Blackbook: The enigmatic duo blending synth pop and darkwave

Blackbook is a Dutch-Swiss duo who began creating synth pop and darkwave music in 2018. The enigmatic pair have never officially divulged their identities and wear fencing masks in their photos and music videos. However, they have been revealed to be Dutch singer Albert Den Dekker and Swiss producer Matthias Kräutli. They are both members of the Swiss indie pop band My Name Is George. Their 2010 song ‘You Are Under Arrest’ was used as the title track for Netflix’s cop show, Under Arrest.

The band released eleven singles from 2018 onward, beginning with ‘Love is a Crime’ which was a call for queer equality.

These singles were collected together on their debut album, Confessions of the Innocent, which was released on October 14, 2022. The album also included two new singles, ‘Minefield’ and ‘My Beautiful Witch’. Here is the track listing:

1. Love Is A Crime
2. My Beautiful Witch
3. Nobody Home
4. Minefield
5. People Are Fake
6. I Dance Alone
7. This Is Not My World Anymore
8. My Darkest Memory
9. Lab Rats
10. Arms Around The World
11. Slowlove
12. Emergency Love
13. Julius Caesar
14. Join Us

The accompanying press release stated: “In their new debut album Confessions of the innocent, the Swiss-Dutch duo Blackbook creates sound worlds full of emotions and intensity by combining the heart of 80s new wave with a modern synthpop soul, a fusion so intriguing that it keeps you hitting repeat over and over again!

The album holds catchy songs tackling topics from all aspects of life, such as the internal struggles of the mind palace to the ineffable truths of society! Love, shame, rebellion, change.”

On April 26, 2024, Blackbook released their second album, Radio Strange. The tracks listing is:

1. Under The Radar2.
2. Out With A Bang
3. 3.Echoes And Shadows
4. You Are Strange
5. Normal
6. Haunted Love
7. The City Sleeps
8. Beautiful Lies
9. Painkiller
10. Here In The Night
11. Everybody Is A Nobody
12. No Way Out

In May 2025, Blackbook released their newest single, the catchy ‘Addicted’ via darkTunes Music Group. The song is a rousingly defiant statement about personal “independence” from a former lover.

Check out Mondozilla’s free Blackbook YouTube playlist
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#synthpop
#electronica