hackedepicciotto – Lichtung (Mute)
An album inspired by the Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto’s move to the edge of Berlin (close to where Hacke grew up before he joined Einstürzende Neubauten) after a nomadic lifestyle, this album is an ambient masterpiece. It opens on its title track, signifying the moment of emerging from nature with glockenspiel, singeing electronic effects, classical piano, quivering strings and percussive stamps. This being a release that is solely sung in German, ‘Vogelfrei’ sees a more harsh sounding German than the opening track, with cosmic noise and violinic laments amongst a trudging bassline.
’Wiederbelebung’ has rotunda zip sounds and ‘Zeitenwende’ is a funky track carrying hints of Young Gods’ song ‘TV Sky’, with a harmonic duet between Picciotto and Hacke; ‘Draussen’ is like an action soundtrack, steadily building to frenzied strings grounded by glockenspiel and confused by electronics. The eight-track release ends on ‘Der Marschal’ a lament death march, with a single piano key ringing throughout. An organic multi-instrumental creation that marks a celebratory moment in this couple’s lives.
‘Lichtung’ is available now on limited edition coloured vinyl, vinyl, CD and digitally.
© Ayisha Khan.