The electronic world of Alex Stolze‘s new single Horses and Acres is both immersive and playful. Rich layers of dubby triplet rhythms and experimental sounds combine Alex’s beloved OP1 synthesiser, sensitive minimal strings and wandering, percussive piano as well as the soft choral harmonies of the Flacke sisters’ voices. The dreamy poetry of the repeated lyrical refrain – “Horses and acres, rabbits and faces…” – has an almost child-like simplicity; a modern nursery rhyme evoking a world of freedom, imagination and space. It’s also an ode to the wild countryside location of Alex’s Nonostar Studio: the rural wilderness of the German-Polish border. The single features on his forthcoming new album Kinship Stories out on 4th December 2020 via via Nonostar Records (more details below).
Alex tells us:
“‘Horses and Acres’ is dedicated to children and their innocence. It is also about the area where I live, where there are acres all around of uninhabited countryside landscapes. This rural expanse and our lives here led in close proximity to nature and animals inspires me to try and make sure that I spend my time on projects that are the most meaningful”.
Also known as a member of German pop band Bodi Bill and previous member of experimental trio Dictaphone, Alex has released two solo albums through his Nonostar imprint, his debut Mankind Animal in 2016 and sophomore Outermost Edge in 2018. Alex is part of the Solo Collective trio with German cellist Anne Müller (Erased Tapes) and UK pianist Sebastian Reynolds and continues to work with his Nonostar label mate Ben Osborn. Anne and Ben both feature as guests on Kinship Stories single Babylon, released in April 2020 via Nonostar.
Kinship Stories is due for release on 4th December 2020 through Alex’s label Nonostar Records and sees him re-energise his unique blend of electronica, alternative pop and modern classical. Having left his native Berlin in 2010 for a ruined house in the semi-abandoned borderlands of East Germany, Alex and his family and friends have built their own homes and a thriving creative centre housing the Nonostar Records label and recording studio as well as the artistic workplaces of collectives CargoCult and World registered association.
As Alex explains “people come here from all over Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa, the Americas – they’re all part of the community we’ve built here“, this unique, diverse community became the creative inspiration for Kinship Stories.
Find out more here: http://alexstolze.com/
Photo Credit: Andrea Huyoff