The group was originally composed of double bassist Werner Dafeldecker, cellist Michael Moser, trombonist Radu Malfatti and guitarist Burkhard Stangl.
Their name came from a voltage adapter Dafeldecker and Moser found in a second-hand shop.
An appearance at the 1996 LMC Festival in London garnered the group much attention.
With guitarist/laptop computer whiz Fennesz, this lineup recorded Wrapped Islands, which earned several positive reviews[1][2][3] In around 2004, percussionists Burkhard Beins and Martin Brandlmayr joined Polwechsel.
In 2008, Burkhard Stangl left the band and John Butcher also exited in 2009 leaving Polwechsel as a quartet.