Highest Primzahl On Mars, a cosmic quartet with roots in eclectic backgrounds, has recently released their latest album ‘Error Not Found,’ a more intricate journey compared to their debut ‘Escape From Moronia.’

The band’s unique blend of space-rock and improvisation takes listeners on an 82-minute trip, weaving complex psychedelic landscapes and incorporating original sound fragments from old sci-fi movies. The album showcases a shift in personnel, adding a new member whose earthy influence enriches their already expansive sound. With tracks like ‘Yeast From Outer Space’ and the wild sounds of a theremin, the album offers a true psychedelic exploration. Absorb the cosmic messages they deliver—and let the journey take you.

“We try to keep ourselves free of influences from earthly music”

Let’s go back to the genesis—how did you all first stumble into each other’s orbits and decide to become a cosmic quartet? Was it like, “Hey, let’s make music that feels like a space probe lost in the rings of Saturn,” or did it just… happen?

We are a small group of various old life forms from very different backgrounds who met for the first time during a boring karaoke evening in a cellar bar very close to Valles Marineris. As it turned out over the course of the evening, after several drinks, we could all play an instrument, and it was spontaneously decided to do this together. After several meetings in an old saferoom, shielded from all outside influences, it was clear that we wanted to form a band to create new and unheard music that would enrich the sound universe of the cosmos. We wanted to go even further and dare to send our music to the inhabitants of the once-beautiful planet Earth for their edification.

What’s the most ridiculous or surreal moment from your early days?

That’s difficult to answer because the early days were a very long time ago— we’ve actually been around as a band for 19 Earth months, and our memory is not geared to such a long time. But maybe it was the moment during the first performance of our music in front of Earthlings when we realized that they actually didn’t flee and even amazingly slapped their limbs called hands together.

Who came up with the name “Highest Primzahl On Mars”? What’s the story behind it?

If you listen carefully, the answer can be found between the lines of our lyrics. To the general listener, it seems as if we do without voices reciting the lyrics—they call it singing. It is not like this. We have found very lyrical words to fill our music with additional content—you just have to open yourself up to hear them.

Your debut ‘Escape From Moronia’ took listeners on a frenzied trip through space—what was the headspace like when recording that one? Were you holed up in some makeshift spaceship of a studio, or was it a classic case of making music that matched the madness of real life?

We record everything at our regular meetings in the aforementioned saferoom, after fortifying ourselves with lots of vegetables called “Kraut.” Then we convert the sounds and vibrations that are inaudible to you into audible ones and adapt them to your perception so that you can enjoy a truly cosmic experience.

<a href="https://highestprimzahlonmars.bandcamp.com/album/escape-from-moronia">Escape From Moronia by Highest Primzahl On Mars</a>

You’ve just dropped ‘Error Not Found,’ and reviewers are calling it a step up, a more intricate journey. What’s the big difference between ‘Error Not Found’ and ‘Escape From Moronia’?

The audible difference is that there was a change of personnel after the release of ‘Escape From Moronia.’ One of the guys who played guitar on that album bravely decided to travel to other universes. But we quickly found a replacement, and this new member of our community helped to enrich the sound of Highest Primzahl On Mars and make it a bit more earthy. You can hear that he also likes to eat “Kraut.”

They say ‘Error Not Found’ is packed with “complex psychedelic landscapes” and “original speech sound fragments from old sci-fi movies”—what’s the wildest sound you managed to sneak in there, and how did you decide it belonged in the mix?

We spared no effort to find ancient film recordings of mankind and finally used a few sound fragments from them. The wildest sound is perhaps the attempt to sing in your language, to be heard in the music piece ‘Yeast From Outer Space,’ or the sounds of an earthly instrument that you call a theremin and which has caused us great astonishment and pleasure.

<a href="https://highestprimzahlonmars.bandcamp.com/album/error-not-found">ERROR NOT FOUND by Highest Primzahl On Mars</a>

How do you keep the recording process interesting when you’re crafting an 82-minute space-rock epic like ‘Error Not Found’? Any moments where you thought, “This is going to blow some minds,” or maybe even lose a few along the way?

Yes, we’re afraid there are many moments on ‘Error Not Found’ that might blow people’s minds. That’s why we put a warning in your language on the cover of the album to prepare the listener for what to expect and how to handle the album.

You’ve played everywhere from the Höllenschuppen at Herzberg Festival to the smoky corners of the Dreikönigskeller. What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened at one of your shows?

At one concert, items of clothing—underwear to be precise—flew onto the stage. We don’t know why, because we were all fully equipped and didn’t need any clothes. But we are sure it was meant nicely.

What’s the vibe you’re aiming for when you play live? Are you trying to bring people into the soundscapes of your albums, or do you see the stage as a whole new playground where anything can happen?

We play pieces of music live (of course in human bodies) that are on our albums, but they always sound different because we improvise a lot and always soak up the vibes and the brains of the audience and process them into sounds. This means that anything can happen—very happy and fulfilling, but also really terrible things. But we also bring very peaceful messages, and if they are understood, then we are happy.

You supported Acid Mothers Temple earlier this year. How did that go down?

This great band is also out of your world. It was there long before us, and we were very happy to get the audience in the mood, which we think we did well.

From playing festivals to small, intimate venues, which do you prefer? Do you thrive on the communal energy of a big crowd, or is there something special about those tightly packed spaces where the feedback almost becomes another instrument?

It is a pleasure and an honor for us to offer you our works and messages. It doesn’t matter where. We like to be close to you, but sometimes it is also relaxing to keep our distance.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

We try to keep ourselves free of influences from earthly music. But songs like ‘Life On Mars’ by David Bowie, ‘Life On Mars’ by T. Rex, and ‘Uncle Sams’ on Mars by Hawkwind are acceptable.