Frequency Drift was formed by classically trained keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist Andreas Hack in 2006 - the band subsequently releasing their debut, 'Personal Effects Pt. 1' in 2008 via Musea. This conceptual work, based around the tragic tale of two sisters in a futuristic setting, was inspired by films like 'Bladerunner', 'Ghost in a Shell' etc, and told the story of a girl named River living in 2046 and having problems with an imaginary association named 'Diomedeidae'.
Katja Hubner was the impressive female vocalist on this first album, and the follow-up album, 'Personal Effects Pt. 2' was released by Cyclops in 2010, the new album once again showcasing Frequency Drift's talent for powerful, soulful melodies and atmosphere. The album continued River's story, with new melodic, atmospheric songs - including a wider range of instruments - and female vocal contributions this time from Nicole Scharnagl, Kerstin Leidner and Christine Mettner.
For the band's 2011 album 'Ghosts', Antje Auer had joined them permanently on vocals, and this release saw the first notable appearance of later band member Nerissa Schwarz (electric harp) as guest composer and musician, as well as an evolution towards an enthralling, melancholic mixture of art rock, ambient, folk and metal. Martin Fox was now the band's permanent drummer, with original drummer Wolfgang Ostermann also performing as a guest on several tracks, and several other guest musicians being involved in the making of the album.
'Laid to Rest' (2012, Gentle Art of Music) continued this path, with world music influences and an even more varied instrumentation - featuring gemshorn, flute and clarinet alongside the harp and violin. There was a another change of drummer for this album (Jasper Joris) - with his partner Barbara Joris being responsible for the gemshorn and various other medieval instruments - and Martin Schnella of Seven Steps to the Green Door and Flaming Row fame guesting on acoustic & electric guitars on the album's final track.
The international success of their albums earned Frequency Drift an invitation to play live at the 2012 "Night of the Prog" festival on the famous Loreley open-air stage, a performance called one of the highlights in 9 years of NOTP by the festival's manager in the German magazine 'Eclipsed'. Frequency Drift's 5th album 'Over' (2014, Gentle Art of Music / Soulfood) established a writing collaboration between Andreas and Nerissa, and was marked by further experimentation with electric harp soundscapes and keyboard textures.
An ambitious and eclectic work, 'Over' offers a unique mixture of old school progressive rock, post rock, pop, classical and world music. Isa Fallembacher and guest singer Agathe Labus shared the vocals, and Martin Schnella again guested on acoustic & electric guitars along with Kalle Wallner (RPWL, Blind Ego) on bass. The band had no permanent drummer for this particular album, the role being fulfilled by another guest musician in Phil Paul Rissettio.
In the same year, Frequency Drift released 'Summer', a wistful collection of previously unreleased songs, and was re-joined by their original permanent drummer Wolfgang Ostermann, a move which brought fresh rhythmic drive to the music. In the months that followed, the band performed live at renowned international festivals, including Summer's End (UK) and Progdreams (NL), and as main act at the live club De Pul (NL).
February 2016 saw the release of the band's 6th album 'Last'. Stranger and darker than its predecessors, yet still highly melodic, with stunning artwork and evocative lyrics, it was Frequency Drift's most cohesive and cinematic work to date, with Martin Schnella now a full band member on electric & acoustic guitars, and Melanie Mau also joining the band on vocals.
Although they have an obvious love for album titles suggesting death and finality, Frequency Drift are still alive and kicking as of 2018 - despite their continuing line-up changes over the years - and their latest album 'Letters to Maro', featuring new singer and lyricist Irini Alexia, was released on 13th April 2018 via Gentle Art of Music / Soulfood. From: https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3907
