Bromsen x Reatsch: Data Highway
Bromsen Plug Into the Present with “Data Highway”
by Jack Rush
Berlin’s Bromsen aren’t interested in nostalgia for its own sake. With their latest single “Data Highway”, the duo of Richard and Karlo Bromsen, joined by acclaimed producer Robert “Reatsch” Eydner, transform their indie rock and synthwave roots into a dazzling neon ride through our hyperconnected age.
The track kicks off like a digital engine roaring to life—Richard’s layered synths laying out a rich, atmospheric canvas before Karlo’s vocals slice in with urgency. “Hangin’ around caught in a wire / How can we drown in the Wi-Fi?” he sings, witty yet cutting, capturing the irony and exhaustion of life lived online. The chorus locks in the theme with irresistible force: “We’re driving on a data highway.”
Reatsch’s touch on the production is unmistakable. Known as the founder of Suburb Studio Berlin, he has helmed more than a thousand recordings, but here his mix is particularly alive—balancing cybernetic beats, sharp guitar edges, and moments of spacious breathing room. The result is a sound that feels retro-futurist and modern in equal measure: forward-driving, cinematic, and impossible to sit still to.
For Bromsen, “Data Highway” builds on the momentum of their 2024 debut Brothers in Mind, which reintroduced the Berlin-based pair after a long hiatus. Now with drummer Bon Schmelke joining the lineup, the band’s live presence has grown more expansive and dynamic. The release is further elevated by a visually striking music video that leans into retro-wave aesthetics, giving fans a vivid world to match the song’s high-voltage energy.
A track that bridges synthwave nostalgia with present-day tension, “Data Highway” is a reminder that Bromsen are here not just to revisit the past but to reimagine it for today. Add it to your playlists if you want a ride that’s as hook-heavy as it is thought-provoking.
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