Dortmund duo Telephonist, composed of Dennis Mielke and Oskar Middelhauve, have crafted a stunning, atmospheric, and melancholic shoegaze sound on their single Ins Blau. Layers of reverb-drenched guitars, droning synths, and soft, ethereal vocals create a lush, immersive wall of sound (typical of shoegaze) while the German lyrics add a striking contrast — gentle delivery meets a traditionally harsh, expressive language.
As a duo, they claim to echo influences like DIIV, Duster, Cocteau Twins, and Slowdive (which is spot-on for its references). The production is meticulous, each texture and effect carefully placed, making Ins Blau both hypnotic and emotionally resonant. And not once does the track remain stagnant; every component within the music moves everything forward in a wonderfully hypnotic way. I’ll certainly be adding this dark and beautiful listen to my own playlists.
Written by Krystal Camilla
