Ding An Sich: The early Years 1987 - 1992

The name Ding An Sich is derived from Immanuel Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason”. The seeds were

sown in the early 80’s, when Nick Sarikostas (bass) & Makis Floros (drums), inspired by the Punk ethos and influenced by the Post-Punk aesthetics, decided to give their own restlessness, a form of expression by forming a band. After one year of them rehearsing as a duet, they were joined by guitarist John Halikias.
                                                                                                         

In 1985 the project had to be abandoned, but in 1987, Ding An Sich re-emerged with George Polyzos

on drums. The trio was committed to playing their own music (still instrumental at that point), until they realized that there were enough compositions which “demanded” to become songs. The next recruitment was Panagiotis (Takis) Merekos in 1988, who undertook the task to provide the vocals & lyrics.
                                                                                            

In 1989 and just one week before the band was about to enter the studio for the first time, their guitarist

left. But against all odds, his replacement, Dimitris Papalakis, was proven a decisive factor in the evolution of the band’s music. His charismatic albeit unconventional playing and ideas, gave Ding An Sich their own personal sound. This same year the band releases the first 7” single “And…/Wandering” on their own label. Vaggelis Bekonopoulos (keyboards) joined Ding An Sich in 1990, thus enriching their sound.
                                                                          

For the next 3 years the band spent most time in rehearsing & recording. And occasionally making a live appearance, of which the most notable being the ones with Paul Roland (1991) and The Damned (1992).
In 1992 Dimitris Papalakis decided to leave the band and was replaced by Tasos Nomikos (guitarist of the "BrainDead").
                                                                                        

Further recordings took place and although there was enough material for the release of 2 albums,

circumstances didn’t allow the materialization of any of these, as the band wanted to act with as much independence as possible.
The year 1993 proved to be a landmark in the band’s history, as it signalled radical changes both in the line-up and expression of musical form.
But this is another story altogether.
                                                                           

Geheimnis Music Productions presents this LP compilation, including almost all material of the band's

studio sessions between 1987 and 1992. George Ginis performed a thorough remastering from the original master tapes at Ammos Music studio. The total production of 355 hand-numbered copies (181 copies on black and 174 copies on transparent violet vinyl) include an insert with photos, credits and lyrics of their one and only 7'' single "And... / Wandering".
                                                                                   

Οι Ding An Sich είναι ελληνικό gothic metal μουσικό συγκρότημα που σχηματίστηκε στην Αθήνα το 1987. Η πρώτη τους δισκογραφική κυκλοφορία ήταν το 7" single ("And/Wandering"). Από το 1998 έως το 1991 ηχογράφησαν τα τραγούδια που αποτέλεσαν το υλικό της πρώτης ολοκληρωμένης δισκογραφικής τους δουλειάς (Old as forever. New as tomorrow).
                                                          

Εκείνη την περίοδο έδωσαν πολλές συναυλίες. Οι πιο αξιομνημόνευτες είναι αυτές με τον Paul Roland

και τους The Damned. Το 1996 μετά από αλλαγές στη σύνθεση κυκλοφόρησαν το άλμπουμ The Wanderer & his Shadow. Το 2004 κυκλοφόρησαν το ΕΡ We are involved in a war. Το 2009 συμμετείχαν στην συλλογή Gothic Visions της γερμανικής εταιρίας Echozone. Το 2013 κυκλοφόρησαν το Digital single Kill me with you soft whispered promises.
                                                                                         

Η φράση "Ding an sich" είναι όρος στο φιλοσοφικό έργο του Ιμμάνουελ Καντ και σημαίνει το «πράγμα καθεαυτό», δηλαδή την υπερβατική ουσία των πραγμάτων που κατά το Γερμανό στοχαστή είναι αδύνατο να γίνει αντιληπτή από τις αισθήσεις μας.

DISCOGRAPHY

Albums

The Wanderer And His Shadow
We Are Involved In A War

Singles & EPs

And....... /Wandering...
Ding An Sich / ΑΩ - Telepathy Series Γ-Δ

Ding An Sich – The Early Years 1987 - 1992
Label: Geheimnis Music Productions – GHMN.032
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered, Violet Transparent
Country: Greece
Released: Dec 17, 2020
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Darkwave, Goth Rock, Post-Punk

TRAXS

A1.  And...
(Music By – Nikos Sarikostas/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  5:05
A2. Staying Back To Continue The Show
(Music By – Evaggelos Bekonopoulos/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  4:34
A3. Evening Wind
(Music By – Nikos Sarikostas/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  3:48
A4. Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand
(Music By – Evaggelos Bekonopoulos/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  6:55
A5. Little Screaming Animal
(Music By – Nikos Sarikostas/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  4:31

 

B1. Land Of Glory
(Music By – Evaggelos Bekonopoulos/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  5:45
B2. When Tears Have Eyes
(Music By – Nikos Sarikostas/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  3:25
B3. Wandering
(Words By, Music By – Nikos Sarikostas)  4:47
B4. Tears Of The Angel
(Music By – Nikos Sarikostas/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  4:46
B5. (You Told Me) I'm So Tired
(Music By – Dimitris Papalakis/ Words By – Panagiotis Merekos)  6:36

BONUS TRAXS

11. Comedy (Joker's Mix - Feat. Marina)  4:08
12. Fun (Feat. Maria)  5:02
13. Replica (Cindy Mix - Feat. Nadia)  6:23

MP3 @ 320 Size: 153 MB
Flac  Size: 465 MB

Credits

Artwork – PanosDread, Nikos Sarikostas
Bass – Nikos Sarikostas
Drums – Giorgos Polyzos
Engineer – Takis Argyriou
Guitar – Tasos Nomikos (tracks: A2, B1, B2), Dimitris Papalakis (tracks: A1, A3. A4, A5, B3, B4. B5)
Keyboards – Evaggelos Bekonopoulos  (tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, B2, B4, B5), Nikos Sarikostas  (tracks: Β3)
Piano – Nikos Veliotis (tracks: B3)
Producer – Ding An Sich, Takis Argyriou
Remastered By – George Ginis
Vocals – Panagiotis Merekos
                                                                               

Notes
Remastered from the original master tapes at "Ammos Music" (December 2019)
Sleeve and label photos by Nikos Sarikostas.
Insert band photos supplied by Panagiotis Merekos

Limited edition of 355 hand-numbered copies.
- 181 copies on black vinyl .
- 174 copies on transparent violet vinyl (this).
Comes with insert with credits, lyrics (And... / Wandering) and pictures of the band.