Völlig Harmlos

About

Völlig Harmlos was an underground cassette label operating in the early 1980s, based in the German-speaking region. The label's name, meaning "completely harmless" in German, presented an ironic counterpoint to its output of experimental and industrial music. The label primarily released material on cassette format, reflecting the DIY ethos and accessibility of underground tape culture during that era. The surviving discography consists of live recordings and compilation releases from 1981-1982, documenting performances and works from the experimental music scene. These releases, including "Live 1978" and monthly compilation cassettes from late 1981 and early 1982, provide a snapshot of the European underground industrial and experimental music community during a formative period. While limited documentation exists about the label's specific roster and founding details, Völlig Harmlos remains a minor but notable artifact of early 1980s European tape culture and the grassroots experimental music infrastructure that predated wider digital distribution.