I
Richard Müller

About:

6 September 1961

Son of actor Vlado Müller Richard started as a music journalist. In the beginning of the 1980s, while studying the theory of drama and screenplay at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), he started writing for the daily paper and the only specialized periodical at the time, Popular, and, later, for Gramorevue. As a journalist, in his own words, he could get close to the musicians he admired easier. His first song, "Radio", was recorded with the Burčiak Pavla Daněka band. The track was very successful in the music chart which encouraged Müller to start a band with Martin Karvaš called Banket. Banket made their first performance in 1984 at the Bratislava Lyre pop festival with the song ‘Nespoznaný’ (Unknown). Their debut album, ‘Bioelektrovízia’ (1986) featured the first hit single ‘Po schodoch’. Assuming that the duo’s electropop would also found interest in the west an English version was released called ‘Up the Stairs’, without any succes. The cooperation with Karvaš lasted for two more albums but Müller also became involved in other side projects. He co-wrote a hit for singer Daniel Junas called ‘Na Zlatych Pieskoch v lete’. He also became involved with Czech songwriting duo Hapka/ Horáček on whose album ‘‘V penziónu Svět’ he is one of the vocalists. He extends his musical output to delivering a soundtrack for the movie ‘Kúpeľňový player’ (1988) and an adaptation of Brecht’s musical Baäl (1991, with Andrei Šeban). By 1990 Müller officially ended Banket and started focussing on a solo career.

The first album was still made of songs he had lying around. An acquintence with songwriter Jaro Filip he met during the recording of his second album delivered a long lasting coöperation. The result was Nineties albums L.S.D. (1996), Nočná optika (1998) and Koniec sveta (1999). In the new age this relationship ended. Müller did a duo project with Horáček and created his 2001 album with with the help Ivan Tásler from the Slovak band I.M.T. Smile. In 2003 during his stay in New York, Müller created his first fully self penned album ‘Monogamný vzťah’ with a couple of American musicians. Henrich Leško got back on the post of producer for the album ‘44’ recorded again in NYC. Richard Müller did an extensive tour of Slovakia and the Czech Republic in December 2005. At the end of the tour he annouced his retirement. He came back on this decision in 2010 when Ivan Tásler persueded him to record a new album. He also started performing again doing gigs also outside Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

On the web:

Richard's website: http://richard.muller.sk/

If you like this, you probably like... / european counterparts:

Herbert Grönemeyer (Germany)

Dominique A (France)

What do we think:

DB: Some foreign bloggers labeled Müller as a Depeche Mode disciple. How wrong that analysis is. They miss the essence of Richard completely and maybe based their ordeal on 2,5 notes of a Banket song. Richard is more then that. Especially his solo work and the music he did with Hapka and Horáceck. His music is intelligent yet poppy. Thanks to his journalistic background he is capable to mix Czech/Slovaka cabaresque critique with electronic music, traditional elements and modern arrangements. His music sounds modern and timeless at the same time. He is regarded very high as an artist in Slovakia and is one the most interesting post-iron curtain artists in the region.

Discography:

With Banket:
♪♪ - Bioelektrovízia (1986)

♪♪♪ - Druhá doba?! (1988)

- Vpred? (1990)

Solo:
- Neuč vtáka lietať (1992)

♪♪♪ - 33 (1994)

♪♪♪ - LSD (1996)

- Nočná optika (1998)

- Müllenium live (1999)

- Koniec sveta (1999)

- ♪♪♪♪♪ ... a hosté (2000)

- ´01 (2001)

- Monogamný vzťah (2004)

- 44 (2005)

♪♪♪♪ - Už (2010)

- Eště (2011)

 

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided