martin Haugen. The dueling guitars of Battist and Marcel are front and center in the album, creating a vibrant sound.
“Hadron Collider” closes the album and puts the “cosmic” in “komische musik.” Whether it was the track name or the sounds themselves, the music conjured images for me of lying in the countryside and watching shooting stars or traveling through space in a dream.
Overall, Lichtecho is a beautiful album of modern krautrock with plenty of post-rock influences that should satisfy psychedelia fans. Schiguli expertly captures an improvisational instrumental sound that makes their live performances so dynamic. Fans of krautrock classics and post-rock legends like Explosions in the Sky should enjoy this one.
Check out Lichtecho by Schiguli on Bandcamp here.
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