Legendary German artist Paul Kalkbrenner returns with his first new album in seven years: THE ESSENCE, out now via Sony Music / B1.
THE ESSENCE is an album that serves as an archive of personal states of being. Created over several years, partly in the studio, partly in a Berlin apartment somewhere between mid-century modern and ’70s luxury, with real tungsten bulbs, vintage televisions, palm trees, and a mix of stone, wood, and fur. THE ESSENCE is Paul Kalkbrenner‘s first album since 2018’s Parts of Life and also the most stripped-down, organic, and personal work of his career.
“Many of the songs were made during a time when I wasn’t planning to release an album at all,” says Kalkbrenner. “I had actually finished with album making, but then I realized how nice it is to have something that connects everything again.”
A connection that doesn’t rely on a concept but on an attitude. Because THE ESSENCE avoids grand gestures and instead is full of musical precision, sounds with patina, and melodies from old drafts that were never released until now.
“Some of the stuff on here, I wouldn’t even come up with today because it’s so unfiltered. But that’s exactly what makes it strong.”
Much of it was created in the apartment, which could almost be called a coauthor of the album. A place that feels more like an analog sound lab than a modern producer studio.
“I didn’t want neon lights, no screens, no tech overload,” says Kalkbrenner. Instead: dimmed light, vintage furniture, cozy fabrics, and tons of music history in the form of instruments, collectibles, and sound sources. “I just sat there for hours, tinkering, without a plan but with a feeling.” The atmosphere of the apartment is audibly woven into the tracks: warm, intricate, and idiosyncratic.
With the single “NINETY – TWO,” Paul Kalkbrenner introduced the album in July, a track like a lost memory: 130 BPM, hypnotic groove, a vocal sample pulled from the collective rave consciousness. Even before its official release, the track had become a fan favorite at festivals and in club sets, just like the second single, “QUE CE SOIT CLAIR.” A collaboration with Stromae, whose roots go back a long way. Back in 2009, Kalkbrenner created a remix for Stromae‘s single “Te Quiero.”
Now they reunite as equals, old friends who never lost touch. “QUE CE SOIT CLAIR” is one of the most direct tracks on the album: hard four-to-the-floor kicks, pulsating synths, paired with Stromae‘s intense spoken vocals. The title translates as “Let that be clear,” and that’s exactly what it’s about. A love that knows no boundaries. No nations, no origins, no categories. What matters is the connection between two people.
Musically, THE ESSENCE is as diverse as it is atmospherically cohesive. “DREAMING ON,” for example, carries an ’80s vibe, driven by a pulsing bassline and a stoic loop that invites you to keep dreaming, no matter what comes.
“DER SCHLÖRHEINZ,” on the other hand, bursts through the speakers with untamed energy, raw, direct, almost defiant.
“CRONITIS BOY” hums with wonderfully warm, rich beats and subtle string sounds that break through like sunrays through a cloudy sky. Each song on THE ESSENCE reveals a different facet without losing the thread: the pursuit of clarity, depth, and a sound that is complete in itself.
The title THE ESSENCE might suggest reduction, but it means something else. “It’s about what’s essential,” says Kalkbrenner. “This is an album I can fully stand behind. I consider it my best. There might be more well-known hits on the other albums, but always two or three filler tracks too. This one has no filler. Not even a filler moment.”
Paul Kalkbrenner has had a career like almost no one else. A techno talent who rose over two decades from the underground to the top of the charts, acted in a cult film, made headlines at festivals, and captivated millions of fans, all without compromising his unique sound.
Born in 1977, raised during the first rave wave of the ’90s, he began producing music early and preferred playing live to DJing. By the time Berlin Calling and the single Sky & Sand came out, he had become an icon. An artist between club, cinema screen, and mainstage, never swayed by trends.
Eight albums, sold out arena tours, headliner slots at Tomorrowland, and an invitation by the German government to perform in front of 400,000 people for the Berlin Wall anniversary and now, with The Essence, an album that reconciles past and present without falling into nostalgia.
Listen to the album below!
