BERND BEGEMANN & DIE BEFREIUNG

Two names anchor this German act: Bernd Begemann and Ben Schadow, who work together under the banner Bernd Begemann & Die Befreiung. Formed in 2004, the project has built a catalogue that is easy to follow by its titles alone, each one marking a distinct stage in a partnership that has now lasted two decades. For listeners arriving late, the release list is the most direct way in.

The story starts with Unsere Liebe ist ein Aufstand, the first of the five albums, released in 2004. Five years later came Ich erkläre diese Krise für beendet, in 2009, followed by Wilde Brombeeren in 2011 and Eine kurze Liste mit Forderungen in 2015. The most recent release, Milieu, appeared in 2024, nine years after its predecessor and two decades after the project was formed. Taken together, the albums chart a long, steady run, with the titles themselves offering a dated sequence for anyone wanting to trace how the partnership has developed.