I Heart Sharks almost never play in Berlin although they live here – or maybe because they do? The first time I saw them was in a place called Waldsee in the lovely city of Freiburg im Breisgau. That night, the black forest was literally on fire.
Three young men armed to the teeth with guitar, keyboards and live drums they’ve become well-known for their electrifying live shows that always feature air balloons. Their 2011 debut album Summer soon turned them into one of Germany’s finest electro pop acts. Neuzeit is still one of my favourite tunes from that record because there is nothing sweeter than an English guy singing in German with a strong accent.
It’s certainly been much too long since I’ve last seen the band but at last their back in town with a brand new album. Since meeting by chance in the late days of summer of 2007, behind the thick concrete walls of Berlin’s techno mecca, Berghain, the three young men from three different countries have been touring and spreading their idea of what music can be from abandoned staircases and aircraft hangars to internationally recognised festivals. They make machine music with a human soul, using guitars as synthesisers, and synthesisers as guitars, creating something which disproves the cynical muso opinion that music that moves your feet cannot move your mind, and vice versa.
Taking on a new step after their self-made and fan-funded independently released first album, Summer, the dotted the line with Island Berlin and their second album was recorded with Hurts producer Joseph Cross in a disused textile mill in Manchester and in the former GDR radio headquarters in Berlin. The two cities with their important musical history provide a perfect parallel for the music; the northern British red-brick city with it’s stormy skies and Factory Records’ past meets the formerly split metropolis with it’s relentless electronic music scene, Bowie recollections and karaoke bars.
I Heart Sharks are One english boy. One german boy. One lost boy.
Thanks to the wonderful people of fkpScorpio, Blitzgigs is giving away a double pass to the show! To grab your free tickets, just email us at winwinwin@blitzgigs.de with your full name and the answer to the following easy question:
What’s the name of the first album from I Heart Sharks?
Competition closes 12:00, Saturday April 27th. Good luck!
