Label contact & bookin… Read Full Bio ↴Oliver Huntemann (http://www.huntemann.co.uk)
Label contact & booking: Ideal / Plantage13 / Jan Langer (jan@ideal-audio.net)
Myths abound in the north when it comes to techno ground zero, and they refuse to go away. Oliver Huntemann is one of a handful of children of the north who, for what seems like an eternity, add an element of credence to the mythology. He does not, of course, live in a snowy forest or at the edge of the polar oceans. The sun does, on occasion, shine down on Hamburg. Nevertheless, there is a tendency towards hypothermic reduction in the rigourous efficiency of the Huntemann oeuvre. Images of cold storage warehouses, desolate heavy plant sites and blueish flesh are not entirely misplaced. Shards of German Engineering glimmer in his music, laced with persuasive logic, gruesome Darwinism. What remains: what works. In “Brighter than the sun“, the English music theorist Kodwo Eshun depicts the birthplace of Kraftwerk, Dusseldorf, as the “Mississippi Delta of Techno“. Huntemann’s tracks may well have dragged themselves out of the same primeval soup, but it was the far north which fired them with the necessary steel for clubland. The resultig creations are linear, free of fancy, charmingly direct. One particular London arbiter of taste sought to label the nature of his skeletal sound as “bare and striped back to the metallic core“ – whereby Huntemann’s reduction does not end in thin minimalism, it draws attention to the core itself. Less is more to the max. The only luxury is a little dirt.
Whilst hordes of German producers and DJs set their satnavs for Berlin, Oliver Huntemann chose to head back home. His epicentre is, and will remain, the north. Hamburg, to be exact. This is where he produces his music and it is from here that he sets out into the world, thrilling the populus with his DJ sets. His mix CD “PLAY! 01“ (live in Sao Paolo, Brazil is ample proof of clubber euphoria, followed closely by “PLAY! 02“, recorded in February 2008 in the legendary REX Club, Paris. Moreover, the live mix is indicative of the fact that the tonality or all round aesthetic of his set ultimately earns the response it deserves. His music enters a deeper level, detached from time and space, beyond all points of reference or rational categorization. It’s as if the crowd becomes a part of the sound itself, engaged at times in a call and response game. What more could a DJ desire?
Oliver Huntemann’s concrete roots can be traced back to early techno. Had he been any younger, he would undoubtedly have sucked electronica like mother’s milk from a C64 chip. Like so many of his colleagues, his route to techno took a tour through electro and rave. He could tell the usual veteran tales when it comes to influences, his first record purchases, or on the subject of the good old days. Been there, done that! It was more difficult maintaining a low profile. Since 2009 Huntemann has been running the Ideal Audio label. A new chapter after more than fifteen years Confused Recordings plus a host of sub and sister labels. As well as numerous 12 inches and almost as many remixes (for Underworld, Chemical Brothers and Depeche Mode, to name just a few), he released his third album, “H-3“ in 2009 to critical acclaim on Ideal Audio. With so much fame on his plate, he done remarkably well to stay out of the spotlight. That’s how it is in the north, actions count, not appearances.
Hannover, Germany, 1992
Like A Pen
Oliver Huntemann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on I need to show it
Something too small for a lense
If I rub it if I wipe it
Guiding with one single hand
Nothing's wrong you like the feeling
I am all over the land
Back on the mountain again
I was standing watching seasons
You're now my only friend
I'm too heavy, I'm the burden
Sitting and picking on myself
It's a shiny, shiny morning
And when the light finds my eye
I'll be fleeting like a scent
I hold my breath and then count to three
On and on outworn
Must be five hundred degrees
Will it show, in my show
The lyrics to Oliver Huntemann's song "Like A Pen" convey a sense of vulnerability and the desire to be seen and acknowledged. The opening line "Sharpen my body like a pen" suggests a willingness to expose oneself, to become sharper and more defined, in order to make a statement or express oneself authentically. The lyrics continue with a sense of urgency, asserting the need to show something that is too small to be captured by a lens.
The song seems to explore the theme of self-examination and self-critique. The lines "Sitting and picking on myself" and "I'm too heavy, I'm the burden" indicate a struggle with self-doubt, as if the singer is constantly scrutinizing their own flaws and feeling burdened by their own existence. However, there is also a longing for connection and validation, as expressed in the line "You're now my only friend." The mention of the seasons and the mountain suggests a longing for stability and consistency in a changing world.
The lyrics also touch upon the fleeting nature of existence. The line "I'll be fleeting like a scent" implies that the singer's presence or impact may be temporary, emphasizing the transient nature of life. The act of holding one's breath and counting to three may symbolize a moment of pause, a chance to gather oneself before facing the world. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a mix of vulnerability, self-reflection, and the desire to be seen and appreciated.
Line by Line Meaning
Sharpen my body like a pen
Prepare myself mentally and physically, honing my skills and abilities
Come on I need to show it
I have a strong desire to demonstrate what I am capable of
Something too small for a lense
An aspect or detail that may easily go unnoticed
If I rub it if I wipe it
Taking care and attention to perfect and refine that small aspect
Guiding with one single hand
Exerting control and direction with confidence and ease
Nothing's wrong you like the feeling
There are no issues or problems, and you find satisfaction in this state
I am all over the land
My influence and presence can be felt everywhere
Come on I need to show it
I have an intense urge to display my abilities to others
Back on the mountain again
Returning to a place of introspection and reflection
I was standing watching seasons
Observing the passing of time and its cyclical nature
You're now my only friend
You are the person I trust and rely on the most
I'm too heavy, I'm the burden
I feel weighed down by my own existence, perceiving myself as a burden
Sitting and picking on myself
Engaging in self-criticism and self-doubt
It's a shiny, shiny morning
The start of a bright and promising day
And when the light finds my eye
When I am illuminated and recognized for my talents
I'll be fleeting like a scent
My presence will be transient, fleeting like a fragrance
I hold my breath and then count to three
Taking a moment to compose myself, preparing for action
On and on outworn
Continuously enduring and persevering
Must be five hundred degrees
Intense heat, indicating the pressure and intensity of the situation
Will it show, in my show
Will my true self be revealed and evident in my performance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARIN ELIZABETH DREIJER ANDERSSON, OLOF BJORN DREIJER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Biófilo Panclasta
AMO!
Colette Barlow
Love this understated, minimal but full on re-mix. X
T Scott George
Hmm, The Knife, teasing us, for new music coming ?? :D Would be so VERY welcome! Also, new Fever Ray, please!
Konstantin Gureev
Schumacher top !!!