by admin | Oct 6, 2016 | Monologue |
Last month saw me play two shows in Berlin and Vienna, on a mini-tour with the Canadian electronic artist Soft Riot. Both shows went well. The Berlin gig at the Loophole was kindly organised by local synth punk Ben Bloodygrave and also included a rousing performance by the German minimal synth act Endlose Emotion. The Bloodbeat Club night in Vienna, organised by Stephanie (of Vienna-based duo Mitra Mitra) and her friend Jan, was especially atmospheric as it featured my favourite peripheral concert device, the smoke machine. (I love to lurk mysteriously behind a thick cloud of vapour.) Both venues had good sound and enthusiastic, friendly audiences. The travelling was exhausting but I enjoyed the stunning scenery on the train ride from Berlin to Vienna via the Czech Republic. I was pleased to see that some of the trains still retain the individual compartment layout that is no longer found in Britain. They even had curtains. I had been to Berlin a few times before, but this was my first trip to Vienna. I loved the city and would like to explore it further. It is clear why Ultravox chose it as the subject of their synth Meisterwerk of the same name. With its grandiose architecture, heroic statuary, and boutique windows boasting gold leather gloves and pink quartz cockatoos, it must surely be the most New Romantic city in existence. In Vienna we met up with the Croatian electronic artist Iv/An, who has now created a great remix of one of my dancier tracks, Echtes Leder. It is available as a free download here for a limited time period. I would describe the style as minimal electro,...
