What would 1992 sound like if electronic music never evolved past its golden rave era? Paul Kalkbrenner’s latest single, “Ninety – Two”, offers a compelling answer—delivering a raw, hypnotic 130 BPM groove driven by a vocal sample deeply embedded in the DNA of UK rave history.
But this isn’t retro for the sake of nostalgia. As Kalkbrenner puts it, “The track sounds as if that sound had simply continued evolving to the present day without interruption.” “Ninety – Two” imagines an alternate timeline where the sound of the early ‘90s never faded, only matured. Stripped-back and nearly instrumental, it’s a modern homage to a scene that shaped generations—and a powerful entry point into his upcoming album The Essence.
Already a live favorite, “Ninety – Two” is more than a standalone single—it’s the first taste of The Essence, Kalkbrenner’s first full-length album since Parts of Life (2018), due out in September. Built slowly over the past few years inside a Berlin apartment that echoes mid-century modern elegance mixed with 1970s luxury, the album is a curated journey through textures of stone, wood, tungsten light, and analog soul.
“Many songs were made during a time when I wasn’t even planning an album,” Kalkbrenner explains. “I had basically moved on from making albums, but then I realized how nice it is to have something with a larger sense of cohesion again.”
The title The Essence suggests minimalism, but for Kalkbrenner, it represents something much deeper. “It’s about the essential. This is an album I can truly stand behind. I consider it my best,” he declares. “Sure, there may be more well-known hits on my other albums, but there were always two or three filler tracks. This one doesn’t have a single filler. Not even a filler moment!”
With a career that defies convention, Paul Kalkbrenner remains one of the most influential artists in modern techno. From his underground Berlin roots to starring in the cult film Berlin Calling, creating the global anthem “Sky & Sand”, and headlining Tomorrowland stages and stadium tours—he’s consistently blurred the lines between club culture and cinematic grandeur.
Born in the shadow of the Berlin Wall and raised on the pulse of Europe’s earliest raves, Kalkbrenner has always favored live performance over DJing, staying true to his vision for over two decades. The Essence continues that legacy—unfiltered, evolved, and unmistakably Kalkbrenner.
Keep your eyes on September. The rave isn’t over—it just got a reboot.
