Staatseinde – De Nieuwe Golf [Wave Tension Records]

How much time must have passed and how much music must a band have released to be considered a cult band or a classic project? Surely, these factors are often due to the nostalgia of each listener or fan, however, Staatseinde, a band that has been active since 2006, has an essence and a style of its own that defines it as a project with baggage and with a longer trajectory than what they treasure.

Staatseinde’s style, described as Neue-Niederländische-Welle (Dutch New Wave), mixes influences from New Wave, EBM, punk and Neue Deutsche Welle, and it is curious how they define themselves: it is like walking into a club meeting Kraftwerk on speed and The Sex Pistols on acid.

The Dutch duo, currently formed by Der Neo and Andy Dufter, return again with De Nieuwe Golf, a release characterised by dystopian perspectives and hopeful sounds, confirming Staatseinde’s name as the founder of the “Neue Niederländische Welle”.

The uplifting italo rifs in opening track “Grauw” take you on a journey through a gray world in which color cannot be taken for granted. Minimal wave track “Einzelganger” makes you feel like an outsider who can’t keep up with society. “Geef Me De Tijd” sounds like a schizophrenic dreamer swinging casually, but ending as a hard hitting track. Dystopian doom and pessimism is captured in EBM/techno floor filler “Doembeelden”. The raw West Coast Sound of Holland infused “La Haya” is a tribute to the city of The Hague which calls out on everybody to get wasted. The epic ode to space travel “Ruimtevaart Vooruit (2022 Refix)” is back in a rendition inspired by Rude66’s 2010 remix version. “Isla Inutile” is a dark and tropical delirium. In the hopeful “Alles is Weg”, Staatseinde takes you from the downfall on the way to…?

Release date: October 31st, 2023.