Rede/Speech

Most helpful review Rede/Speech

• Ongoing vocal experiment by legendery Berliner

   

  By David Ledden from Edinburgh , 17 Dec 2006

  [Highly rated reviewer]

  Rede/Speech captures one evening in a decade-long series of experimental concerts performed by Berlin's Blixa Bargeld. With nothing but a handful of sampling/looping devices, Blixa explores the limitless characterstics of the human voice, and if nothing else, succeeds in proving that within it exist all other instruments.
  
  Occasionally Blixa ascribes unnecsessary narratives to the 'songs', with the sole effect of proving his knowledge of 17th century astronomy, producing all the excitment of a medical theatre.
  
  But aside from this self-indugence, the pieces transcend mere experiment when, having sculpted a solid cut-up of vocal accompaniment, Blixa roars and whispers over the pastiche with passionate verse, expressing all the drama, pleading and beauty of a 21st Century Brel.
  
  A welcome bonus was the chance to experience Blixa's overtly humourous side. The man is genuinely funny, and this magnifies the humanity of a performance that could have otherwise left the viewer feeling like 'you had to be there.'
  
  Visually sparse, this one-man performance is probably for fans, and followers of Wire magazine, only.

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