Gentle strings harmonise beautifully with drums and guitar, giving us a warm, elegant sound. It further enhances the poetry of the German lyrics, which are melancholic, but with subtle humour, somehow nostalgic, but also timeless; there is a lot going on between the lines. It comes as no surprise that the band members have close ties to the theatre as musicians, composer or actor. The Leipzig sextet's first full-length album, released in autumn 2025, is called ‘Gefährdete Arten’ (endangered species). Hotel Rimini is certainly not one of those. Their songs, which range from chanson pop to indie and jazz, are far too captivating for that.

Photo Alexander Graeff