Hallogallo 2010 pres Neu! (DE)
Friday Sep. 17 – Folken at 22:30
The legendary German group NEU! released only 3 albums between 1972 and 1975, but these albums had an influence wildly disproportionate to their modest commercial success; praised by and influential to David Bowie, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop, DEVO, Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Autechre, Radiohead, U2, Wilco, Primal Scream, and beyond. In May 2010 Gronland Records released a box including these three LP’s and an incredible batch of bonus material. Also this year will be the first live presentation of this music in more than 35 years as Hallogallo 2010.
Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger first came to the public’s attention shredding Hendrix-toned riffs and pounding monotonous, tom-heavy beats in a particularly psychedelic 1971 version of Kraftwerk. The pair left after 6 months to form NEU! and took with them their tandem musical language that would go on to have a far-reaching influence. Dinger’s propulsive beat is often cited as the quintessential motorik drumming, while Rother’s guitar playing made something new from a variety of influences: The timbres were of rock music, but the melodic sense was something else- the scales were bittersweet and very European, accompanied by a Middle-Eastern style open-string drone. The trio of Rother, Dinger, and producer Conny Plank created a cohesive universe where straightforward tones and melodies intermarried with heavily processed elements, where reality could turn itself inside-out or stretch out seemingly forever.
Rother and Dinger parted ways after the third NEU! album. The pair regrouped in 1985/86 but were never able to complete another album to their mutual satisfaction. In 2008 Klaus Dinger passed away.
Regarding the NEU! box set, Rother says: It was my aim to present Klaus Dinger’s musical strengths and visions just as much as my own ideas. All during the emotional process of reworking our album Klaus was on my mind and I contemplated what he would think about my decisions. I was very relieved and moved to hear from his heir Miki Yui that she was pleased with the result presented with the album NEU! ’86.
Inspired by revisiting these recordings, Rother has invited a group of musicians to visit the NEU! universe with him for a series of live performances: Hallogallo 2010 consists of Michael Rother with Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Benjamin Curtis (School Of Seven Bells), and Aaron Mullan. They will perform a limited number of concerts this year.