Irmler/Liebezeit - Goethe-Institut London / Cafe OTO

A special energy is released through the clash between Hans-Joachim Irmler, one of Krautrock’s main driving forces ever since his work with Faust, and his sparring partner Jaki Liebezeit, the living legend from Can whose unrivaled hypnotic drumming has earned him a reputation as one of the most avant-garde percussionists, and as a “human drum machine”.

Having performed together over numerous years, the duo have recently released FLUT (Klangbad, 2014), a hypnotic maelstrom of an album that was recorded over three consecutive days of noon-to-night sessions in July 2013. The album adds another chapter to Irmler’s collaborations, which aim to explore, whenever possible, the hidden potential that lies dormant in the clash between prepared organ and drums.

After the concert David Stubbs, journalist and author of Future Days: Krautrock and the Building of Modern Germany was in conversation with Hans Joachim Irmler and Jaki Liebezeit.