Wagner the Band – “Don’t Stop Movin’”: Raw Analogue Fire
As the band walks through the door they approach the warmth and comfort of analogue tape. Initially a slow and slightly staticy buildup, but eventually there’s a sudden explosion of energy in the room. The same can be said for their latest single ‘Don’t Stop Movin’. The listeners will hear the unknown smell of alcohol-soaked venues and concrete floors on this track. This is the type of song that conveys the idea that music used to be made by hand and not via software algorithms.
Rainer Wagner is the personification of that type of music. He embodies both the ashes of the past (the 60s/70s) as well as the gold of the present (2010s). Listening to Rainer Wagner like listening to an artist making raw and unrefined music today; where there are many artists striving for clarity through synthesizing their music to be as polished as possible, Rainer Wagner sings with an authentic and raw tone that is clear but sounds much more natural. You hear sweat, breath, decision-making and, above all, LIFE through his music.
"Don't Stop Moving" is like the middle of a Hero's Journey; it's that moment when the hero stumbles, gets back up, and pushes ahead determinedly. It has a sinewy and gritty groove, a retro and shaky guitar sound, and an unmistakable groove that is not background music. It grabs you by the shirt collar and says, "Stay with me; we aren't finished yet."
Wagner the Band is set apart from many of the other retro-rock bands not by their nostalgia, but by their honesty. Their sound is not put together with the goal of achieving the most optimized playlist; instead, it is put together to connect with people. The imperfections in their music appear to be purposeful and planned, like little holes in the wall through which light shines in. They create songs by building trust through the slow and deliberate use of real people in real spaces that have amplifiers and a little bit of background noise.
Fans of Wagner will be able to hear the similarities between Daisy and Wagner's new single as they come from the same creative family. New listeners will hear something different: a group of individuals who are continuing to develop and continue to explore innovative ways to develop their music.