Now available via Columbia/B1 Recordings.
Photo credit: Svenja Ava
Berlin’s Paul Kalkbrenner has released ‘Ninety – Two’, the first single from his forthcoming album ‘The Essence’, due to be out in September 2025. The track is now available on Columbia/B1 Recordings.
Described as a reflection on a pivotal era in electronic music, ‘Ninety – Two’ imagines how the sound of 1992 might have evolved uninterrupted into the present. Built on a 130 BPM groove and anchored by a vocal sample familiar from early UK rave compilations, the single offers a stripped-down yet deeply resonant listening experience.
“This track sounds as if that sound had simply continued evolving to the present day without interruption,” Kalkbrenner explains. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, he uses the past to explore a fresh trajectory—one already finding favor in his recent live sets.
‘The Essence’ is his first album since 2018’s ‘Parts of Life’. Recorded over several years in a creatively styled apartment mixing mid-century design with ‘70s luxury elements, the album consists of tracks that emerged organically—initially without plans for a full record. “I had basically moved on from making albums,” he says, “but then I realized how nice it is to have something with a larger sense of cohesion again.”
Listen to ‘Ninety – Two’ below and get your copy here.
Pre-order ‘The Essence’ here.
