365 DAYS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC IN 365 DAYS

Day 3: Orgonon — Laila France

Genres: Downtempo / Art Pop / IDM
Year: 1997
Country: Germany

(This is completely a personal opinion. I’m not a musician and I don’t have technical knowledge of music theory; I just genuinely love electronic music and wanted to share this journey.)

It's day 3 of this journey, and the rain continues in my city.

Today I wanted to explore something with a feminine perspective, and not necessarily something from North America. I also wanted to dive deeper into Germany—the birthplace of electronic music—and learn more about how 1990s Japanese music, particularly the Shibuya-kei movement, influenced German alternative pop during that decade.

That curiosity eventually led me to Bungalow Records, a label associated with the now-defunct duo Le Hammond Inferno, and ultimately to this album: Orgonon.

While listening to the full album on YouTube, I came across a comment from Marcus Liesenfeld, founder of both Bungalow Records and Le Hammond Inferno. He seemed genuinely surprised by the album's modern online reception, describing it as "Coffee Table DnB" and mentioning how it was unfairly criticized by Drum & Bass purists when it was originally released.

With that in mind, I decided to visit this hidden gem while making my way home after a long day at university.

Orgonon is definitely a slow-moving album, but that never makes it boring. Tracks such as "Trance Cocktail Airlines," "Japanese Speciality," and "Billity" blend rhythmic Drum & Bass elements with relaxed Downtempo grooves. Laila's voice feels soothing throughout the record, almost acting as a guide through its dreamy atmosphere.

What interested me most was hearing what feels like a German interpretation of the "Japanese invasion" that fascinated many alternative artists during the late 1990s. Throughout the album, I found echoes of artists like Pizzicato Five, Kahimi Karie, and Cornelius, all filtered through a distinctly European lens.

Then comes "David Hamilton," a track that initially left me confused lyrically, but eventually felt like a trip back to the playful side of the late 90s: youthful curiosity, bohemian aesthetics, innuendo, and the fascination with discovering strange cultural treasures from Japan.

It's an unusual album. At times it can feel dense, but it also feels like a forgotten treasure waiting to be rediscovered.

PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS

Sooner or later I'll have to explore more of Bungalow Records.

Sooner or later I'll have to dive deeper into what they called the "new spectacular stereophonic sound."

Orgonon was a genuinely enjoyable listen, although I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. Its slow pace and eclectic influences might not appeal to every listener, but for the right mood—and perhaps while drinking a latte on a rainy afternoon—it offers something truly unique.

So far, it feels like a perfect addition to a journey dedicated to exploring electronic music from different styles, cultures, and corners of the world.

DAY 3 — ORGONON

Where is Bungalow now?...

[ LISTEN TO THE ALBUM ]