Did you ever wonder what these kids are doing in their free time? You watch them talking to each other in the tube, realize their worn out shoes and shirts with names you never heard of, hair too long and dirty to suit any future mother-in-law.

The one small group, four young lads from Hanover in Germany, call themselves after an elegant little beast of prey former kings made their coats from- Hermelin (ermine). Risen from the ashes of their old name, they are striking for the grail of Avant-garde Rockmusic without vocals but melody and fine dynamics. Hermelin emancipated from Grunge and Alternative Rock just now and still you may recognize some hardrockish elements in their music. No stupid jokes about Hanover, please! The band manages to integrate these influences harmonically and develops its own sound between acts like Juno or the early Shudder To Think.
The three chaps from the other group seem to be a bit older. Junique Fois Pi (don't wonder 'bout the name) settle their rough music right between Noise- and Postrock. The bass guitar is distorted and mixed upfront, the songs are pushing forward, their jazzy melodies are dosed with care. in a straight line from Chicago to New York and Washington, Junique Fois Pi bring forth their Dischord-sound from the city of electronic music, Cologne, and succeed in avoiding any Heavy Metal-shallows. Comparison? Think of Unsane, Lungfish or a gentle version of mighty Shellac.

The kids are into music, you suddenly realize. Not the one you can hear on the radio, music you have to know about, music you have to look up. If 12rec has been a help to find what you were looking for, we're done.