Kreidler Enchants KAP1 – Düsseldorf
When the doors of FFT in KAP1 opened, it marked not just the beginning of a concert but the start of a new chapter in the rich history of electronic music from the Rhine metropolis. Kreidler, with three decades of tradition rooted in the legacy of Kraftwerk, NEU!, and La Düsseldorf, proved convincingly that the ‘Düsseldorf sound’ is more than just a historical phenomenon.
A Deep Connection with the Urban Cultural Scene
The sold-out venue – filled with art academy professors and regulars of Salon des Amateurs – highlighted the band’s strong ties to Düsseldorf’s cultural fabric. Conversations flowed among the audience about early performances at the Ratinger Hof, legendary jam sessions with the unforgettable Klaus Dinger, and nights dancing until dawn in the Elephant Club during the 1990s. This eclectic crowd, often seen between K20 and Salon des Amateurs, transformed the room into a pulsating organism. Amidst the ubiquitous smartphone cameras, a unique atmosphere quickly emerged, blending the Rhineland’s electronic heritage with contemporary club culture.
Technical Mastery Meets Analog Charm
The evening’s technical side showcased a fascinating hybrid of vintage equipment and modern technology. Thomas Klein attacked his 30-year-old drum kit with such intensity that not only the audience but also the drum kit itself seemed to be moved – it subtly slid across the stage as if carried along by the groove.
Alex Paulick redefined the classic bass sound with a distinctly modern approach. Instead of a traditional amplifier, he used a digital sound module controlled via his MacBook to emulate various amp setups. The signal, clean and precise, flowed directly into the PA system, demonstrating how tradition and innovation can seamlessly merge.
Andreas Reihse, the band’s electronic mastermind, effortlessly juggled his MacBook, which provided textures and samples, alongside a classic master keyboard. While the lush soundscapes of the new album ‘Twists’ couldn’t be fully replicated live, the performance developed its raw dynamism. The organic grooves reached deep into the bones, while the electronic textures stimulated the mind – Kreidler at their purest.
The Performance
The set unfolded organically, delivering Kreidler’s signature groove – a unique mix of precision and spontaneity that immediately captivated the audience. With ‘Radio Island’ from the 2017 album ‘European Song’, the band demonstrated their timeless quality. ‘Jaguar’ from the album ‘Tank’, with its hypnotic intro and Klein’s intricate rhythms, even had the notoriously critical regulars of the Kunsthalle nodding along. ‘Mount Mason’ – cheekily named after the Manchester United player – stood out as a highlight from the new album. Even the classic ‘Au Pair’ from 1998, with its distinctively offbeat rhythm, had the crowd dancing as if no time had passed.
The absolute highlight of the evening was ‘Hopscotch’ from the new album. Its driving rhythms and hypnotic melodies had the audience fully engaged. The raw energy of the live version surpassed the studio recording, with Klein’s precise drumming and Paulick’s pulsating bass creating an irresistible force.
Triumphant
The Düsseldorf audience, known for their reserved demeanour – unlike their Cologne counterparts – showed an unusually enthusiastic side. Following the regular set, thunderous applause and rhythmic clapping demanded more encores. The usually composed electronic veterans appeared visibly moved by the overwhelming hometown response. The trio returned to the stage not once, but three times – an uncharacteristic display of extroversion for Kreidler. Thomas Klein, Alex Paulick, and Andreas Reihse exchanged shy glances between encores, as if struggling to process the continued ovation, and rewarded their loyal fans with more gems from their extensive catalogue.
A particularly touching moment came when Düsseldorf native Andreas Reihse shared a brief anecdote about Kreidler’s first rehearsals in a damp basement on Ackerstraße. This grounded connection to the Rhine metropolis, paired with their international outlook – from collaborations with Chicks on Speed to remixes for Depeche Mode – cements Kreidler as the perfect ambassador of the Rhineland’s electronic tradition.
As the lights of Königsallee flickered and the last metro trains rushed through the city, Kreidler’s hypnotic groove lingered in the minds of the concertgoers. This was more than a concert – it was the triumphant return of a band carrying Düsseldorf’s electronic sound into the future. Kreidler is back, and how. A resounding testament that the Rhine metropolis’s electronic music scene is as alive and relevant as ever.
