Contriva

United by a shared unwaivering passion for guitars old school friends Masha Qrella, Max Punktezahl, Rike Schuberty and Hannes Lehmann began making music in Berlin in 1997. Shying away from in the fickle ever-changing landscape of trends offered up by the Berlin music scene Contriva's oeuvre spans an impressive number of albums, EPs, singles and contributions to various samplers which revolve around the same theme of producing the perfect indie pop song. The result is reminiscent of Yo La Tengo not only in its timelessness but also in the band's insistence on including much of their 10 year back catalogue in their set-lists, as Max Punktezahl explains, "There are so many among these songs that are still important to us today." Over the years long periods of silence gave way for various side projects to be spawned; Hannes Lehmann and Masha Qrella founded Mina in 1997, Masha Qrella has also been releasing solo laconic-intense songwriter-music on Morr Music since 2003 and finally Max Punktezahl founded the pop band Jersey and offers his skills as member of the extended Notwist-family. Carefully arranged sounds and instrumental attention are also what Contriva stands for, flitting between prudent and opulent from one moment to the next, guitars ensnaring themselves. This balance has defined their sound since their tentative 1997 self-released debut "Zimt" and 2003's "If you had stayed …" (Monika/lok musik 2003), offers their most melancholy plumbing of sound and space yet. Beautiful and subtle, "Their music opens up rooms and niches their listeners are free to fill in.

Links

www.morrmusic.com

www.myspace.com/contriva