That’s how it was with ULTRA SUNN

Automatic translation. Improvements are constantly being worked on.

November 27, 2025, Hanover, Café Glocksee

SIIE and ULTRA SUNN combine the past and future of the scene

On this evening, Café Glocksee impressively demonstrated why it is one of the most important venues for the alternative music scene in northern Germany. Two acts that could hardly be more different and yet speak a common language at their core attracted a diverse audience to the club: SIIE and ULTRA SUNN. What followed was an evening that not only reproduced electronic music, but made it tangible – physically, emotionally and atmospherically dense.

SIIE – An opening sound space between minimalism and rhythmic rigor

20:00, right on time. Few concerts start as precisely as SIIE ‘s – and this precision runs like a thread through the entire performance. The band entered the stage without much ceremony, but the audience reacted immediately: cheers, expectant glances, a collective concentration that noticeably condensed the room. The first beat dropped – and the first movements began in the front rows. It took less than half a minute for the visitors at the very front to be completely absorbed in the rhythm. The dance did not begin hesitantly, but with determination and naturalness, as if someone had flipped a switch.

The band’s sound is reminiscent of Jäger 90, DAF and the raw directness of the early EBM era. But SIIE focus more on surfaces, elegance, a kind of controlled emotionality. Nothing came across as complaisant, no sound was random – everything seemed deliberately arranged, precisely balanced. Café Glocksee was well filled, but never overloaded.

This intermediate state proved to be ideal: the energy gathered in the room without any negative effects of constriction or heat. You could dance, stand, let yourself drift – and that’s exactly what many people did. The audience was remarkably diverse. Young scene guests stood next to people who might have experienced this kind of music live back in the 1980s. This juxtaposition lent the evening a special social dynamic: generations came together here who shared the same musical DNA. Musically, the band impressed with flowing transitions. The set structure was more like a DJ mix than a classic concert. Hardly a song ended abruptly; instead, the pieces slid into one another and created a continuous flow of movement. The audience responded with continuous activity, especially in the front rows, which barely allowed a moment of silence. The tracks “5ème Avenue”, “À Travers” and “Nightlife” marked highlights. They brought melodic fragments into play, which became deeply rooted in the audience, and at the same time enough heaviness to keep the dance floor going. With their set, SIIE delivered an opening act that impressed with its atmospheric density, structure and clarity – and at the same time created high expectations for the following program.

ULTRA SUNN – A modern eighties feel that is not retro, but relevant

21:00. While the stage was being prepared again, Café Glocksee continued to fill up. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, but without any hectic rush. The visitors swapped drinks, moved a little closer, exchanged impressions about SIIE – a sign that the evening had already arrived. But with the first note of ULTRA SUNN, the conditions shifted completely. Where previously there had been a constant, hypnotic tension, now a collective dance energy exploded that engulfed the entire room. From the very first track, it was clear that ULTRA SUNN had come not only to capture the mood, but to heighten it. The Belgian band worked with an eighties aesthetic, but without the usual clichés. No overdrawn nostalgia, no purely replicated sounds – instead a modern, punchy approach based on elegant production and a clear artistic signature. If you are familiar with names like Frozen Plasma or VNV Nation, you will recognize certain parallels: big melodic arcs, precise beats, a singer who has the emotional carrying capacity to give structure to an entire hall.

The suction effect that ULTRA SUNN create was particularly striking. The entire Café Glocksee was already in motion by the second track. The stylistic signature allowed the audience to settle in quickly – but the energy of the performance ensured that the dance intensity was maintained throughout the set. The sonic and atmospheric highlight came with “Guardian of Your Dreams” – a song that developed the quality of a crowd-pleaser in this live setting. People sang along, clapped and danced along. At this moment, it became clear why ULTRA SUNN are receiving so much attention across Europe: Their music was not only technically excellent, but also emotionally immediate.

The band itself also deliberately played up this effect. All members were visibly engaged, moved along, smiled and interacted with the audience. It didn’t seem staged, but authentic – a rare but important element for electronic live performances, which sometimes run the risk of seeming distant.

The extensive setlist took the band through numerous facets of their repertoire – from powerful club tracks to more melodic, narrative moments. They managed to keep the energy level consistently high without neglecting the dramaturgy. With the encores “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” and “Night Is Mine”, ULTRA SUNN delivered a powerful finale that completely captured the room once again. It was an ending that did not abruptly tear the evening apart, but rounded off and strengthened the existing momentum.

One evening, two manuscripts – and a common core

The concert evening at Café Glocksee proved just how diverse electronic music can be today. SIIE revealed the reduced elegance and structural minimalism reminiscent of the genre’s early roots. ULTRA SUNN showed the contemporary development – more melodic, more danceable, more emotional. Together, they told the story of a scene that is not lost in nostalgia, but is constantly evolving. The audience gratefully accepted this story: dancing, listening, feeling – and visibly satisfied at the end. What remains is the afterglow of an evening that was more than just a double concert. It was an overall experience of electronic music: physical, atmospheric and unifying. An evening that showed that Café Glocksee is still a place where music is not just played, but lived.

Text: Jasmin Kramer
Photos: Dennis Post

Setlist:
“Intro (Golden Vein)” – “The Speed” – “Young Foxes” – “Wrong Floor” – “Guardian of Your Dreams” – “Some Ghost Could Follow” – “You & Me” – “Broken Monsters” – “Out of the Cage” – “This Is Not About You” – “You Came with a Blade” – “Can You Believe It” – “The Beast in You” – “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” – “Night Is Mine”