Duo 505 Walzer Oder Nicht

Bernhard Fleischmann and Herbert Weixelbaum hardly discussed any ideas or musical concepts while in the studio. Instead, these tracks simply emerged while they were playing together; the melodies grew out of a wordless conversation, an exchange of sounds and notes. This newfound collaborative spirit lies at the heart of “Walzer Oder Nicht”: the various tracks and layers intertwine and complement each other on a whole new level. That’s how a song like “No Mail” came about, a track whose inner logic and intricate composition manage to captivate the listener entirely. Yet, it’s not just the interlocking density that’s new, as Duo 505 present a whole new set of arrangements: above all, Fleischmann and Weixelbaum added guitars to the mix, which in turn means that the Roland MC-505 is no longer the predominant element of their sound. Case in point: On the opening track “Facing It 2010,” a rerecording of a song they wrote for their debut full-length “Late,” (2004) they hardly use electronic elements at all. This, however, doesn’t affect the fundamental nature of Duo 505’s music: “Walzer Oder Nicht” ultimately shows that their tracks work both as acoustic and electronic versions.