Video Shoot: Essenz "Vivat Entitas Okkulta"

Try to film a metal video in a hospital-like surrounding close to Berlin. You say Beelitz, I say what?!

Sure, we wanted to shoot the video for "Vivat Entitas Okkulta" the opening track from Essenz' fabulous new album "KVIITIIVZ – Beschwörung des Unaussprechlichen" in Beelitz Heilstätten at first - but the owners wanted an outrageous amount of money and they didn't even have any power supply in the buildings... Ugh. So we settled for the StadtGut Blankenfelde instead and we haven't regretted it one bit.

We filmed in the old building formely used as a hospital using projections, Super 8 cameras, strobes, complete doctors outfits and basically everything medical we could get our hands on to make this a worthy translation of the almost 10 minute long song.

When I say "we" I don't only mean the band and I - indispensable help came from Brazilian filmmaker Dácio Pinheiro and German sound engineer Michael Kerscher working them Super 8 cameras and making sure I don't fuck up my own schedule. Also, we have to thank the StadtGut, especially Dieter Sommerfeldt for being such a a great help! 

I promise not to waste any time in getting the clip out - but it will take a while.

Madeleine Bloom "Live at the Watertower" out October 15

On May 27, Madeleine Bloom was invited to the Watertower in Bernau, on the outkirts of Berlin. Only one concert is held there every year and the center stage of the tiny venue has been graced with legends like Tangerine Dream in the past.

A sold out event, a beautiful location and Madeleine made for a real memorable evening. I did my best to capture some of the magic with a 3 camera set up, despite having strained my wrist the evening before, pogo dancing with RP Kahl at the "Bedways" premiere at Volksbühne and thus wearing a bracer. I know, timing is everything...

Madeleine will release "Live at the Watertower" on October 15, featuring an audio part of 11 songs & 3 bonus songs from her Ivory Tower plus 4 exclusive videos of the songs "In Unison", "Zero Tolerance", "The Tide" & "A Little" from the gig edited by me. 50% of the proceeds go directly to a charity in Berlin that helps underprivileged children, so it's a win-win situation for everyone!

Madeleine edited another song that is not part of the "Live at the Watertower" download as a teaser. Here it is:

"Letztes Jahr im Sommer" in INTRO magazine

Who would have thought?! The coolest widely distibuted German music and popculture magazine has published a short review of the film - and they like it! Hooray!!

For those of you, unfamiliar with the German language, it says: "The documentary about the band's trip to France is a little gem filled with good music and great charme". What a swell opportunity to remind y'all: come to Freiluftkino Insel at Cassiopeia in Berlin-Friedrichshain, if you can - August 31, 8 p.m.!

And another review I haven't posted yet, is the one you'll find HERE. And all you English speaking people, have a laugh at the automated translation of the article: HERE.

Exclusive preview of "Damo Suzuki's Network mit Château Laut"

Make sure to clear your calender for September 3, 2010!

Haywain Recordings is celebrating the release of the 12" split vinyl "The day will come tonight / Music for Simulator flights" by Berlin indie rock bands Château Laut and Jeanie Bueller, as well as the new album "Elegiac Stanzas" by Haywain recording artist Johnny3000.

At the event Johnny3000 will play, label head Stephan Laackman will preview photos from his "Citybirches Photography Works" and you'll get a sneak peek at the new field recording web series "Citystreet HiHat".

As suggested by the headline you'll also get a pre screening of the concert movie covering Damo Suzuki's Network with Château Laut, which took place April 30, 2010 at Ausland, Berlin.

Edited by Stefan Fähler, the event was shot by Carsten Piefke and myself. Several people in the audience had their phones and cameras recording, too. One of whom posted his footage online:



To see the actual concert movie, come to systM at Torstr. in Berlin - Mitte on September 3. You'll find the details on the flyer above!

Summer went by fast...

I know, there hasn't been a post in a while. But then again... I strained my wrist, I broke a toe, it was hot.

Now. The last thing I mentioned was the premiere of "Letztes Jahr im Sommer", which took place on June 3rd at Kino Babylon in Berlin-Mitte. This is what it looked like outside that morning:

And that's what it looked like inside that night:

Thanks everyone for coming, for the great reactions and the party at Erdbeer Bar afterwards!

For those who haven't been able to be there, regret a ridiculous excuse or want to see it again, come to Freiluft Kino Insel at Cassiopeia in Berlin-Friedrichshain on August 31.

Orchestre Miniature in the Park presenté: Letztes Jahr im Sommer Outtake #2 "Hot Summer Nights"

I know, it's a low down dirty shame this one is not included in the film. But it's one of my three favourites, so you get it upfront as a kind of outtake/teaser and it isn't entirely lost.

Originally an unbelievably hysterical number by theatrical rock burger Meat Loaf, the Orchestre Miniature in the Park made this one completely their own.

Wait until each one of them exclaims "You took the words right out of my mouth!" and watch the crowd go all clip-clap with the band. Sorry again to the rugged lady in the front, I stepped on her a couple of times but she was so into the music, she didn't mind at all.

A sure-fire hit at every OMP concert and thus a must in the completion of appetizers leading up to the premiere of "Letztes Jahr im Sommer".

Orchestre Miniature in the Park presenté: Letztes Jahr im Sommer Teaser #1: "Le lundi au soleil"

A scene taken straight out of "Letztes Jahr im Sommer". Glockenspiel vituoso Sylvain Mazas brought up the idea of doing a take on this french classic song about what a waste beautiful mondays are. You can see him doing the dance that made the original artist Claude François famous, or was it the other way around, maybe?

Upon previewing the scene to several members of OMP it drew such great responses, that we decided this had to play a part in the promotion of the movie. Judge for yourself and if you can, be our guest at the premiere. Details two posts below.

Orchestre Miniature in the Park presenté: Letztes Jahr im Sommer Outtake #1 "Ca Plane Pour Moi"

Another clip from Paris 2009. This happened after some gig on the way home, when spirits were still high. Every night there was quite a hullabaloo on the trains we took as evidenced in many scenes of "Letztes Jahr im Sommer". This beautifully chaotic redition of Plastic Betrand's immortal anthem however did not make the final cut.

Orchestre Miniature in the Park presenté: Letztes Jahr im Sommer - Trailer #1

Last year in August, I accompanied the "Orchestre Miniature in the Park" on their 5 day tour through Paris. I had heard of them since I'm long time friends with their member Friedemann. They play only songs with the words summer or sun in the title and they only use kids instruments.

It turned out to be quite a task to try and capture 18 people with one camera. But it's done now. Above you find the trailer and if you can make it, OMP and I would be very happy to welcome you on June 3, 2010 in Berlin, when the film will be shown at Kino Babylon at 8:15 p.m. After the screening the band will play a concert, so it's even a 2 for 1 deal!

Zoot Woman "Just A Friend Of Mine" (live on Radio Fritz)

On October 1, 2009 Johnny Blake from Zoot Woman visited the Radio Fritz studios to do some acoustic versions of old and new songs.

I have always wondered what he looks like when he smiles. So after a few tender, yet unsuccessful attemps of trying to make him laugh, I asked him, what a serious dude like him laughs about. And thinking about his favourite TV show did the trick in the end.

Château Laut "When sound is light" (music video)

In May 2009 Andrew and Stefan from Château Laut and I went over to London to film our friend Amanda performing a routine to the song she had been practising for months.

Principal shooting could only involve her doing the routine a couple of times as it was quite exhausting for her.

By the way, Stefan came up with the light concept and it worked really nice, I think. It gave the whole video a kind of cheap old school sci-fi look here and there.

Speaking of films, "When sound is light" has been one of three songs off Château Laut's debut album used in the film "Bedways". Make sure to check that film out, it's quite a ride.

Lily Allen "The Fear" (live on Radio Fritz)

On January 16, 2009 Lily showed up at Radio Fritz in Potsdam. It was only 10 a.m. and she looked a bit under the weather, still she was really sweet and upbeat. I remember, she favoured the audio recording our engineer Kevin did over previous sessions including one at the BBC.

Maybe she was just being nice. Maybe she was even flirting with Kevin? I think she was, since during an audio test she whispered "I like Kevin from Radio Fritz" into the mic.

The photos were shot by Marco Sassenhagen and Stephan Fuchs.

Check out the stuff my colleagues do over at "Fritz TV", there's some nice short films. It might increase the fun if you understand some German. If not, just go straight to their music section.

Château Laut "Moby's Meat" (music video)

Stefan from Château Laut and I shot and edited this one in late summer 2008. It's the first music video I actually filmed myself and we had quite some fun shooting it.

What you hear in the video is the sound recorded on location and it's the same version that made the cut for their debut album "Château Laut", which is out on bluNoise.

"At the End of the Night - Berlin between 3 and 5 a.m."

Shot in three consecutive nights in July 2008.

I know, most people love those 2 hours, when so very few people are awake. At least in the summer time. I chose three spots that are rather crowded by day but quite empty by night.

Thanks to the people at Axxel Fitness, Westhafen and UKB hospital.

The latter are real darlings, when it comes to giving out filming permissions to projects they like. Those of you who might have looked for a hospital in Berlin to film in, you know how hard it is to find one. On the other hand, then you also know the UKB, I guess.

Con Men "Assurance" (music video)

My musical offerings to the world have varied quite a bit in quality and let's not get into detail, please. But if one song is to survive, I personally think it should be this one about one of my favourite topics: the illusion of progress.





Recorded by Fabien Leseure (Nina Hynes and the Husbands) and featuring Ed East of Chikinki on guitar, I accompanied it with an old-school archive material montage like they did when they did back in the days, when a dance video had to be rushed out and nobody wanted to be in front of the camera or had no money.

The U.S. music websites Battery In Your Leg and Off the Radar gave song and video quite a nice reception.

If you like "Assurance", feel free to snatch it. By the way: all video material used is taken out of the Prelinger Archives.