Unpleasant Surprise


Main image

Named after a song of The Nits the multi instrumentalist sisters Daniela and Jeannette Schwabel founded the group in West Berlin early 1986. Jeanette played Drums, Guitar, Mandolin, Accordion - Daniela Bass, Guitar, Drums, Mandolin and both sung.
Before their first live appearance the line-up was expanded with Peter Wanke (Keyboards, Vocals) and Martina Schmidbauer (Guitar, Vocals). In 1987 they self-released their first eponymous Cassette and got into street performing until late Autumn as 'Sidekick Surprise'.
Peter and Martina left the group in August 1988 so they continued recording as Duo until Martin Trapp (Keyboards, Accordion, Bass) joined in April '89. With him they won the 1989 'Berlin Rock News' competition and as price valuable studio time. After nearly 10 self released cassettes in 1991 their first full length collection 'Wrong Way, Right Picture' appeared on Irre Tapes and finally in 1993 a 7 EP. Jürgen Oeser - their 'best boy', caterer and sound man from the beginning got credited as honourable member.
After a few more Cassette Only releases and concerts Unpleasant Surprise ceased activities after 1996.

They called their music themselves Surprise Pop - too poppy for the avant-garde and too experimental for the contemporary pop scene.



ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Various
Decadion 2
2013, CDr, CD-ROM, Comp + 147xFile, MP3, 128, Music & Elsewhere, ,
Space Rock/Darkwave/Synth-pop/New Wave/Pop Rock/Punk/Prog Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Experimental/Power Pop/Heavy Metal/Acid Rock/Goth Rock/Avantgarde/Ambient/Drone/Hardcore/Indie Rock/Lo-Fi/Alternative Rock/Abstract/Hip Hop/Techno/Electro/Blues Rock/Acoustic/Breakbeat/Industrial/Dub/Ethereal
Various
The World Of Ebus Music
1997, Cass, Comp, Smplr, C60, Ebus Music
Various
IV Victor / Lost In Europe
1995, Cass, Comp, C90, Klappstuhl Records, ,
Leftfield/New Wave/Electro/Punk/Minimal
Various
Ha-Collection No. 3 (Excerpts HA025-042)
1995, Cass, Smplr, C60, Ha-Releases
Various
Neue Muster Volume 12 + 13
1995, 2xCass, Comp, Tonspur Tapes, ,
New Wave/Industrial/Synth-pop/Experimental/Ambient
Various
Outbreakers II
1994, CD, Comp, Ebus Music, ,
Lo-Fi/Industrial/Electro/Minimal/Experimental
Various
A Tribute To IRRE-Tapes
1994, Cass, Comp, Num, C90, IRRE Tapes, ,
Indie Rock/Experimental/Ambient/Goth Rock/Synth-pop/Minimal
Various
The Best Of IRRE-Tapes Vol. 6
1993
Various
The Power And The Passion Volume X
1992, Cass, Comp, C46, IRRE Tapes, ,
Pop Rock/Synth-pop/Experimental
Various
GAJOOBilation Eight
1992, Cass, Comp, Gajoob, ,
Country Rock/Experimental/Pop Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Various
The Power And The Passion Volume IV
1991, Cass, Comp, Num, C46, IRRE Tapes, ,
Alternative Rock/Experimental
Various
One - Two - Three - Four (Vol. I)
1991, Cass, Album, Comp, Num, C60, Ebus Music
Various
The Best Of Irre Tapes Volume IV - 051-065
1991, Cass, Comp, C90, Irre Tapes, ,
New Wave/Punk/Minimal/Experimental/Synth-pop