Night in Motion — U96
After Das Boot, U96 went darker and more electronic. Night in Motion, from the 1993 album Replugged, went top ten in Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden.
- Second single from U96’s second album, Replugged (1993), on Urban.
- Written by Alex Christensen, Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis and Hayo Panarinfo.
- No. 1 in Israel; top ten in Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden.
U96 had already conquered Germany with a techno version of a film theme. “Night in Motion” showed what came next: a 1993 single from the album Replugged that took the Hamburg project back into the top ten in Germany, Austria, Finland and Sweden.
After “Das Boot”
U96 was formed in Hamburg by DJ and producer Alex Christensen with Matiz, a production team made up of Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis and Hayo Lewerentz. The name comes from the film Das Boot, about the German submarine U-96. Their debut, “Das Boot” (1991), a techno take on Klaus Doldinger’s film theme, went to No. 1 in Germany and Austria, and an album of the same name followed in March 1992.
Replugged
The second album, Replugged, came out in 1993. It drew on 1980s electro, with ambient and disco touches. It sold less than its predecessor but produced three top ten hits: “Love Sees No Colour”, “Night in Motion” and “Inside Your Dreams”. Ingo Hauss sang most of the male vocals on the album, though he was not credited. “Night in Motion” was released on Urban as the album’s second single, written by Christensen, Hauss, Hoinkis and Hayo Panarinfo, one of Lewerentz’s other names, and produced by Christensen and Matiz.
Charts and reception
In 1993 the single reached No. 1 in Israel, No. 6 in Lithuania, No. 7 in Austria and Finland, No. 9 in Germany and No. 10 in Sweden. It peaked at No. 18 in Switzerland, No. 29 in France and No. 25 on the Eurochart Hot 100; in the Netherlands it stopped at No. 38. Reviewing it for Music & Media, Raùl Cairo saw strong potential for it to cross over to pop audiences. It finished 1993 at No. 55 on the German year-end chart.
U96 after the 90s
Between house, trance and Eurodance, “Night in Motion” sums up the early-90s European club sound. U96 returned in 2018 with Reboot, without Christensen and Hoinkis, and released Transhuman with Wolfgang Flür in 2020. Helmut Hoinkis died in February 2021 and Ingo Hauss in October 2025. For more from the same era, read about “The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona, “Ride on Time” by Black Box and “Meet Her at the Love Parade” by Da Hool.
FAQ
Who made Night in Motion?
U96, the Hamburg project of Alex Christensen and the production team Matiz: Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis and Hayo Lewerentz, also credited as Hayo Panarinfo.
What album is Night in Motion on?
Replugged, U96’s second album, released in 1993. It was the album’s second single.
How did Night in Motion chart?
In 1993 it reached No. 1 in Israel, No. 7 in Austria and Finland, No. 9 in Germany and No. 10 in Sweden.
