Wolfsheim is a German band, and their name literally means “Wolf Home”. Although the band started with Brüder Markus, Olli Reinhardt, and lead singer Pompeo Ricciardi, Ricciardi soon dropped out of the band and suggested that young Peter Heppner should take over. Olli ended up leaving soon afterwards, and thus Markus and Heppner were left to fend for themselves. They were high school chums, and they both had musical experience. Peter was in his church and school choir, and he was also a fabulous writer as well. Markus on the other hand, was musically gifted and wrote out captivating sheet music, which Peter provided the lyrics for. Their sound was new and amazing… and like most new and amazing musicians, they were rejected by many labels.
However, their first single The Sparrows and the Nightingales finally hit the music community in 1991. Subsequent singles like It's Not Too Late (don't sorrow) , and Wolfsheim was finally saw some success.
The album Popkiller was a further breakthrough because it brought in classical influences and melodies, which the public embraced with open arms. It’s an odd combination of music though. The tone is somewhat melancholy, but the lyrics portray a strange sense of optimism (Plus, one can’t escape the fact that Heppner’s voice is extremely hypnotic). Since Markus writes the music and Heppner writes the lyrics, two areas that portray completely different moods, the process of making their songs can be quite time consuming. Peter Heppner once said, "the songs develops quite slowly… if they still please us after 2 or 3 months, they become genuine Wolfsheim songs.”
The band has been popular in their own country for a while, but they didn't hit the American scene until the Spectators album came out, with their biggest hit, Once In a Lifetime. (Thanks ex0teric;-P) Personally, I am addicted to their tunes, and I have tried to get my friends addicted as well. They rock my socks!
No Happy View: 1992
...CAN MANAGE...
FOLLOWING YOU
ANNIE
LEADING MEN
IT'S NOT TOO LATE
THE SPARROWS & THE NIGHTINGALES
ANGRY TODAY
KISSING THE WALL
THIS TIME
ANYBODY'S WINDOW
LISTEN
Popkiller: 1993
FOR YOU I'M BLEEDING
TENDER DAYS
LOVESONG
KAUFRAUSH (sung in German)
ENTROPY
NO HAPPY VIEW
NOW I FALL
(THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT) SCARS REMAIN (AND HOW TO COPE WITH IT)
CHILDHOOD CRUEL
GATES
AUF EIN WORT... (also in German)
FAITH
55578: 1995
ELIAS
LOVESONG (CLUB MIX)
NOW I FALL
WHERE GREED TALKS
YOUTH AND GREED
ANYBODY'S WINDOW (REMIX 909 NR.:2)
IT'S NOT TOO LATE (DON'T SORROW)
THE SPARROWS & THE NIGHTINGALES (LONG VERSION)
REAL
RUBY, DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN
A LOOK INTO YOUR HEART (DIFFERENT VERSION)
ANNIE (EARLY VERSION)
CIRCLES
DreamingApes: 1996
UPSTAIRS
TRACES OF CHINA
CLOSER STILL
A NEW STARSYSTEM HAS BEEN EXPLORED
INDIA THEME
A MILLION MILES
LA DANSE DES SOLEILS
OLD MAN'S VALLEY
LEAVE NO DEED UNDONE
A RAMBLING SHADOW
ANYWAY
ÜBERS JAHR
OLD PIANO THEME
A BROKEN WHISPEr
Spectators: 1999
IT´S HURTING FOR THE FIRST TIME
KÜNSTLICHE WELTEN
TOUCH
BLIND
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
SLEEP SOMEHOW
FOR YOU
READ THIS LINES
I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE
HEROIN, SHE SAID
E
Casting Shadows: 2003
EVERYONE WHO CASTS A SHADOW
CARE FOR YOU
I WON'T BELIEVE
KEIN ZURUECK
AND I...
UNDERNEATH THE VEIL
FIND YOU'RE GONE
THIS IS FOR LOVE
WUNDERVOLL
APPROACHING LIGHTSPEED
IN TIME
And thank you QuMa for correcting my translation!