Conventional interest in German musik leapfrogs the eighties focussing on what Ian McDonald (RIP) called “Krautrock” and the 90s wave of Arty electronica produced by the Mille Plateaux rhizome. New Wave Germany produced heaps of stunning acts: DAF, Les Liasons Dangereuses, Les Vampyrettes, Pyrolator, Der Plan, Einsturzende Neubauten, all fruits of Conny Plank and Trio (Yes! Yes! Yes!). The uber-hip Gomma label, who brought us the Anti NY compilation, here serve up their second instalment of lost tracks from this era, an unapologetic mixed bag of Electro, Neu Wave and the odd bit of bierkeller pfunk bound together by gothic austerity. I was amazed how little interest was generated by the first compilation which included INCREDIBLE tracks like The Car-Men’s “Schlaraffenland” (atonal sex kitten atop clipped funk) and Exkurs’ “Natur” (Blixa Bargeld in motorik setting rasping and wheezing). Same gripes apply about the second volume which sports a total dearth of information about the tracks which (almost*) sparkle with equivalent lustre. Highlights include the phonetic English and huffing drum machines of Instant Music’s “My Boy”, (Young Marble Giants trapped in a corridor) and Camilla Motor’s “Gefahr Im Tivoli” (jack boot on the wrong foot). This music is the conceptual twin to the great NYC No Wave rock experiment, you’ll not find icier chops anywhere outside a butcher’s refrigerator.
*buy Volume One!
Posted by Woebot at September 2, 2003 10:39 AM