hackedepicciotto

Hacke and de Picciotto conceived the album “Lichtung” as a tribute to their new home on the outskirts of Berlin, which the duo found after nearly fourteen years of nomadic life; thanks to this, Danielle was even able to return to her beloved piano in some passages, an instrument she hadn’t had at her disposal while “constantly on the road.” Here, Hacke and de Picciotto have also discovered new sonic possibilities at the intersection of drone collages and electronic rhythms, while Hacke’s pulsating bass guitar—with his unmistakable playing style—remains indispensable. (Incidentally, Alexander Hacke is now also garnering acclaim as the author of the biography “Krach,” with which he occasionally tours for in-demand author readings.) The German lyrics on the album then consciously pay homage to Berlin’s ever-inspiring environment, which Hacke, as a key member of the legendary Einstürzende Neubauten, helped shape with uncompromising innovation; now, conversely, he draws from it as a newly settled former traveler. Alexander and Danielle are also keen observers of the world around them—in hackedepicciotto’s work, they reflect its loving nuances as well as its dark corners. We’re glad to welcome them back after three years.