Conceived in 2005 from a string of old 4-track demos and further realized via a labyrinth of digital workstations and computer software, KONTAKTE emerged in early 2006. The concept was to blend organic instrumentation within an electronic and hypnotic framework of programmed beats and pulsing synths. Inspired by the walls of sound of bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mogwai, Kontakte’s other main passions were the ambient sounds of Brian Eno, mid-late 70’s German electronica and the early 90’s shoegaze scene. Taking elements from all of these things, Kontakte endeavoured to create a sound that was uniquely and deservedly their own.
The KONTAKTE live experience consisted of a blistering wall of intense guitar noise bonded by shimmering electronics and ethereal melodies. The emphasis always on constantly pushing their own boundaries and continuously stretching both the scale and the limits of their music. The band has toured both the lengths of the UK and Germany, sharing stages along the way with M83, Fuck Buttons, Vessels, A Place To Bury Strangers, UpCDownC, Port-Royal, Damo Suzuki, The Telescopes, The Lost Rivers, Epic 45, Air Formation, Ceremony (East Coast) & 93millionmilesfromthesun.
Whilst the early years saw the band shape-shifting in terms of its members, 2008 saw the band finding its feet personnel-wise, relentlessly playing live and seeing the release of their debut album, 'Soundtracks To Lost Road Movies' which gained critical praise, catapulting the band into the consciousness of any knowing post-electronic-noise music fan.
With the growing support of Texan record label Drifting Falling, the next two years saw further releases including the much loved opus, 'We Move Through Negative Spaces'. Lavishingly received globally, with none other than Classic Rock magazine hailing them as "the mystery men of UK post electronica". This second record allowed KONTAKTE to reach an all new audience and helped to affirm their place as a 'quadruple-guitar' live force to be reckoned with. Their first traverses to the european mainland in 2010 were well received and filled the band with a confidence to push further, both in the studio and onstage.
Life moved on, and through members relocating and experiencing ill health, KONTAKTE found themselves as a duo, but with no intention of slowing down,. they promptly set about feverishly writing what became album number three, 'These Machines' in 2012. A stripped back, more electronic and sparse sound began to emerge, resulting in a sound that was somehow even more emerging and captivating than previously. Upon its release in 2014, this time by their own imprint, The Collapse Of Everything, the band continued to impress. The two minds of Griffiths and Low became a tight unit, ever pushing, forever creating an intense raw noise that shouted from both the head and heart. In particular this was evident in their live shows, taking them back to Germany and the far reaches of Scotland, right up until their last live outing in 2016; a full decade since first playing live. Unbeknown at the time, this was to be the final time that a close up crowd felt the electric-surge of sound that KONTAKTE were both competent and more than capable of producing.
Whilst taking a self-imposed hiatus, 2020 saw the untimely passing of long standing member and and musical life-blood of the band, Stuart Low. With the wealth of music that Stuart had left behind, it fell into the hands of sole surviving and original member Ian Griffiths to then complete, not just a new album, but to create and release a record that aimed to shine a light on Stuarts's musicianship and guitar playing prowess.
With a finite amount of material available, a catharsis was braved in order to methodically trawl through recordings, both realised and in sketch form, to piece together what has become the bands most challenging album to date, 'Finite Methodologies For Denouement'. Drawing help from across the globe from one-time members Gary McDermott and Ben Worth, KONTAKTE produced a collective and beguiling fourth and final album - one as equally fierce and abrasive in sound as it is inwardly reflective in conception; whilst also delivering a suitable finale and conclusion to the KONTAKTE project.
(Photo © Simon Kallas)
Releases to date include the four studio albums :
'Finite Methodologies For Denouement' (2023), 'These Machines' (2014), ‘We Move Through Negative Spaces’ (2011) & ‘Soundtracks To Lost Road Movies’ (2008).
Various EP releases include:
'Divergent Forms' (2015), 'Fear Of Music' (2014) & 'Superbug' (2010), plus the 'Deconstructed/Reconstructed' and 'Snowflake' Remix EP's (2011/12) both from the 'Negative Spaces' period.
'Divergent Forms' (2015), 'Fear Of Music' (2014) & 'Superbug' (2010), plus the 'Deconstructed/Reconstructed' and 'Snowflake' Remix EP's (2011/12) both from the 'Negative Spaces' period.
Two early 7” vinyl singles 'Motorik' and 'Sterile World' reveal Kontakte's clear inception and the birth of their initial promise to continuously deliver their own brand of ‘hypnotic, textural, cinematic noise’.
Kontakte have been remixed by such luminaries as Tim Holmes (Death In Vegas), Chris Olley (Six. By Seven & Twelve), David Gooday (Nitzer Ebb), Clem Leek, Winterlight, A Dancing Beggar, The Electric Mainline, Russell.M.Harmon and labelmates Oppressed By The Line & Matt Bartram (Air Formation).