Label
Klett Verlag
Stuttgart-based German independent label specializing in experimental spoken word, literary adaptations, and radio drama on cassette during the 1980s.
About
Klett Verlag is a German independent label based in Stuttgart, established in the 1980s with a focus on experimental and literary audio works. The label's catalog reflects a distinctive artistic philosophy emphasizing spoken word, radio drama, and text-based compositions over conventional music formats. Operating primarily during the mid-to-late 1980s, Klett Verlag released material exclusively on cassette tape, a format choice that aligned with the label's underground and avant-garde positioning. The label's releases include literary adaptations, radio melodramas, and poetic recitations, suggesting connections to German cultural institutions and broadcast media. Notable titles such as "Wintermärchen. Radiomelodram" (sourced from WDR, the West German broadcasting corporation) and "Kassandra" demonstrate the label's engagement with classical literature and experimental radio production. While operating at the margins of commercial music distribution, Klett Verlag occupied a significant niche within German experimental and literary audio culture, documenting spoken word and dramatic works during a period when cassettes served as the primary medium for underground artistic distribution.