„From Strawberry Hotel to Keel Road (and the jukeboxes in between)“

„Wo der Geier gleitet, absteigend
Auf einer Asphaltautobahn, die sich
Durch Bibliotheken und Museen, Galaxien und Sterne
Die windigen Hallen der Freundschaft hinunter
Zu der Rose, die von der Peitsche gestutzt wird
Das Motel der verlorenen Gefährten
Wartet mit beheiztem Pool, beheizter Bar“

There will come, in October and November, some promising albums (possibly mixing up the places 2 to 10 in Olaf’s and my „Nikolausliste“:)), and this is the cover of one of them, „Strawberry Hotel“. Underworld‘s last effort, „Drift“, was an artistic success all the way through (in my ears), the short version and especially the long epic edition. It was music to sink in, and as i was never much into techno (except some of it I preferred to listen to while sitting, not raving. I even danced to „Drift“ in my electric cave, and normally only dance here when listening to Marc Bolan‘s best song).

I had my Underworld days long after their early milestones (two of them were classics, „Beaucoup Fish“ not that strong). Later came the „Barbara“ album that didn‘t impress me too much, but „Drift“ was and is killer, always only a look and a dance and a deep listen away. I love to listen to „Drift“ in the dark, with the mini-movies or without. I love the way Karl Hyde let his lyrics and diary notes enter the tracks. His way of delivering words. Now one of the songs you can listen to HERE from the forthcoming album, reminds me of his first collaboration with Eno (my interview is HERE, and now ten years old), and i could imagine Brian‘s voice from 2014 joining Karl‘s verses, but that‘s just my imagination running away with me. (You know this classic? Who doesn‘t. When I heard it in the radio back in 1971 for the first time, I was literally floored. Buyed the single. Played it again and again. Til I was inside. Time capsules. Like THIS one.

Back to Underworld. I just have preordered this double album in vinyl, in a rush with the moving pictures Brian, The Whistler, recently wrote about, „Music For Black Pigeons“. A gift now for soul mates. A propos Jakob Bro who is a central figure in that documentary : i will see the Danish guitarero on one of his concerts in December, it may be December 04 at the Domicil in Dortmund, or at a festival in Palma de Mallorca three days later. At his side Arve Henriksen and Jorge Rossy. Speaking of Bro, immediately brings to mind his fantastic 2023 live album with Mikkelborg and Mazur (now available on vinyl, too), the nothing less than awesome debut of the Danish Søren Skov Orbit (Olaf, Norbert and me now are close to open up an internarional fanclub).

Seriously, I had the fantasy of a three record box of SSO and sent Manfred Eicher a message to keep an ear on this heavenly music corporation. Now my story with telling Manfred about artists he should work with, is (over the decades) thankfully very short – and reads itself like this: The Necks, Tigran Hamasyan, Thomas Köner, and SSO. And now, the icing – and the strawberry – on the cake: another Danish record you may fall in love with: „Keel Road“. Take your time listnening to this: „Once A Shoemaker“. And, speaking of ECM, „Keel Road“, and a somewhat older album (with the Cicada String Quartet, and the voice of Annette), „An Acrobat‘s Heart“, will get their vinyl appearance a few weeks from now, in September and October.