FORMAT

Format draws from its Latin origin: “formatus”, meaning “to be formed”. Over two years, Germany’s Max Würden produced a variety of tracks using completely different approaches. It wasn’t until they were placed together in unison that the strengths from the variety of productions came together. 

Max’s studio recordings lined up alongside live performances; field recordings of foot-steps and sounds from deep forests amongst broken leaves and custom synthesizers; processed guitar-loops weave amongst soaring ambient pads and energetic driving analog pulses segue classic 90’s ambient depicting the very furthest reaches of space. Max’s abstract impressions were weaved together and Format was born.

The result captures the very best of Max’s multi-disciplinary techniques we’ve come to admire throughout his many productions and collaborations over the years with the likes of Thore Pfeiffer and his releases on Kompakt’s Pop Ambient series. 

Format can be enjoyed as individual tracks, one mixed journey (digital) or as unique mixed-edits for vinyl. Featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding, who unfolds the track’s unique individual elements from the front into one expansive inside gatefold. Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri @ Black Knoll Studio and pressed on opaque purple vinyl, 500 copies worldwide. 

VINYL SOLD OUT

Release date: June 10th 2019 on A STRANGELY ISOLATED PLACE

>>>> listen &  buy

www.astrangelyisolatedplace.com

MOMENTUM

In the mid 90s, while playing in bands, Max Würden started to record ideas on 4-track tapes. Amongst other instruments the guitar was his favourite. Since then the guitar is a steady constant during his sound production. Predominantly he utilizes the intrument in experimental ways: he sticks screws and metal pieces between the strings or let’s marbles run down the guitar neck, triggering a feedback, which becomes the foundation of a track.
On his album MOMENTUM he went beyond the guitar, but he placed the intrument into focus of the production.
Max creates energyladen and experimental ambient music that always aims for what genre listeners looking for: the ultimate relaxation moment.
The tracks are carried by slowly building string-generated sounds. Live recordings and complex arrangements find a delicate symbiosis of ambient and strings.
 
released March 23, 2018 on elmuellerecords.bandcamp.com

Produced and mixed by Max Würden
Design by Finna Leibenguth / www.eaudecollage.de
Mastering by Südblock Studios
P & C 2018 El Muelle Records
 

ALL OF A SUDDEN

It was a rainy day in October when the mail man knocked on Max Würden’s door. He had ordered an album from El Muelle Records in Malaga, Spain, but when he opened the package it didn’t contain only PEPO GALAN’s album STRANDED, he found a bunch of CDs in there, published by the same label. What a pleasant surprise, and it turned out to be a true cultural survival kit just in time for the following grey weekend full of rain. Having never actually met in person they came to realize that they already followed each others musical projects online for years, a vivid exchange ensued peaking with a question if they shouldn’t work together on an album. 30 minutes later Pepo had sent his first idea, and Max started working on it right away. Musically the two artists had found each other. They immersed themselves so deep into the tracks that at the end neither one of them was able to tell who exactly contributed which sounds to their album ALL OF A SUDDEN.

They also found commonalities in their work processes. Both like to incorporate cassette tapes (like Max’s album RETOUR, Kompakt 2016), and they also like to experiment with guitars and other string instruments which form the musical spine for ALL OF A SUDDEN.
 
UPDATE: The track STAY by Pepo Galán & Max Würden was released on the POP AMBIENT 2020 compilation by KOMPAKT RECORDS COLOGNE

*CD Includes two prints from artist CHRISTINE NGUYEN taken from her show „Cyanotypes: The Cosmic Long Return“ Images from her solo exhibition at Baik Art, Los Angeles

released May 30, 2018

All Sound + Production
Pepo Galán & Max Würden

Album Cover | Tree of Life (2016)
salt crystals, graphite, cyanotype on stretch muslin by
CHRISTINE NGUYEN / www.lephant.com

Mastering by Südblock Studios, (Berlin, Germany)
P & C 2018 Unknown Tone Records
 

FEINHERB

After both of us- THORE PFEIFFER and MAX WÜRDEN – had a track on the POP AMBIENT COMPILATION 2015 from KOMPAKT RECORDS, we thought it was a nice idea to exchange a few ideas. Since then we exchange samples, sounds, arrangements, melodies and sometimes we even talk.
We produce FEINHERBEN POP AMBIENT and this is our debut album!

Released December 1, 2017

C + P 2017 Würden & Pfeiffer / Headtractive Production
Produced and Mixed by Max Würden & Thore Pfeiffer
Mastering by Maximilian Wendling
Graphic Design by Finna Leibenguth / www.eaudecollage.de