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CD
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KK 111CD
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As Donna Regina, Regina and Günther Janssen have been a fixture in the German indie pop and electronic scene ever since their first release in 1990. From 1999 on, they have released seven LPs and a slew of EPs on Karaoke Kalk. After a collection of cover versions of their songs by fellow artists and bands called Dis Cover - Donna Regina as Recorded By in 2015 (KK 085CD/LP), Transient sees the wife and husband duo both musically and lyrically pick up where they left off with 2014's Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren (KK 078CD/LP). Even after 28 years and 13 full-length releases, Donna Regina still have much to say and on their first proper studio album since 2015 express it in more languages than ever. Between the English-language opener "Royal Blue" and the final German track "Lass Uns So Tun", Regina Janssen also explores French ("Quatre Septembres", written by Bertrand Burgalat's lyricist Pascal Mounet), Spanish ("Mí Globo De Nieve") and, newly so, Japanese (the Ayako Akashiba-penned "Melancholy Dragon") as languages to convey complex truths with only few and simple words. Simple would be one word with which to describe the music on Transient, although maybe that would be a premature judgement. Even though the Janssens' music, on this album only supported by the Danish guitarist Rolf Hansen on "Quatre Septembres", seems more minimalistic or perhaps even quieter than before, it is still brimming with details and the occasional moment of ecstasy. Transient isn't one of those records that will start slowly, peak in the middle and then fade out, but between songs like the opener "Royal Blue" and the beat-driven "Blitze" or the ambiguous up-beat track "Komm Lass Uns Heiraten" and "Melancholy Dragon" with its elegiac synthesizer harmonies draws on the sharp contrasts in mood and style. As such, Transient may just be the perfect title for this album that lyrically is more at home in the entire world than ever before in Donna Regina's history and also makes it abundantly clear that nothing, neither happiness nor sadness, will be forever. After 28 years and 13 full-length releases, Donna Regina stay in motion because the world does, too.
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LP
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KK 111LP
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LP version. Includes download code. As Donna Regina, Regina and Günther Janssen have been a fixture in the German indie pop and electronic scene ever since their first release in 1990. From 1999 on, they have released seven LPs and a slew of EPs on Karaoke Kalk. After a collection of cover versions of their songs by fellow artists and bands called Dis Cover - Donna Regina as Recorded By in 2015 (KK 085CD/LP), Transient sees the wife and husband duo both musically and lyrically pick up where they left off with 2014's Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren (KK 078CD/LP). Even after 28 years and 13 full-length releases, Donna Regina still have much to say and on their first proper studio album since 2015 express it in more languages than ever. Between the English-language opener "Royal Blue" and the final German track "Lass Uns So Tun", Regina Janssen also explores French ("Quatre Septembres", written by Bertrand Burgalat's lyricist Pascal Mounet), Spanish ("Mí Globo De Nieve") and, newly so, Japanese (the Ayako Akashiba-penned "Melancholy Dragon") as languages to convey complex truths with only few and simple words. Simple would be one word with which to describe the music on Transient, although maybe that would be a premature judgement. Even though the Janssens' music, on this album only supported by the Danish guitarist Rolf Hansen on "Quatre Septembres", seems more minimalistic or perhaps even quieter than before, it is still brimming with details and the occasional moment of ecstasy. Transient isn't one of those records that will start slowly, peak in the middle and then fade out, but between songs like the opener "Royal Blue" and the beat-driven "Blitze" or the ambiguous up-beat track "Komm Lass Uns Heiraten" and "Melancholy Dragon" with its elegiac synthesizer harmonies draws on the sharp contrasts in mood and style. As such, Transient may just be the perfect title for this album that lyrically is more at home in the entire world than ever before in Donna Regina's history and also makes it abundantly clear that nothing, neither happiness nor sadness, will be forever. After 28 years and 13 full-length releases, Donna Regina stay in motion because the world does, too.
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LP
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KK 078LP
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LP version. Includes download code. Following their 2010 release The Decline of Female Happiness, Donna Regina are back with a new album on Karaoke Kalk. The project was formed by the husband and wife team Regina and Günther Janssen over 20 years ago, and this is no less than their 12th studio album. Their extensive career has seen them remixed by the likes of Matthew Herbert and Mouse On Mars. Regina Janssen has also worked -- amongst others -- with the French musician Bertrand Burgalat, who released a compilation of Donna Regina's work on his label Tricatel. But it's in their own records and songwriting that their true musical skill comes to light as this album shows. It starts with the title-track -- a tribute to a deceased friend of theirs. The album's decidedly international character is left in no doubt by "Les claviers de couleurs" -- sung in French, inspired by the beautiful names of colors on the scale of Swiss architect Le Corbusier. "Carlos" has a distinctly dubby musical vibe; the muted trumpet, improvised like the bass clarinet and harp by musician Volker Griepenstroh, chorus of "lost and found," and dub production make it feel like a Grace Jones track. "Cities" has more of a straight techno-pop groove, with a 4/4 driving beat, while the lyrics take us on a world tour that tells a story of non-conformity and alienation. "Koyasan" takes this international affair even further afield with a trip to the mountain range near Osaka in Japan where Donna Regina's music has achieved considerable popularity and was even used in a Nissan commercial. "For the Love Of" is based upon the inspired juxtaposition of an industrial rhythm and a cheery piano riff, while "Escúchame" is based on a text written by the artists Graw Böckler from Berlin. "Gatsby" is also driven by a solid 4/4 techno beat. Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren is Donna Regina's 7th album on Karaoke Kalk and over their many releases, the band has clearly perfected the electronic pop format. Their latest offering is packed full of delightful nuances both in the lyrical content and the production as well as in the arrangements. For the first time in their production history, they let somebody else do the mixes -- Polish musician Michal Jacaszek who also co-produced the album.
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CD
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KK 078CD
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Following their 2010 release The Decline of Female Happiness, Donna Regina are back with a new album on Karaoke Kalk. The project was formed by the husband and wife team Regina and Günther Janssen over 20 years ago, and this is no less than their 12th studio album. Their extensive career has seen them remixed by the likes of Matthew Herbert and Mouse On Mars. Regina Janssen has also worked -- amongst others -- with the French musician Bertrand Burgalat, who released a compilation of Donna Regina's work on his label Tricatel. But it's in their own records and songwriting that their true musical skill comes to light as this album shows. It starts with the title-track -- a tribute to a deceased friend of theirs. The album's decidedly international character is left in no doubt by "Les claviers de couleurs" -- sung in French, inspired by the beautiful names of colors on the scale of Swiss architect Le Corbusier. "Carlos" has a distinctly dubby musical vibe; the muted trumpet, improvised like the bass clarinet and harp by musician Volker Griepenstroh, chorus of "lost and found," and dub production make it feel like a Grace Jones track. "Cities" has more of a straight techno-pop groove, with a 4/4 driving beat, while the lyrics take us on a world tour that tells a story of non-conformity and alienation. "Koyasan" takes this international affair even further afield with a trip to the mountain range near Osaka in Japan where Donna Regina's music has achieved considerable popularity and was even used in a Nissan commercial. "For the Love Of" is based upon the inspired juxtaposition of an industrial rhythm and a cheery piano riff, while "Escúchame" is based on a text written by the artists Graw Böckler from Berlin. "Gatsby" is also driven by a solid 4/4 techno beat. Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren is Donna Regina's 7th album on Karaoke Kalk and over their many releases, the band has clearly perfected the electronic pop format. Their latest offering is packed full of delightful nuances both in the lyrical content and the production as well as in the arrangements. For the first time in their production history, they let somebody else do the mixes -- Polish musician Michal Jacaszek who also co-produced the album.
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CD
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KK 054CD
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Cologne-based melancholic electro-pop duo Donna Regina release their sixth album for the Karaoke Kalk label. Günther and Regina Janssen have been around longer than electronica and the term never really fit their music that well. After all, the duo from Cologne are really all about writing songs, not just producing tracks, and certainly not electronica. But you can't take such categorization so literally. They fit all the characteristics that we attribute to withdrawn and playful electronic music with all its nuances. Donna Regina are masters of reservation, allusion and vagueness. Only they are capable of keeping listeners in suspense in the way that they do. For example, the piece "Vague," with its really stunning Giorgio Moroder bass-line, creates expectation right from the first note. They knowingly build up tension and consistently hold that level right through to the end without ever letting up. Donna Regina would rather play one note briefly than two for too long. They deliver a wonderful production that is sonically varied and full of ideas. Their sound and their songs are elegant and melancholy, in varying degrees. And for as long as anyone can remember, Regina Janssen has been singing like the great Nico, who after all, was also from the Rhein area. And yet The Decline Of Female Happiness is somehow different. But Donna Regina wouldn't be Donna Regina if this difference was noticeable at first glance. It seems as if the band, or at least its front woman, is taking stock with this album. Not only in the title track does The Decline Of Female Happiness deal with womanly situatedness and self-reflection. Loneliness, growing old and everyday life are also topics. These songs speak of experience and perhaps also of disillusionment. It's this sublime aloofness that makes The Decline Of Female Happiness such a special album, and the music sounds equally at ease and experienced. Donna Regina achieves a kind of unity with their songwriting that many strive towards, though few attain.
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LP
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KK 058LP
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LP version. Cologne-based melancholic electro-pop duo Donna Regina release their sixth album for the Karaoke Kalk label. Günther and Regina Janssen have been around longer than electronica and the term never really fit their music that well. After all, the duo from Cologne are really all about writing songs, not just producing tracks, and certainly not electronica. But you can't take such categorization so literally. They fit all the characteristics that we attribute to withdrawn and playful electronic music with all its nuances. Donna Regina are masters of reservation, allusion and vagueness. Only they are capable of keeping listeners in suspense in the way that they do. For example, the piece "Vague," with its really stunning Giorgio Moroder bass-line, creates expectation right from the first note. They knowingly build up tension and consistently hold that level right through to the end without ever letting up. Donna Regina would rather play one note briefly than two for too long. They deliver a wonderful production that is sonically varied and full of ideas. Their sound and their songs are elegant and melancholy, in varying degrees. And for as long as anyone can remember, Regina Janssen has been singing like the great Nico, who after all, was also from the Rhein area. And yet The Decline Of Female Happiness is somehow different. But Donna Regina wouldn't be Donna Regina if this difference was noticeable at first glance. It seems as if the band, or at least its front woman, is taking stock with this album. Not only in the title track does The Decline Of Female Happiness deal with womanly situatedness and self-reflection. Loneliness, growing old and everyday life are also topics. These songs speak of experience and perhaps also of disillusionment. It's this sublime aloofness that makes The Decline Of Female Happiness such a special album, and the music sounds equally at ease and experienced. Donna Regina achieves a kind of unity with their songwriting that many strive towards, though few attain. Includes a voucher for a free download of the entire album, including an extra track.
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CD
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KK 041CD
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More is the tenth Donna Regina release by the Cologne-based melancholic electro-pop duo Regina (vocals) and Günther Janssen (guitar). On the road somewhere -- alongside foreign waters, beneath foreign skies -- More is the echo of your favorite memories. A warm and fuzzy feeling arrives immediately with the first few beats of the opening song, a vague elation arises with the entry of the bass. This is music that carries the world inside of it, rather than getting bogged down by it. More is music that is present without being trendy, with lyrics that don't describe heroic battles but those little private battles that sap our energy within our everyday life. The melodies and arrangements transport a playful easiness along with precious harmonies whose preciousness is evoked by the lyrics. The pop hit aspirant, "Dream On" seems like a cheerful children's song with its clear bells and the fair and sober voice of Regina -- but it is sharply tempered by declarations of war against a complacent life. This is an album for that very special moment when you catch yourself thinking: this is exactly how it's supposed to be, finally.
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