Stones & Stars by Bobby Rausch

Nine years in the making, the uncompromising sound signature of Berlin-based outfit Bobby Rausch has lost none of its allure. If anything, the group continues to add to its repertoire, steadily gaining momentum and establishing itself as a veritable musical force to be reckoned with on a global scale. Rooted in the city’s infamous electronic music scene with an audible penchant for jazz – in all its current manifestations – hip hop, beat culture and beyond, the three-piece is an absolute juggernaut on the live circuit, versatile enough to adapt to the occasion. Able to command festival main stages and more intimate club environments with the same aplomb, Bobby Rausch have proven to be an instant crowd favourite no matter the setting.

Spontaneous in nature, inspired by both the digital and the analog realms of production, marked by improvisation and experimentation, harmony and distortion, their music is always in motion, never static, always becoming and, as such, an undeniable product of their immediate surroundings. Not unlike the city of Berlin, their sound is an amalgam of styles, mirroring a multitude of topographies from urban squalor to splendour, dense in composition yet always leaving room to breathe. Escapism is most certainly an option, but the underlying notion is that beautiful things do happen, when you face the music. It’s a simple metaphor to describe this band’s tireless in-your-face approach to creating something that audiences will be unable to ignore.

Founded in 2015, Bobby Rausch is the high-octane, wind-powered vessel of Lutz Streun on bass clarinet, Oleg Hollmann on baritone sax and Nico Stallmann on drums, incorporating an arsenal of live electronics and FX to danceable effect. The three classically-trained jazz musicians initially crossed paths during their studies in Arnhem, Netherlands, and eventually decided to team up, thus amplifying their individual abilities and funnelling their unique vision into one omnipotent on-stage persona. Sending unrelenting sound waves through unsuspecting crowds on the regular, Bobby Rausch have long since proven their worth, releasing their debut LP “SOAP” to popular acclaim in 2020 and backing that up in 2021 with their equally stunning EP “Hidden”.

2025 sees the group unveil its sophomore full-length “Stones & Stars” on Ninety Days Records. Heralded by the powerful album precursors “The Fact of Rain” and “Atlantic”, Bobby Rausch deliver yet another master class in poise and stamina: The ten-track instrumental epos opens with the hard-hitting drums, blaring horns and indiscernible interjections of “Calling”, a six-minute belter that audibly sets the tone for the ensuing onslaught. Title track “Stones & Stars” takes it from there, pairing a vicious bass line with a propulsive drum beat that cuts right to the chase. The more viscous “12 NT on TV” dials it down a notch, giving listeners a chance to regain their footing over melodic flourishes, before “Zuppa Inglese” unleashes its undeniably funky groove in a return to higher grounds. Next up, “Twenty Years of War” thumps back into action, shifting between routine drudgery and flitting promise, only to be relieved by the effervescent, club-ready “Chemistry of a Radical Encounter”. Enter the aforementioned “Atlantic”, with its vigorous, unwavering ebb and flow and borderline anthemic hue, as “Tiger Moon” proceeds to deliver even more bounce to the ounce, paving the way to the welcome pitter-patter of “The Fact of Rain”, swaying like a pendulum though not letting up. It seems only fitting that a laidback, emotive cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” should bring the rousing affair to a resonant close.

Reflecting avant-garde tendencies, Berlin powerhouse Bobby Rausch is consistently maximising its potential, orchestrating breathtaking displays of chemistry, inexhaustible creativity and daring musicality held together by the spirit of jazz. Their live performances are a sight to behold, while the energy and endurance they bring to the stage are boundless. Produced alongside Tilman Hopf (The String Theory, José González, Bukahara) on mixing duties, the trio once again manages to catch lightning in a bottle, bringing those same club-fueled dynamics to the studio, giving listeners the chance to hit repeat and hone in on the details. “Stones & Stars” successfully juxtaposes the rough and tumble of everyday life in the city with the capriciousness of nature and the wonders of stargazing on a wild ride worth taking. Rest assured, these engines are only just revving up.

If BOBBY RAUSCH has perfected anything, it's breaking away from convention. This is evident right off the bat with their unusual line-up: bass clarinet (Lutz Streun) meets baritone saxophone (Oleg Hollmann) meets drums (Nico Stallmann) - performing as a trio, these musicians conjure up sound effects that are as unpredictable as the band itself.