Svantofloti by Now Denial

Back in the 1990s. Digitial Recording wasn’t as common as today. Recording in studios wasn’t affordable. Recording on computers at home caused permanent crashes of the system. Using digital effects could last hours (days) to load.
Only option for Home-Recording were gadgets like Tape-Recorders such as the TASCAM 424 Portastudio. It was a hassle on those devices to record a full instrumental band with acoustic drums, harmonic vocals and different guitar sounds. But we were young and we didn’t have money but patience and time.
Recording on only 4 tracks meant permanent re-recording and merging tracks on other tracks to create space for new instruments and vocals. Although the TASCAM had a fast forward function, it meant a whole lotta waiting to rearrange the tracks. We drank a lot of coffee those days and had many cigarette breaks waiting for Florian to get the tracks ready. Still, this self-recorded NOW DENIAL album „svantofloti“ isn’t a relaxing piece of work. It inherits all the aggression, self-thoughtfulness and search for sense in life that characterizes our younger selves: full of future, full of plenty open doors and courageously careless about musical traditions.
Mastermind Florian Menken literally got sick during the recording, spending a week in hospital after having worked on „Yawningman“ for 3 days straight. Florian embodies the heart and soul of this recording. He wrote almost all the songs and patiently mixed night and day, wanting this recording to become a perfect kick-off into touring live. We owe him thanks to this day for his commitment.
Sound-wise it is astonishingly well mixed. Never heard anything like it since then. It captures raw spirit of 4-track-tape and bad microphones. And it captures young adults‘ sadness and heart-brokeness about past loves, present fun and excitement about the future:
„Turn back the page – another time, and again and again – you’ll be mine“
„I got a spaceship van – full of fuel, will it last to take me to the time I wanna go?“

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