Artist
Urban Homes
9 releases · 13 collaborators · 2 labels
- Date active
- 2011 – 2025
- Relevance
- Very High, very strong ties with the core dub techno cluster
Bio
2025 marks the return of Cologne-based electronic outfit Urban Homes with their first new music in over eight years, following an unintentional hiatus driven by side projects, relocations, the pandemic, and the unpredictability of “life.” After over eight years, the duo is back with their first new material: a fresh batch of purely instrumental downtempo and dub-influenced tracks, marked by a somber and atmospheric vibe that distinctly separates this new material from their previous work. Inspired by themes of extraterrestrial life and the paranormal, the four new tracks compiled on the »U.F.O. EP« release were crafted during recording sessions split between Cologne and Berlin before languishing for years on neglected hard drives, finally "ripening" into their current form.
Formed in 2008, Urban Homes initially emerged as a post-punk group, debuting live in 2009. Their first release—a four-track demo tape recorded in late 2010—already hinted at an evolving sound that would soon embrace a more experimental and electronic direction. By 2011, the band swapped their live drums for a drum machine, a shift that would profoundly shape their sound in the years to follow. Over the years, Urban Homes has explored a broad sonic landscape, merging electronic production, rhythm-driven compositions, and experimental song structures. Drawing influences from early house, balearic, disco, dub, avant-garde electronica, and pop, their music continues to defy easy categorization.
In March 2013, the duo released their debut album »Centres« (LP/CD/Digital), earning the Pop NRW Prize for Best Newcomers that same year. Their 2016 follow-up, »Jams« (2xLP/CD/Digital), was met with critical acclaim. A love letter to dance music's roots, the record fused pop sensibilities with open-ended experimentation, built from years of MIDI-driven jam sessions that were painstakingly edited and reconstructed. With both records being released on the Altin Village & Mine imprint, »Jams« was also licensed by the Japanese label Fennely/Moorworks for an exclusive CD edition in 2017. Over the years, Urban Homes supported their releases with numerous tours and festival appearances across Germany and a memorable tour of Japan in 2017.
Formed in 2008, Urban Homes initially emerged as a post-punk group, debuting live in 2009. Their first release—a four-track demo tape recorded in late 2010—already hinted at an evolving sound that would soon embrace a more experimental and electronic direction. By 2011, the band swapped their live drums for a drum machine, a shift that would profoundly shape their sound in the years to follow. Over the years, Urban Homes has explored a broad sonic landscape, merging electronic production, rhythm-driven compositions, and experimental song structures. Drawing influences from early house, balearic, disco, dub, avant-garde electronica, and pop, their music continues to defy easy categorization.
In March 2013, the duo released their debut album »Centres« (LP/CD/Digital), earning the Pop NRW Prize for Best Newcomers that same year. Their 2016 follow-up, »Jams« (2xLP/CD/Digital), was met with critical acclaim. A love letter to dance music's roots, the record fused pop sensibilities with open-ended experimentation, built from years of MIDI-driven jam sessions that were painstakingly edited and reconstructed. With both records being released on the Altin Village & Mine imprint, »Jams« was also licensed by the Japanese label Fennely/Moorworks for an exclusive CD edition in 2017. Over the years, Urban Homes supported their releases with numerous tours and festival appearances across Germany and a memorable tour of Japan in 2017.
Urban Homes (Artist)
Label
Relevance
Releases
Active
- Releases: 7 Relevance: low Active: 2013 – 2025
- Releases: 1 Relevance: low Active: 2016