Lovestoned! Finally here it comes: the eagerly anticipated follow-up album of DJ und producer Oliver Koletzki, set for release in September this year. After the success of “Großstadtmärchen” Oliver Koletzki has teamed up with singer Fran, voice of the über-successful single “Hypnotized”, to record an 11-track electronic pop album. Fran and Oliver are not merely partners in crime when it comes to music – they are also lovestoned, glued together by their mutual love for music and their love for each other. A fact that is omnipresent on their new album: eleven songs about getting to know each other, eleven songs about spending time together, eleven songs about the first kiss, eleven songs about the wonder that is love!

Muscially, “Lovestoned” is a journey through Fran’s and Oliver’s different influences: from sample-based house to synthie-pop, from late 70ies glam to late 90ies ambient in the style of Bonobo and on top this album also includes some nuggets of Jazz. The impeccable songwriting, the feeling for the right dose of pop anthems, Fran’s pure voice in English and German elevate Fran’s and Oliver’s music to a new height.

But let’s start dipping into it: Things get going straight away with the summery 70ies-inspired glam-pop track “Lovestoned”, a smooth funk-riden piece with shimmery guitars and funky slap bass guitars. This intro track brings the message of the album to the point: freshly in love, honey-dipped, sugar-like and skyscraper-high. That unique feeling of being freshly in love! The journey into happiness continues with the first single release “Arrow and Bow” that reminisces 80ies pop sounds: synthesizers that cause goose bumps, clap snares that will move heads and toes and of course, Fran’s beautiful voice that reminds us about the wonderful game of getting to know each other. But love can also about sensitive feelings, something that becomes clear on “Echoes”, one of the strongest tracks of the album. This is where Koletzki’s background as a producer of house and techno meet with Fran’s ability to create divine lyrics and perform them with her unmistakable voice. With it’s groovy loop and some softly floating pianos and synthesisers the track reminds of pop tracks by the likes of Mia. or Morcheeba. “<3” – in our world of Facebook & co. this has become the universal sign for love. The track behind this symbol is a Balearic pop song about the love of one person for another that is not yet mutual. A longing feeling for response underlines the atmosphere of this wonderfully hypnotic track.
On “Strandbar Berlin” and “I Might” Oliver and Fran present us their musical finesse and diversity. Oliver’s piano melodies and the jazzy live appeal of the songs set another level for their music while both songs are totally different in their feel and sound: “I Might” is a melancholic song about the love blues while “Strandbar Berlin” is as happy as happy goes. Of course, Oliver Koletzki has also recorded one purely instrumental for this album: “Hollywood Boulevard” is a funky piece of thumping percussion house music. This is Oliver Koletzki for the floor: samples mix with synthesisers and result in a very musical piece of house music. “Kissenschlacht” is the ultimate holiday song that was created when Oliver and Fran went on their first holiday together: sunshine, freedom and happiness.
But it wouldn’t be an Oliver Koletzki album, if there weren’t more class A pop hits on “Lovestoned”: “Fingertips”, “Smile”, “It’s a Pleasure to Meet You” – three very catchy pop songs that are yet very different in their musical style. While “Fingertips” is an electrified housy pop song, “Smile” is a pastiche on DJ culture set in a kitschy late 70ies disco scenery, where the girls admire the DJ and everybody has a smile on their face. Then, “It’s a pleasure to Meet You” starts where the party ends and the next party begins. This funky piece of synth-pop tells the story of the insecurities of the first meet. Where it’s going to end? Nobody knows for sure.

Oliver Koletzki’s and Fran’s “Lovestoned” is a very complete artist album that speaks both in the language of pop and the language of love. It is filled with catchy pop hits reflecting the fresh love of the protagonists behind it. While being a very personal album, it is also not, because everybody knows about the universal power of love. And if there is such a thing as the perfect match, be it in love or in music, then Oliver and Fran are a prime example of this.

Catalogue number: SVT050