In the organizer's words:

Release concert SALVAGE ART "konform" + special guest MENELAOS TOMASIDES

January 16, 2026

674FM concert hall

Admission: 19:00 / Start: 20:00

Admission: 12 euros (VVK) / 15 euros (B.O.)

SALVAGE ART
How much past is in the future? The Cologne duo SALVAGE ART combines genres such as new wave, synthpop and krautrock with "groovy ease", as the "OX Fanzine" wrote about their 2021 debut "non". The synthesis of pioneering styles remains the method of choice for Thomas Mersch and Roger van Lunteren. Sheffield and Manchester, Düsseldorf and Hamburg are the coordinates between which the tracks on their new album "konform" move. It was once again produced by Jan Philipp Janzen (Von Spar/Dumbo Tracks). Human League, Neu!, Palais Schaumburg provide impulses for "konform". SALVAGE ART touches on acid and psychedelic - always in search of a new balance. With the track "Wer macht die Arbeit", released on "non", SALVAGE ART is represented on the sampler "Future Sounds of Kraut Vol. III" (Compost Records), released at the end of 2024. "A wonderful 80s synthesizer attitude", judged ByteFM. Roger van Lunteren (synthesizer, programming) has released numerous tracks and albums on various electro labels such as Heimelektro Ulm and FireScope since the 1990s. Thomas Mersch (vocals, bass, guitar) is part of the Krautwave trio Kratzen.

MENELAOS TOMASIDES
The title of the current album "dreamhike" already hints at it: Menelaos Tomasides moves in a dream world, between the real and the imaginary. From the idyllic border triangle of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, he travels to the capital of Cyprus, where Menelaos lived for many years. The pieces are about real places and real experiences and feelings that are interwoven with dreamlike fibers. This something that manifests itself in all of Menelaos' works is his particular treatment of dynamics and perceived volume. Menelaos transforms well-known expressions of electronic music, especially techno, house, dub and the electronica of the early noughties, into slow movements of something new. There are straight beats, there is wobble bass and dub chords, even subtly sublimated rave fanfares. It is probably Menelaos' very own combination of an instinctive and intuitive production style and a love of refined sound that leads to this extraordinarily balanced, self-contained result. Menelaos proves to be one of the independent voices of electronic Cologne.