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Anstatt Blumen – Instead of Flowers

In German-language pop, casual posing and the grand gesture all too often push their way to the forefront. The Mannheim duo Anstatt Blumen take a far more low-key approach without losing any of the impact. Unpretentious, slimline and simple, unambiguous yet poignant, and with almost isotonic lyrics that are pumped straight from the loudspeakers into your soul.

A new sense of togetherness is the common thread that runs through their music. Being euphoric together, making strong impressions and letting yourself go with the flow of your thoughts. Lilli Born, like no other, understand how to sing about deep-seated issues with a light touch; Martin Rott brilliantly channels this energy into complex compositions that sound simple nonetheless – along the lines of ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’.

They want to show their audiences that ‘just you by yourself’ is not enough for a genuinely truthful existence. This is exceptionally beautiful music that gets under your skin and is sensational live.