"1" by Aromabar

"We are in search of the most beautiful melody in the world." That is how Aromabar describes its musical motivation. Their sound suggests a new concept: pop couture--a word that Aromabar creatively fills with melody and substance.

Aromabar are Roland Hackl and Andreas Kinzl (DJ Scott) from Vienna. They are joined by their friend Ningee on vocals. On the one hand they prefer deep, stimulating down-tempo tunes. On the other hand, this trio is linked by a continuing love for pop music of the 1980s, a trait that is most clearly evident in the vocal arrangement on "Sand & Stones & Bricks & Rocks."

Their debut album "1" is by no means yet another trip hop album in the style of Kruder and Dorfmeister. Nevertheless, there are definite parallels to the "relaxed Vienna sound" in the instrumentals, "Where's your Moon," and "Horses," as well as in the dubby "Catch her Flame." Their preference for these mellow sounds stems rather (more) from a Viennese quality of life that anyone who has ever visited the city can quickly understand. In Vienna one maintains a stylish image but in a cool and relaxed manner that is nevertheless unconventional. The obviously unhurried pace of everyday life should not be equated with unproductivity, rather it reflects the knowledge that things need time in order to mature.

People know each other and exchange ideas with one another in Vienna, and in the end, this interaction results in work that reflects a complete picture of this social and cultural scene.

The musical capabilities of Aromabar stem from Roland Hackl's classical training in piano and flute as well as the DJ experience of Adreas Kinzl a.k.a. DJ Scott. In addition Ningee, a.k.a. Karin Steiger, is a trained sound technician who also plays bassoon, flute, and double bass. For their live performances Aromabar add a drummer and bassist.

The first ever release from Aromabar was their brilliant "Telephone" track that appeared on the May 1998 INFRACom! Compilation "Fast Forward." This track had the distinction of making it onto the playlists of Coldcut and the Rockers Hi-Fi.

In June 1998 the band released only 300 copies of its 7" single "Yuri in Space," but it made the rounds of insider circles and reached the #29 position in the German Club Charts.