X-Dream (Marcus Maichel and Jan Mueller) is a German production duo that has evolved over the last decade into one of the best and most influential acts of the tech-trance genre. In 1989 they formed the creative core of x-dream. Two years later in 1991 their debut album “Trip to Trancesylvania” was greeted with much acclaim. In 1995 they released “We created our own happiness” in 1998 “Radio” and in 2002 they released “Irritant”. X-dreams up coming album feature vocals by Ariel. The fact is X-dream has the capacity to surprise its listeners and embrace change, leaving the doors open for their ever evolving creative spirit.  Clubbing Magazine talked to Jan and Marcus to get the latest.

X-Dream all started two years after you guys met. At that time it was techno-trance and highly experimental electronic music, which sooner turned over to the real Goa-trance. In 1993 your first album came out on Tunnel. Records “Trip to Tranceylvania”, this release was IT! Did you know at that time, that this “new sound” was the right thing? Or did you just follow the stream of psychedelic trance music?
- Well at that time, there wasn’t any thing called “psychedelic-trance”. But it was the beginning of Trance and the techno music; we just made what we felt right to do, all this electronic music started to get its own styles. All these clubs in Frankfurt and Berlin we went to - played from Hardcore to Big Beat - We just felt the psychedelic was good.
You have only one release on TIP Records - why? Didn’t you think it was your label style?
- Don’t know - it just happened. We signed a contract with Blueroom, and from there it continued. We didn’t think so much about that. We just took it, “Schnick Schnak” as we say.
When did you start playing live? Where and which audience did you play for?
- That was is a club in Hamburg Called “Club Brainstorm” in 1991. We played for one-hour or more… with the microphone in the middle of the dance floor. People were dancing and having a good time. At that time it was all kinds of people no one came especially for ”our” music, but for the atmosphere, it was those who were covering this ”new electronic music”, and those who wanted to look up for something different.
Where do you prefer to play – in clubs or at festivals? There are many bad organized trance parties and organizers around the world, and it often ends up in small bad arranged gatherings like the “Psava Faam 2002” festival in Greece…What do you think about that?
- It really depends on which club or festival it is, both are good. There are many small open airs around in especially Germany, with just 100- 200 people, these can be super pleasant and just as beautiful between the” Big ones”. A small club does also have something special that makes it attractive to play in, so we play nearly everywhere. - Well that’s right, some people just think that a big party like the Psava Faam will form itself. The organizers imagine that it all will go well, and that in Greece you are certain to have nice weather, but this wasn’t how it went. “Actually they were fucking the party up, and destroying the concept and what ever they did”
Your style was for some years psychedelic but it became more and more a mix of tribal-industrial-tech-trance, and this last album, Irritant (2002) is a good answer to that style. And quite the same style as Marcus’s side project, The Delta and their newest album “Send in send back”. Are these two albums experiences or provocations… or is this just how it became?
- Our album “Irritant” is an experience for the entire thing we made before, but not a provocation. This just happened, our direction didn’t change but it continued same way. Maybe we wanted to do something old again, but in a “new” way. This more “techno clubby” sound is a hit, and not only in trance culture. But also several techno DJ’s and people in general have said that this is really good! We got a mega feedback from all kinds of directions. We tried to hit an international border where we all can gather in electronic music. Like this “universal album”, as we would call it, actually became a big success, because we wanted to follow the style...“do the style, our style” and not only in the “Psychedelic trance Culture”.
Why are some of the numbers on “Irritant” older numbers?
- Actually it took nearly the same time to make each album, a good plan. We waited some time so it could be the best tracks on them. But “Irritant” took some time to release, it was because we were signed to Blueroom rec. and it was hard to get out of that contract, then it came out on Nova Tekk, and we were very glad.
Some of your samples are taken from sample CD’s. Do you work more with pre. made samples than before?
- Our philosophy is “Every thing we like is good”. We do a lot of recordings, in all kinds of forms. But yes we have taken things from sample CD´s but we don’t see anything bad or unprofessional in that. Some artists say to us, “how can you use this when isn’t you that made it!” We just make what we think sounds nice, real and clear in our ears. Let us say, “Our music soon is one big sample”. People love it so why not do it, and X-dream, is our own music. So this work depends on what we think is cool.
Is there a connection to the word “Irritant” in your newest album, irritant?
- The connection between the word and the album is there. We think it’s a bit different compared to what we have made previously. It’s harder, faster and more aggressive too; the word irritant would be fine, in the positive way. It’s also the way we work ”who knows, maybe we are a two irritant musicians.” (And they are laughing)
Is it true that “Inter-corporal Stimulator” is written with Simon Gahary and was released on a 12”, when Simons name is not mentioned in the album credits? Or was there a misprint on the 12”?
- The first question yes, that’s right. We started working together with Simon Gahary and made the track “Inter-corporal Stimulation”, in his living room in London over some days. And we had a good co-operation. We included it on the “Irritant” album, which came out on NovaTekk records, but we didn’t forget him, he was in charge of the printing, and so he forgot himself. So there was no misprint. Maybe he thought that was the best.
On the COP album it says that Jan Müller and “Gangaru” made it, but on the 12” Marcus name is on… why is he left out on the COP album?
- Marcus doesn’t have anything to do with that. “No actually, to be serious I don’t like COP (Children Of Paradise) I do other projects like the Delta and Noosphere.” We did The Pollinator together. Why Marcus’ name is on the 12” must be a forever mystery.
Do you listen to Ambient or chill-out?
- We listen to all kind of music. Especially electronic music from lounge to break beat, electro, down beat, big beat, acid. etc. Also good classic pop, jazz or bossanova. Just not so much rock. - As long as it sounds well - we like it. So yes we listen to ambient and chill-out.
For how long time will X-Dream still be an X-Dream?
- It is just started; this is the beginning of it, the end is far far away from here. And now we are even getting bigger, while there is one more person on the next project!
“This is only X-dream and we are going to be a Mega Dream! X-Dream will exist as long as it will.” (... and they are laughing)
If you had to choose between Techno and Trance in the future, which would it be?
- Don’t think we can answer that. Both styles are very special. We don’t know what we are going to listen to in the future. This is the future. Some thing is happening in the music, it’s changing to a big mix of everything. I think we will try to go back to the basic. Basic is maybe a more simple style?! We will try to get all the inspiration we get out in sounds, try the new X-dream Schnick Schnak
Interview by: Alexander Descroix
Related features: Photos of X-Dream in Amager Bio 2004
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