anbb: alva noto & blixa bargeld (DE)

Combining two perfectly matching halves isn’t what makes duets powerful: it’s the juxtaposition of fire and ice. That’s precisely the formula applied by Carsten Nicolai, better-known to experimental electronic music audiences as Alva Noto, and Blixa Bargeld, who tears down walls and musical conventions with Einstürzende Neubauten and for years accompanied Nick Cave in the Bad Seeds. Alva Noto is all about minimalism and cold precision, while Blixa Bargeld represents courage, expression, and a dash of unpredictability. The two have been collaborating for years, but their official debut didn’t come until 2010, when they released the excellent record Mimikry. Let’s hope we hear the rest of that story at the OFF Festival…