Janus

Janus formed in 1987 around two musicians known only as K and S, who handled vocals with piano and electronic instruments respectively. They took their name from the Roman god of beginnings and endings, which suited their interest in duality and time. Their debut album 'Die Nacht' came out not long after, establishing a sound that mixed classical piano with electronic textures.

In 1996 they released what many consider their definitive work, an album titled 'Der Tag, an dem ich Kafka traf'. The title track became their most recognized song, a slow, atmospheric piece built around K's murmured vocals and sparse piano. Other songs from that period like 'Das Gesicht' and 'Anita spielt Cello' followed similar patterns, quiet, deliberate, with lyrics that felt more like fragments of poetry than conventional verses.

They maintained a deliberately low profile, rarely giving interviews or playing live, which added to their reputation as a reclusive act. Their discography remained small, just a few albums including 'Das Buch der Zeit', but each release stayed consistent in its hushed, contemplative mood. They never seemed interested in broadening their sound or audience, which made their music feel like a closed world.