Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany6th December 2006
Anne Clark, Rainer von Vielen
ANNE CLARK is more than a one-hit-wonder of the early 80ies. She is touring and singing for 26 years now. Her unique style is supported by her calm voice. Although she is just speaking and not “singing” she found her way. After she had concentrated on techno music for some years she returned to the quiet and handmade music again. We were unsure if the “Tollhaus” will see many guests. It’s an alternative theatre and concert location. We arrived early, but the house was already filled up with people. It was shown that many people didn’t know the support act, because there were many discussions about him.
Rainer von Vielen
His biography is really impressive, although he just began making music in 1998. The first demo was immediately taken by a label. His EP “Alles Und Noch Mehr” came out in summer of the same year. In the following year he went on his first tour. After that he started to study at the Film Academy in Ludwigsburg, Germany. His first fulltime album was released in 2001, although he was studying and already writing the sounds for some short movies and he directed some music videos. He became part of the band ORANGE which supported acts like JETHRO TULL, ERIC BURDON or FETTES BROT. In 2004, RAINER VON VIELEN finished his studies and wrote different songs for some movies. Although his music was made for a solo-project he fetched Niko Lai (drummer of ANNE CLARK), Mitsch Oko and Dan le Tard for his band. In 2005 they won the “Protestsong-Contest” in Vienna and they hit the charts in Austria. They were touring in 2006 the whole year. Andy Ypsilon (DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER) joined them for one concert. RAINER VON VIELEN got to know the Tibetan monk Bagdro and they were recording some songs. He did a tour with his own short stories this year, too. Than he met ANNE CLARK and she engaged him as her support on the European tour and she even made him joining her own live band. http://www.rainervonvielen.de
Music
So, what shall we say? You have to go to a concert of him. It’s really hard to describe. What kind of music is he making? We can’t say it. There are parts of Hip Hop in it, but also Trance or Dance music. His spoken words reminded us of Thomas D. (DIE FANTASTISCHEN VIER). The most impressive thing was surely his voice. He used it as an instrument. He made this “Beat Box” sounds. When he started the intro we first thought of a Didgeridoo, but this sounds were made by him. All songs were German, except of the very quiet “Distanza”. The lyrics were Rumanian. During this song he played accordion. Although this is something like an old-fashioned instrument it fitted perfect to the atmosphere of this song. It seemed to be a very personal song for him.
Performance
This crazy young man could hardly stand still. He danced a little bit like JAMIROQUAI. Although he seemed to be mostly unknown there were some hardcore fans in the first rows. They danced and screamed. Right after the first song there was already more people clapping their hands and began to dance, too. We are sure he found some new fans this evening.
Setlist
01. Intro
02. Virus Wahrheit
03. Scattekkno
04. Räderwerk
05. Sandbürger
06. Innen an aussen
07. Leben den lebenden
08. Distanza
09. Der Gedanke an Dich
Rating
Music 5
Performance 7
Sound 7
Light 7
Total 6.2
Anne Clark
She released her first album “The Sitting Room” in 1982 and appeared on stage first in the “Cabaret Futura” with DEPECHE MDOE in London. A dozen albums later she had two world wide hits with “Sleeper in Metropolis” and “Our darkness” and is still touring around the world. She worked with John Foxx (founding member of ULTRAVOXX) in 1985 and went to Norway for three years working with Charlie Morgan until he died in 1992. In 1993 she played together with Andy Bell (ERASURE) and in 1994 she recorded her first acoustic album. Showing her fascination for the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke she recorded an album with English translations of his poems in 1998. In 2003 she recorded another acoustic album in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Since than, Murat Parlak (vocals/piano), Jann Michael Engel (cello), Niko Lai (drums and percussion) and Jeff Aug (guitars) are solid partners of her live band. Since 2005 she is working with the Belgian band IMPLANT. This year she did a duet with Claus Larsen of LEAETHER STRIP. http://www.anneclark.com/
Music
Her style is often called “spoken words”, because she is not singing in a regular way. This tour was announced as a mixture of her electronic and acoustic works and so it was. Although the whole concert was supported by RAINER VON VIELEN at the Synthesizers, most of the music was hand made by acoustic instruments. The very musicians even created the more techno-based songs with their instruments. This was impressive! We never thought this could be possible. They played true techno beats just with a drum (not electronic), a piano and a guitar. Even the cello matched perfect. The best song this evening was surely the wonderful “Elegy for a lost summer”, which she sang with the support of Murat Parlak. After the song she seemed to have tears in her eyes. Really moving!
Performance
ANNE CLARK is not a very expressive and effusive live act. At the beginning she welcomed the audience and remembered that she was already playing in Karlsruhe ten years ago. The whole concert was based on her calm voice. She only danced a little bit, but there were many dancers in the crowd. Although nearly the whole audience was about 35 or older there was a high party mood and nearly all people were dancing, singing and having fun. ANNE CLARK was moved herself by this atmosphere and positive feedback of her audience.
Setlist
01. Acropolis
02. Killing Time
03. The Healing
04. Boy Racing
05. The Hardest Heart
06. Nightship
07. Elegy for a lost summer
08. Shell song
09. Echoes
10. Silent Prayer
11. Now!
12. Sleeper in Metropolis
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13. Solo Murat Parlak & Niko Lai
14. Solo Reiner von Vielen & Jeff Aug
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15. Psalm
16. Your World
17. Nida
18. Abuse
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19. Our Darkness
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20. Waiting
21. I of the storm
Rating
Music 8
Performance 8
Sound 8
Light 9
Total 8.2
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