Berghain resident Ben Klock has just finished his latest album, which is due out in February '09.
The Berghain resident DJ, who has previously released a double-pack on Ostgut Ton with fellow resident Marcel Dettmann, is famed for his powerful and charging sets of techno in the popular Berlin nightspot. His new record, entitled One as it's his first proper full-length, promises to be more versatile than his stripped back club 12-inches, and work just as easily at home or in the car as it would do in the club. It has just been through the mastering process, so no tracklisting or specific details have been unveiled yet. However, our curiosity urged us to get in touch with Ben and ask a few questions about the forthcoming LP, due out on Ostgut Ton in February of next year.
Your forthcoming album is called One. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
It's the result of my studio work in 2008. I started with the first ideas in January and collected a huge amount of rough layouts over the year. My priority was to use only those tracks for the album which I thought I would still be happy with looking back in five or ten years from now. In the end there are thirteen tracks on the CD album and nine tracks on the vinyl version. I put my focus more on the CD version this time which gave me a wider framework.
Has there been anything in particular that has inspired you during the making of the record?
I can't really say that. For sure I'm inspired by a lot of things, people i meet, travelling and so on. But I would say main influences come from the Hardwax surround and always the Berghain club as a center and main inspiration. I actually don't want to mention it, but to give you the whole picture I have to say that my mother died few days before I started working on the album so it was a special situation for me and working on the album was also a way to handle with it.
This is your first solo full-length. Did you find it easier, or more enjoyable to produce on your own rather than with Marcel?
Lots of people considered the Scenario EP that I did together with Marcel as an album. But we didn't mean to make an album. Actually it's just a double 12-inch. So yes, One is my first full-length. I can't really say it's easier or more enjoyable to work on my own, because when two people who are friends and who have very similar taste in music do something together the enthusiasm is doubled. You have a permanent dialogue and you can make decisions very fast. For every sound or beat you try out you get a prompt feedback from your partner. When you work alone you only have a dialogue within yourself. So sometimes you need more time to re-listen or rethink about things. So the process is more like going into conclave with yourself, especially when you work on a full length album. But this also makes it something very personal and precious.
Do you see it as a collection of club tracks, or as something more?
It's definitely more than a collection of club tracks. All tracks evolved in view of the album. I wouldn't say it's a conceptional album but to have the idea "album" in the back of my mind was already enough of a concept for me. My aim was that it works as a whole, that you can listen to it at home or in your car. It's a greater challenge to make an album than to release a 12" but it also gives you more freedom. You don't always have to think of the club situation and you can do things that wouldn't work as a 12". Well I'm not saying anything new here. But an album is really a more intimate and intensive process. Of course there are club tracks on the album but I think a certain vibe comes through all of the tracks like a leitmotiv.
Ostgut Ton will release One on 23rd February 2009.