Max Stadtfeld - Fancy Future (2024)

Leipzig based Max Stadtfeld isn't just an outstanding drummer and improviser. He's also a warm-hearted optimist, an enthusiastic forward-thinker. In times of multiple crises and facing fundamental challenges, he now ventures with "Fancy Future" to attempt a utopian counter- design. The latest album by his quartet, STAX, will be released on June 14th by Boomslang Records, accompanied by a comic book designed by Ebony Schneeweiß. It distills Max Stadtfeld's essence like never before - his brilliant playing, his unique compositional signature, but also his infectious optimism. "Fancy Future" is both a hopeful plea for more empathy, compassion, and camaraderie, but also a call to recognize that there is still much work and rethinking ahead of us.

While the mood of the title stands in stark contrast to the previous album "Suboptimal" (2022, KLAENGrecords), Max continues the artistic experiments initiated there. At the center is the relaxed-rhythmic, the weird-melodic, the raw-beautiful. All in all: pretty fancy. This also applies to the unique production aesthetic of the album: Alex Binder (here as engineer, otherwise as a bassist for, among others, Dota, Judith Holofernes, Max Prosa) makes the quartet's music resonate with a nonchalant indie sound. In this, the musicians of STAX weave their web of melodies, rhythms, harmonies, and textures, which seem incredibly dense yet so light. Bertram Burkert's guitar sounds fluctuate between cool minimalism and the warmth (even heat?) of grunge. Matthew Halpin explores paths for his incredibly agile lines and cascades with his saxophone in these textures, while Reza Askari, with impressive flexibility, sometimes stands steadfast as a foundation and suddenly hovers above everything with melodic virtuosity. And Max Stadtfeld? - His playing is truly unique: seemingly in the background, he operates with grand rhythmic finesse. He plays around what is there and propels what must come.

As with the previous album, Max collaborates with artist Ebony Schneeweiß for "Fancy Future". However, this time, she's not only responsible for the artwork but also developed a comic book based on the music. In this, a touching and humorous story between galaxy- hopping and camaraderie is told alongside the eight tracks of the album. Ebony Schneeweiß will also accompany STAX at selected concerts, where the illustrations of the comic will be seen in the form of live visuals.

So first and foremost: Get your favorite snacks and headphones ready, grab the comic, settle onto the couch, and then dive into STAX's "Fancy Future" - and get some ideas on how we can collectively shape our own future.