Giegling has always carried an air of mystery. Born in Weimar from a group of like-minded friends throwing parties in an abandoned building, the collective turned loss into legacy when their club was demolished in 2008. “The label was meant to be a requiem for the club,” ATEQ told Inverted Audio back in 2013. “We had little money left and decided to press a vinyl. We wanted to save some of the dirt and the magic.” That spirit – sentimental yet defiant – became the foundation of one of underground music’s most influential imprints.
Seventeen years on, that same sense of closure seems to echo once more. The forthcoming Ende Gut Alles Gut (“All’s Well That Ends Well”) – a six-piece vinyl release featuring long-time collaborators and friends – feels as much like a celebration as a farewell. It raises a quiet but pressing question: could this really be the final release from Giegling?
Since the pandemic, the label’s output has noticeably slowed. Edward’s Turning (2021) and Lawrence’s Epiphany (2022) stand as the last solo long-players to emerge from the collective, following Leafar Legov’s Mirror and Map.ache’s What Does That Mean, both released in 2020.
In the years since, Giegling has focused primarily on Various Artist EPs, while their energy has shifted towards immersive live events and festival appearances – from Waking Life to stages at Fusion and intimate showcases in Amsterdam, Ghent, Berlin, Paris, London and Tokyo. Giegling have also released their annual Various Artist EPs, remix EPs for the aforementioned albums, and a sprinkling of exclusive, highly sought-after merch-desk editions. The transformation from record label to experience-led collective seems almost complete.
Yet Ende Gut Alles Gut stands as a powerful reminder of what Giegling has always done best: building community through sound. The compilation unites a cross-section of the collective’s core and extended family – from long-standing members like Edward, Leafar Legov, Vril, Molly and Map.ache, to close allies including Vera, Lawrence, Nina Kraviz, and Lowtec.
Across twelve sides, the release moves gracefully between ambient textures, experimental electronics, and deep, emotional house. Contributions from Jan Jelinek & Ulla, Tobias., Cassy, and Terrence Dixon bridge generations and geographies, capturing the breadth of artists who have shaped Giegling’s sound and spirit over the years. In many ways, it feels like a love letter – a thank you to those who have shared in the journey, both behind the decks and on the dance floor.
Even Giegling’s imagery hints at the end of a chapter. The artwork for their October party at Studio Wieman featured a chequered flag – the unmistakable sign for the end of a race. For a label so deliberate in its visual language, that symbolism feels intentional. Similarly, the artwork for Ende Gut Alles Gut depicts a primed mousetrap baited with a tempting hunk of cheese – untriggered and full of tension. It’s a perfectly cryptic Giegling gesture: a tease that could signify finality, or a trick hinting that the game isn’t quite over yet.
Meanwhile, many of the label’s original artists have long moved on. ATEQ now runs the Pale Product imprint together with Orion. Traumprinz (aka DJ Metatron, Prince of Denmark, Prime Minister Of Doom, Irini) left amid the fallout from the Konstantin controversy and went on to form All Possible Worlds. Vril releases on Delsin and Kynant; Dwig parted ways after his 2013 album Forget The Pink Elephant; and Sa Pa, after a stint working with the label in Berlin, has since returned to Australia and now releases through Sheffield-based label Short Span. DJ Dustin, one of the collective’s founding figures, remains involved, primarily as a DJ and representative of the Giegling name – keeping the spirit alive even as its structure evolves.
But not everyone sees this as decline. One Discogs user named friulchingo recently reflected:
“I used to be a massive fan, and since I started collecting records I’ve bought several EPs. I don’t think the quality of Giegling has decreased over time. I believe the world changed, and our taste with it. Giegling, instead, stayed true to itself, and that’s at least admirable… In 2030 or 2040 or, hopefully, 2050, I’ll listen back to these releases and say: ‘Damn, those were the good days.’”
That comment captures something vital about Giegling’s legacy. In an era defined by algorithmic trends and disposable club culture, Giegling’s refusal to evolve for evolution’s sake might be its most radical act. Their music – introspective, emotional, and timeless – may outlast much of what came after.
Whether Ende Gut Alles Gut truly marks the end of Giegling or simply a new beginning is uncertain. The untriggered mousetrap on its cover suggests the latter — a final act of misdirection from a label that has always thrived on mystery. If this is indeed their last chapter, it’s a beautifully fitting one; if not, it’s the perfect setup for whatever Giegling chooses to spring next.
As a nod to the past, we’re revisiting a moment that perfectly captures Giegling’s early spirit – an IA MIX recorded by ATEQ for Inverted Audio back in 2013. The hour-long recording drifts through a hazy, emotive blend of ambient textures and understated house, featuring tracks by Leafar Legov, Traumprinz, Baby Ford, Boards of Canada, and Brian Eno – artists who helped shape Giegling’s DNA. 12 years later, it still sounds timeless, suspended somewhere between nostalgia and renewal.
‘Ende Gut Alles Gut’ is scheduled for release soon. Pre-order from Inverted Audio Record Store.
TRACKLIST
A1. Vera – Pain of Thoughts
A2. Edward – Uba
B1. Leafar Legov – Komorebi
B2. Ernst – Dachgeschoss
B3. Otto – Sueno
B4. Map.ache – New Friends
C1. Mountain People – Dranse
C2. Sevensol & Bender – Auffahrt Zürich
D1. Terrence Dixon – Starlight
D2. Amir Alexander – Necessary Sanctuary (10 a.m.)
E1. Lowtec – No Man is an Island
E2. Nina Kraviz – Boogie
F1. Nosc – 35
F2. Oskar Offermann – Keeper
F3. Cassy – K.l.b.
F3. Tobias. – Interrupt
G1. Molly – Noche Pasadas
G2. The Ghostbusters – Vom Rand Der Welt
H1. Taksu – Din Nou
I1. Matthias Reilling – Ansiktslos
I2. Disordered Rhythm Metronomy – Ulaanbaatar
I3. Ulla & Jan Jelinek – Live at Funkhaus 29.03.2024
J1. Lawrence – Jamesonite
J2. Margaux Gazur – End of Summer
K1. Cosmo & Eduardo De La Calle – Han
K2. Serafin – Sun in the Fridge
L1. Vril – Four2
L2. Koriander – Monday Rain
L3. Birds & Tapes – Abschied
