Premiere: Conny Ochs ‘Wahn Und Sinn’ – New Album Drops Friday via Exile On Mainstream

We at The Shaman have been long-time fans of the man, the myth and the legend that is Conny Ochs when he first hit these bleak isles in 2012. At that time, he was not only driver and tour manager, he was also playing as support, along with Darsombra, to Scott ‘Wino’ Weinrich when he donned his acoustic guitar and released his solo album Adrift.

Since that first meeting, a friendship was born, and we’ve been watching his career progress ever since. Firstly as a solo artist, then collaborating with Wino on Heavy Kingdom, playing an integral role with experimental psychonauts Trialogos and now in 2023, he’s delved into his archives to bring us the truly stunning Wahn Und Sinn which releases this Friday, 20th October, through his spiritual home Exile On Mainstream.

About the new concept, Conny says, ‘This album has made a particular journey. As I was diving into lost texts in 2021 to compose a selection of poems in my mother’s tongue, I came to feel the urge to connect these texts with the music I was writing at that time. There seemed to be a lost chapter of songs and perceptions I could only illustrate in German language.’

He continues, ‘In addition to that, I already found myself on a journey to invent a new way for me to write and compose. I had previously worked with Tobias Vethake [Sicker Man] on the Trialogos album, and the pieces seemed to fit. Then I just threw it all into the stew.’

Then concludes by stating, ‘I am so very curious as to how people will perceive this journey, both the book and the album. I hope it can shed a different light on the themes that seem to reappear in my writing’ and about the album, Reza Mills in his review simply remarks, ‘This is a stunning piece of work and for once I’m genuinely lost for words’.

Now today, The Shaman is elated to bring you Wahn Und Sinn in its entirety, so click play below to be swept away with the madness and sense…

More On Conny Ochs & ‘Wahn Und Sinn’

Four-and-a-half years have passed since Conny Ochs’ most recent album, Doom Folk. During the Coronavirus lockdowns, the artist had the time to go through a collection of notebooks that he had amassed during his time in Hamburg, Berlin, and while traveling as a singer in various bands. This was collected under the title Wahn Und Sinn, initially to be published independently. However, from the collaboration with Tobias Vethake aka Sicker Man as Trialogos also arose, the desire and the idea to work together another time.

Conny Ochs developed rough melodies for the lyrics. The aim was to avoid the singer/songwriter approach that had previously characterized his music. The initial experiment turned into an album whose cover, for the first time, does not feature artwork by the artist himself but a picture by Scottish artist Abi Salvesen. Here, too, a departure from his usual way of working is manifested.

Wahn Und Sinn will be released on LP with a CD included. The book will also be available as a limited edition with a bundled CD at concerts. In the Exile On Mainstream webshop, the record and book will be available individually or as a bundle. Finally, the content of the record complements the content of the book, inspired by the confrontation with the poems from the years 2000-2010.

The book and the insert included with the album contain all texts in German and English. Also on the album is Conny’s longtime friend and companion Hannes Scheffler, who also handled the final production, mixing, and mastering of the record, as well as Anna Ochs as the singer on the track Lumos.

As an experimental excursion and reflection, Wahn Und Sinn thus forms the transition to a new chapter in CONNY OCHS’s creative work, which is to be followed by a new official album as early as Spring 2024.

Following two glorious record release shows for Wahn Und Sinn in Dresden and Halle, Conny Ochs is booking additional live excursions in support of the album. Expect further live announcements shortly and watch for new details on his next upcoming album early in the new year.

Wahn Und Sinn Track Listing:
01. Turin
02. Risse
03. Ding
04. Hickhack
05. Taub Und Laut
06. Welle
07. Grimassen
08. Melancholia
09. Lumos

Featuring on Wahn Und Sinn is:
Conny Ochs – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Piano
Sicker Man – Cello, Mellotron, Moog, Synthesizer
Hannes Scheffler – Guitar, Bass
Anna Ochs – Vocals on Lumo

Credits:
Written by Conny Ochs
Produced by Hannes Scheffler & Sicker Man
Additional arrangements by Sicker Man
Artwork by Abi Salvesen

Wahn Und Sinn, the latest album with an accompanying book by singer-songwriter Conny Ochs, releases this Friday, 20th October, through Exile On Mainstream. Pre-orders for various vinyl and book bundles are available now over on the labels webstore.

Label: Exile On Mainstream Records
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