The Umlauts

The Umlauts are a synth pop band that taps into a particularly dance-oriented Cabaret Voltaire like post-punk, as well as the music of the club world. There is also some Can style krautrock and more overtly, the type of electronic music whose roots go back to Kraftwerk. Their music is driven by the double synth attack of members Oliver Offord and Alf Lear, who build layers of catchy hooks and a rhythmic component that places a throbbing beat at the heart of their songs. The other two members, Annabelle Mödlinger and Maria Vittoria Faldini, are the vocalists who often sing and/or speak-sing in German, French, and Italian, giving the band an extra punch when they are not maintaining a cold, distant tone.