| Origin | Germany |
| Activity | 1988- |
| Status | Active |
| Genres | Synthpop |
De/Vision is a German synthpop musical group formed in 1988. The band started as a quartet consisting of Thomas Adam, Steffen Keth, Stefan Blender, and Markus Ganssert. Stefan left the band in 1991 and Markus departed in 2000. The name De/Vision is a play on words. The majority of the band’s lyrics are in english, but they have had some songs in german.
In 2000, Steffen started a side project as the vocalists with Green Court, called ‘Green Court featuring De/Vision’. The band with remaining members Thomas Adam and Steffen Keth were then signed to Drakkar Records and Sony BMG in Europe, and Dancing Ferret Discs in North America. The band is currently signed to Metropolis Records in North America. Since 1994 the band has released a new studio album of original material roughly every 1.5 years, until their 2012 album Rockets and Swords.
In postmodern times, when listening habits and perception permanently keep being adjusted, it is hard to make reliable prophecies concerning the future of the music industries or their producers. So it seems even more delightful that DE/VISION remain solid as a rock in such turbulent times. For more than twenty years Steffen Keth and Thomas Adam have been releasing extraordinary albums with high hit potential, always turning their attention beyond the usual, exploring musical boundaries and sometimes even causing some irritation amongst their loyal fan base. Ironically it was during their time with the major label WEA Records that DE/VISION experimented the most and the boldest, not only thinking cross-over but also practising it in a refreshingly creative way. This excessive trying out of new styles allowed DE/VISION to define the quintessence of their qualities and musical orientation. The end of this period was marked by their change-over to the indie label Drakkar in 2001 as well as by the reduction of the band to only two remaining members, Steffen and Thomas, who heralded the new beginning with the apt album title “Two”. With the following albums “Devolution” (2003, “6 Feet Underground” (2004) and “Subkutan” (2006) the duo consolidated and specified their electro sound, revisited their faceted past with the colourful “Best of” compilation, and along the way stumbled across a new band constellation: The established producing team Arne Schumann and Josef Bach joined the band for song writing, their first collaboration as a quartet being the exclusive track “Love Will Find A Way” from the “Best of” album. With fresh wind in their sails they started working on their new album “NOOB” which was to be released in the late summer of 2007. The same exciting cross between soft but striking pop melodies and fascinating retro elements recurs on “POPGEFAHR”, a title that also decorates the newly found DE/VISION owned label and once again demonstrates the band’s creativity in finding neologisms, always with a twinkle in the eye.
“On the one hand the term POPGEFAHR clearly stands for the kind of music that we write best – electro pop. The title gives people a first idea where the musical journey is headed”, explains Steffen, proud father of a strapping boy since New Year’s Day. “The album title is further meant to draw the attention to the new self-contained label. For others this might not be of such relevance, but for us it represents a big step towards even more independence. For me the term even carries a further significance. I cannot refrain from a slight irony with all the experience I have gained over the years, that in certain circles and scenes POP is considered a GEFAHR, German for danger. Pop is sort of a commercial sell-out; if I listen to pop music I cannot be cool etc. For this reason certain people do not really listen when, for instance, we release a new album. Our music is judged even though not one single note has been heard yet.”
On the new album danger impends only in form of DE/VISION typical sing along anthems. Since their early beginnings DE/VISION have been a band that has confidently stood out against the crowd with their extraordinary song writing qualities. “POPGEFAHR” makes no exception. In an almost feisty and flirtatious manner the album presents ten ambitious electro tracks, all of them rough around the edges but going straight to one’s head, at the latest when reaching the irresistible choruses.
The anthem-like opera “mANDROIDS” not only in its title merges human qualities with artificial intelligence, but turns out to be a musically coherent symbiosis of mechanical rhythms, electrified sounds and deeply human, heart-warming harmonies. The single “RAGE” on the other hand presents itself invitingly mellow; only to furiously protest with screeching-rasping sounds and distorted voice in its chorus. This interplay of emotions and sounds runs like a thread through this atmospheric album. Songs like “PLASTIC HEART”, the other single track “TIME TO BE ALIVE”, “TWISTED STORY”, “READY TO DIE” or “FLASH OF LIFE” seduce the listener with their compulsive catchy melodies, danceable rhythms and recurring nostalgic sound gimmicks. In contrast to that the tracks “WHAT’S LOVE ALL ABOUT”, “BE A LIGHT TO YOURSELF” and “UNTIL THE END OF TIME” come along as extremely lyrical pop pearls that bring out the high standards set by DE/VISION for this album. The intention was to pour in their positive experience of last year’s tour as duo with a pure electro set into the production process of “POPGEFAHR”.
“We just had a great time and decided quite early on to do the upcoming tour again as a duo.” Steffen recalls. “It would have been absolutely stupid not to make use of this concept. “POPGEFAHR” is an electronic album, which we are very happy to present live just as it is. Soundwise we put an emphasis on perfecting our sound universe and on bringing back the old virtue of composing strong, memorable melodies. In a way with “POPGEFAHR” we went back to following our instincts.”
Members
Steffen Keth (singer, composer)
Thomas Adam (Synthesizer, songwriting, backing vocals)
Markus Ganssert (Synthesizer, songwriting, composer) (1988 – 2000)
Stefan Blender (Synthesizer, composer) (1988 – 1991)
Related bands / Parallel projects
De/Vision Redux, Bittersweet Dance Club, Fatal Attraction, STKKP
Discography
World Without End (1994)
Unversed In Love (1995)
Fairyland? (1996)
Monosex (1998)
Void (2000)
Two (2001)
Devolution (2003)
6 Feet Underground (2004)
Subkutan (2006)
NOOB (2007)
Popgefahr (2010)
Rockets and Swords (2012)
13 (2016)
City Beats (2018)