Born from a decade of artistic evolution, Bunsenburner’s latest album, Reverie, reflects the boundary-pushing ethos of Ben Krahl and his crew of collaborators. Starting in 2012 as Krahl’s solo endeavor, bunsenburner has transformed into a dynamic collective, combining elements of metal, jazz, and experimental sounds to create music that defies simple classification.
Recorded live over just four days at huji maja Studios in Freiburg and available via Ben’s own Bunsenburner Records, Reverie captures an immediacy that mirrors the band’s creative philosophy—raw, organic, and deeply collaborative.
With its blend of crushing riffs, cinematic soundscapes, and spontaneous energy, the album embodies the idea of letting go: of expectations, fears, and creative constraints. This quintet—Martin Fischer (guitars), Flo Möbes (guitars), Ben Krahl (bass, guitars, synths), Philipp Schlotter (guitar, synths), and Norman Lonhard (drums)—has crafted a record that thrives on the synergy of live recording, eschewing heavy overdubs in favor of authentic interplay. And it’s all intrumental.
Let’s dive into it.
Tracks like “Toro,” inspired by German abstract painter K.O. Götz, and “Golden Shower,” a playful nod to embracing imperfections in the studio, illustrate the band’s ability to blend conceptual rigor with a sense of experimentation.
The experimental nature of Reverie is evident throughout the entire listening journey, which truly feels like an adventure—its constant shifts and diversity make boredom with any one specific style impossible. At the same time, the roughness and even a certain darkness embedded in the sound align perfectly with a style that resonates deeply with those who appreciate such intensity. Here on IDIOTEQ, we’re certainly one of them.
The album also pays homage to their influences with bold reinterpretations of Flying Lotus’s “Zodiac Shit” and Tosca Tango Quartet’s “Ballade Four,” integrating these elements into bunsenburner’s unique, almost mysterious identity.
Krahl, who also took on recording, mixing, and mastering duties, described the process as “a raw, unfiltered dive into everything we love about making music—letting go, taking risks, and creating something real.”
The band’s approach, grounded in spontaneity and unfiltered live energy, resonates through every track, offering listeners a journey that is heavy, chaotic, dreamy, and beautiful in equal measure.
The album art, titled BM Kitten1 and also created by Krahl, reflects the project’s multi-disciplinary ambition, tying together the visual and sonic aspects of bunsenburner’s identity.
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Released under their independent label, Bunsenburner Records, Reverie serves as a testament to the power of collaborative artistry and unrestrained creativity.
Whether you’re drawn to the sheer intensity of metal, the intricacy of jazz, or the cinematic breadth of experimental soundscapes, Reverie offers something that invites listeners to engage deeply with its themes of release and reinvention. This isn’t just an album—it’s a statement of purpose.