

8MM Did It Again: Synesthesie’s Line-Up Is Psych With Substance
By Tom Taylor . November 8, 2019
In Synesthesie Festival 2019, 8MM Bar has curated another fantastic psych-lineup.
With a reliably eclectic and stellar lineup, Synesthesie Festival is one of our favourite music festivals. Curated by Prenzlauer Berg dive bar 8mm, it features bands from all corners of the psych-kraut-noise world. Syn is where any self-respecting music fan should be this November.
Not only have they bagged a performance by recently reformed Stereolab, but they’ve also locked down appearances by Atlantan rockers Deerhunter, party animals Black Lips and German krautrock heroes Neu!’s leader Michael Rother.
Synesthesie Festival takes place on November 16th & 17th at Kulturbrauerei. Get your tickets here.
With over 20 bands playing, there’s plenty to get stuck into. The festival’s taking place across Prenzlauer Berg’s Kulturbrauerei complex, a place we’ve grown fond of given the abundance of kebabs and spätis just minutes away. Here’s what we’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s festival.
Deerhunter
Deerhunter seem intent on frustrating their audience by swinging between being really great and not really great. New album ‘Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared’ is more hit than miss as far as this writer’s concerned, but recent live shows have demonstrated just how great this band can be. We’re looking forward to seeing what kind of mood they’re in at Syn, and this is one performance you (hopefully) shouldn’t miss.
Laura Carbone
German songwriter Laura Carbone has a magnetic stage presence and the songwriting to back it up. The song above alone demonstrates exactly why she belongs on the bill at Syn, and exactly why we should be listening to her.
Shybits
Berlin-via-London-via-Italy-via-wherever-the-drummer-is-from, Shybits have been turning in better and better performances over the past year or so. This is only serving to highlight just how great this indie rock band is. A band which started off a lil scrappy for my tastes. It’s interesting to see how their sound is developing, and just what experience and time can do to a band. These guys are gonna bring the fun to Syn, mark my words.
Michael Rother of Neu!
Michael Rother has played a huge part in shaping the sounds and mindsets of so many of the bands that play at Syn, past and present. He’s one of the elder statesmen of krautrock and spawned a whole sound with his 1970s band Neu!
After playing a blinding set at Syn a couple of years ago, he’ll probably do the same again this year. Come on all you black-clad psych bands – pay your goddamn respects.