If you went to a goth-industrial nightclub in the early 2000s, you should be familiar with the song “Blue Lights.” Its stuttering electronics made it a massive club hit, regularly appearing on playlists alongside classics from the likes of Wolfsheim, Beborn Beton, Iris, and more.
The German synthpop project responsible for “Blue Lights” is called Fictional, and now they’re making an unexpected return. On May 16, Fictional will release a new single, “Your Whisper,” their first new music in 22 years.
Who is Fictional?
If you’re unfamiliar with Fictional, you most definitely know the man behind the music. Fictional was founded in 1999 by Gerrit Thomas, one of the most prolific producers in the dark electronic scene. Gerrit is known for his work in Funker Vogt, Eisfabrik, and Ravenous (which made its own comeback in 2021), as well as his production work for acts like Alienare and Alex Braun.
Fictional released two albums—Fictitious in 2001 and Fiction in 2003—that blend synthpop melodies with dark, electronic energy. The project featured a rotating lineup of vocalists, including Tim Fockenbrock, who performed vocals on “Blue Lights,” and Jason Bainbridge, who lent vocals to the second album. Neither of those singers is involved in the new iteration of Fictional.
The comeback begins with “Your Whisper”
Fictional’s comeback begins with “Your Whisper,” a digital single arriving May 16. It features vocals by Christian Schottstädt, known for his work in the Depeche Mode tribute band, Forced to Mode, as well as collaborations with Paul van Dyk and Morphose.
The track will be released in five distinct versions, including a club remix.
“Your Whisper” is the first in a series of five singles—each with a different vocalist—that will be released in the lead-up to a new album from Fictional.
New album Some Great Constructions coming in October
The album is titled Some Great Constructions and is due out in October. The title is a clear nod to Depeche Mode, blending references to their albums Some Great Reward and Construction Time Again. According to the announcement:
“Some Great Constructions, which will be released in October, is intended as a homage to 1980s synthpop and thus to Thomas’s musical roots. As the album title suggests, the focus is on arguably the most influential band in this genre, with Thomas’s signature style remaining recognizable throughout.”
Some Great Constructions will feature 11 songs and 7 guest vocalists. Here are the tracks we know about so far:
- “Your Whisper” featuring Christian Schottstädt (Forced to Mode)
- “Embrace the Silence” featuring Patrik Hansson (Uncreated, Vanguard)
- “Crossroads” featuring Rocco Schulschenk (N-Frequency)
- “Ghosts of the Past” featuring Nils Upahl (Beyond Obsession)
- “Faster” featuring P-O Svensson (Colony 5)
- “Binocular” featuring David Erdmann (digital ENERGY)
- “Dreaming” featuring Nicky Schulschenk (Mondträume)
