The Clouds Will Clear – Recollection Of What Never Was

"Recollection Of What Never Was" is the debut album by The Clouds Will Clear, an instrumental post-rock band from Frankfurt, Germany. Released in September 2018, the album combines lush post-rock, organic ambient textures, and cinematic soundscapes with a hint of electronica. As the drummer and visual artist for the band, I created pre-rendered visuals that were triggered live using QLab, transforming our performances into immersive audio-visual experiences.

About The Band

The Clouds Will Clear was an instrumental post-rock band from Frankfurt, Germany, formed in 2013. We blended layered guitars, synths, bass, and drums with samples to create ethereal soundscapes. Our live performances were complemented by visuals that enhanced the immersive experience.

Band Members:

• Angelo – Guitars, Synths, Samples
• Tobias – Guitars, Synths
• Andreas – Bass
• Gerold – Drums, Visuals

Critics described our sound as "a mixture of opulent post-rock, organic ambient, ethereal cinematic soundscapes, and a hint of electronica".

The Album: Recollection Of What Never Was

The album features five tracks that explore themes of memory, introspection, and transformation:

In Cycles – Recollection – Before The Tempest – Attack Warning – Deep Sea Mining

Released through Tonzonen Records in 2018, the album received praise for its intricate compositions and emotional depth (Avenoctum, Rockblog Bluespot). Critics noted its ability to "immerse listeners into a cinematic journey."
Have a listen – it's free.

Recollection Of What Never Was, by The Clouds Will Clear

5 track album

The Clouds Will ClearThe Clouds Will Clear

Visual Design & Live Performances

For live shows supporting Recollection Of What Never Was, I designed pre-rendered visuals that were triggered using QLab. These visuals incorporated abstract patterns, nature imagery, and urban landscapes to reflect the emotional arc of each track. The projections were thrown onto the stage and performers, creating a dynamic interplay between sound and visuals.

Below, you can explore the complete live visuals of the album, along with images of my stage setup and QLab session. Additionally, I managed my in-ear monitoring on there and triggered samples for select tracks from this setup, ensuring a seamless integration of music and visuals.

Tour Highlights

To support the release of Recollection Of What Never Was, we embarked on two tours across Germany and Austria in 2018 -2019. These performances brought our immersive audio-visual piece to diverse venues—from intimate clubs to larger stages. Notable performances included:

Press & Recognition

Our music has been well-received by both fans and critics:

• "Innovative, compelling and unbelievably catchy (9.5/10)" – Pretty In Noise (Review)
• "An engaging journey through five movements characterized by minimal melodies with hypnotic qualities" – Echoes And Dust (Review)
• "A cinematic journey that immerses listeners" – Avenoctum (Review)

We were very fortunate and grateful that the enthusiasm for our work was further demonstrated by the rapid sell-out of our vinyl records within just a few weeks of release. This success reflects the strong connection we made with our audience, who appreciated the tangible and immersive experience that vinyl provides. We are thankful for the support and memories shared with our fans throughout our journey.

Behind the Scenes: Creative Process & Technical Details

The visuals for this project were meticulously crafted using pre-rendered assets synchronized with live music via QLab software. The setup included:

• Projector for stage mapping
• Custom-designed visual assets reflecting each track's mood
• QLab for visual playback, backing tracks and sample triggering

This approach allowed us to seamlessly integrate visuals into our performances while maintaining flexibility for improvisation.

Disbandment & Legacy

In 2021, after eight years of creating music, The Clouds Will Clear made the difficult decision to disband due to distance and personal reasons. Despite this, the band's legacy lives on, and some of us continue to pursue music in new projects. We remain grateful for the support and memories shared with our fans and fellow musicians we now call friends throughout the journey.

Reflection & Future Plans

"Recollection Of What Never Was" marked a significant milestone for me, as well as The Clouds Will Clear as both a musical and visual project. It pushed my creative boundaries as both a drummer and visual artist while allowing us to connect deeply with audiences through immersive performances.

Looking ahead, we are excited to see where new musical endeavors will take us.

For inquiries about my work as a drummer or visual artist: hello@geroldbrunner.com