U96

U96 is a dance music project formed in Hamburg by German producers Alex Christensen, Alberto Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis, and Hayo Panarinfo. The project is known for several Eurodance hits from the 1990s.

The name U96 is derived from the German submarine U 96 featured in the World War II film "Das Boot." The project’s first hit, "Das Boot" (1991), is a techno remake of the film’s original title melody composed by Klaus Doldinger. The album of the same name reached number one on the German charts and contributed significantly to the rise of techno and house music in Germany.

Their second album, "Replugged" (1993), marked a stylistic shift towards 1980s electropop, ambient sounds, and disco, achieving commercial success despite mixed reception regarding originality. It included top 10 singles like "Love Sees No Colour" and "Night in Motion," which featured 1980s techno-pop influences reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys and New Order. The album also contained calmer tracks such as "The One Russian" and "Without You," which have been considered early examples of trip-hop.

The third album, "Club Bizarre" (1995), introduced another change in sound, blending techno-pop elements with faster Euro trance styles. Notable singles from this album include "Love Religion" featuring vocalist Daisy Dee, the title track "Club Bizarre," known for its classical harmonies later reused by Brooklyn Bounce, and the rave-influenced "Movin'." The album was also released as an interactive CD-ROM, featuring music tracks, a discography, interviews, and a game compatible with Mac OS and Windows.

In 1996, the album "Heaven" was released, combining commercial sounds with electropop and hi-NRG Eurodance influences. New vocalist Dea-Li (Dorothy Lapi) contributed to four tracks on the album.

Subsequent singles included "Seven Wonders" (1997), "Energie" (1998), "Beweg Dich, Baby" (1998), and "Das Boot 2001" (2000). Instead of a new studio album, U96 released a compilation, "Best Of 1991 - 2001," which included new tracks from an unreleased album titled "Rhythm Of Life." Their last single, "We Call It Love," was issued as a promotional release in 2003. The project returned to the German Top 30 charts in 2006 with the downtempo single "Vorbei," featuring guest vocalist Ben.