Katzenjammer Kabarett is a French four-piece dark cabaret band from Paris, France. Aesthetically inspired by German Weimar-era cabarets and burlesque shows, the band's name is of German origin and literally translates to "cat's wail cabaret"; Katzenjammer also generally means "discordant sound" and is used as a synonym for a hangover. The band's other stylistic influences include Dadaism, Futurism, Symbolism and Postmodernism.[1]

Katzenjammer Kabarett
Live in Paris (2008)
Live in Paris (2008)
Background information
OriginParis, France
GenresDark cabaret, deathrock, electropunk
Years active2004–present
LabelsSubterfuge, Projekt
MembersHerr Katz
Mary Komplikated
Klischee
Mr. Guillotine
Websitewww.katzenjammer-kabarett.com

History

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The band was founded in 2004 by vocalist Mary Komplikated, guitarist Herr Katz, keyboardist Klischee and bass player Mr. Guillotine. In 2005 they released a self-titled EP which was freely distributed on their website. It was followed by their likewise self-titled debut album in 2006.[2]

The band received critical acclaim and performed at several festivals, including the Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2006 in Leipzig, the Amphi Festival 2007 in Cologne and the Summer Darkness festival 2009 in Utrecht. They also performed as a supporting act for the American dark cabaret band The Dresden Dolls, to whom they are often compared. In January 2009, they released their second studio album, Grand Guignol & Variétés, on America's Projekt Records.

The band split up in 2009. In 2011, Klischee and Mr Guillotine formed a new band called Katzkab.

Style

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The band's musical style is a mixture of different genres including post-punk, death rock, electropunk, gothic rock, new wave music, electronic music, classical music and German "Lieder" (Romantic-era art songs). Referring to themselves as "death rock cabaret", "multireferential post-punk" and "baroque krautpop", the band also cites early New and dark wave bands like Bauhaus, Christian Death and Siouxsie and the Banshees as influences.[1][3][4]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Compilations

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  • "Gemini Girly Song" on New Dark Age Vol. 2 (2004)
  • "Eve at the Mansion" on Pagan Love Songs (2004)
  • "Lie Sucks Not" on Gothic compilation No. 29 (2005)
  • "Gemini Girly Song" on A Dark Cabaret (2005)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Projekt: darkwave - Katzenjammer Kabarett: (debut)". Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Band-Discography". Katzenjammer-kabarett.com. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Official Biography". Katzenjammer-kabarett.com. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Katzenjammer Kabarett on MySpace Music". Myspace.com. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
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