Perhaps it’s best not to get into the stereotypes of German punctuality and work ethic. Whether or not you want to give it that unrelated cultural significance, Neu!’s retrospective vinyl box set (TMT News), for which we’ve all been waiting für immer, will not be released May 10 (so soon!), as previously announced. The date has now been pushed back until July 27, and Krautrockers are not happy. A quick refresher: the box set, released by Grönland Records, includes four vinyl LPs and one vinyl maxi-single (Neu!, Neu! 2, Neu! ‘75, Neu! ‘86, and Neu! ‘72 non-public test), plus a pretty sweet book, Neu! stencil, t-shirt, and a download code. Yes, the box set will be awesome when it comes out. But in the meantime, we demand compensation.
Luckily, Michael Rother is a dear and he heard our cries (or, rather, was inspired by compiling the set). On Friday, August 6, he begins a short series of concerts as Hallogallo 2010, accompanied by Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Benjamin Curtis (School of Seven Bells, Secret Machines), and Aaron Mullan (Tall Firs). This first scheduled show will be at the Lincoln Center in New York, with free admission. For the first time in 35-plus years, Rother and co. will be performing music live by Neu!, as well as by Harmonia (Rother’s 70s side-project with Cluster’s Roedelius and Moebius) and Michael Rother’s solo work. Okay, Rother. You’re off the hook this time.
• Neu!: http://www.neu2010.com
• Grönland Records: http://www.groenland.com/2006
[Photo: Peter Lindbergh]
