Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 2 is a 1999 live album by German band La! Neu?, recorded during their 1996 Japanese tour at a concert in Tokyo. Despite its title, the album actually consists of the first half of the concert, the second half having been released in 1998 as Cha Cha 2000 - Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 1. The album consists of a mixture of live improvisation and set songs, including some sampled material from English musician Mick Lount.
In early 1996 Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother met in Düsseldorf to review their ongoing legal battle with Metronome Records for the rights to the three original Neu! albums which they made together in the 1970s. Metronome had offered to compromise with Dinger and Rother by giving the two musicians a sizable proportion of the profits made from a reissue of the albums and by financing promotional activities, possibly including a world tour. Whilst Dinger was willing to accept this offer, Rother was more hesitant, still hoping to secure full ownership of the recordings. In the meantime, Dinger spoke to Ken Matsutani (the head of Captain Trip Records which was at that time releasing Dinger's post-Neu! back catalogue), and Matsutani began looking for venues in Japan for the upcoming tour. Matsutani discovered two venues which were interested in hosting Neu! - Muse Hall in Osaka and On Air West in Tokyo. In early 1996 Cluster (a band associated with Neu! and particularly with Michael Rother) had visited both venues as part of a world tour and produced the album Japan 1996 Live from the result. Dinger and Neu! (like Cluster) had a comparatively large following in Japan, and it was anticipated that any Neu! concerts arranged would be well attended.
Michael Rother was unwilling to commit to a tour, however, much to Dinger's annoyance. Rather than back out of the conversations he was having with Tokyo and Osaka, Dinger decided to offer the services of a new group he had been building around Andreas Reihse of Kreidler and Victoria Wehrmeister of Superbilk. In reference to Neu! and La Düsseldorf he named the new band La! Neu?, and was quickly accepted by owner of the venues - Hirokazu Nambu (Dinger admitted that Nambu was taking a "risk"[1] in inviting the unknown La! Neu?). In Germany he finalised the group's debut album Düsseldorf and prepared to take an extended 8-man line-up with him to Japan.
In the summer of 1996 Dinger was consumed with the organisation (by mail and fax) of an exhibition of his visual art in Auckland, New Zealand. Kerry Aberhard - the curator of the art gallery and a fan of Dinger's work - offered to fly to Japan in advance of La! Neu? to assist the group during their tour.
Tour and concert settingEdit
In late November 1996, Kerry Aberhard flew to Osaka and was met on 1 December by Ken Matsutani and members of Matsutani's band "Marble Sheep" (who had travelled from Tokyo). They "filled time drinking scotch in [Kerry's hotel] room"[2] until Dinger and La! Neu? were due to arrive later that day. At 8:30 PM Aberhard and Marble Sheep travelled to the airport to meet La! Neu?, whose flight was slightly delayed. This was the first time Dinger had met his label head face-to-face, and the first time he had been to Japan.
They stayed overnight in Osaka (where it was snowing heavily) and performed at Muse Hall on 2 December. The stage had a rope stretched at shoulder-height across it, from which hung Japanese drums and bells which Dinger played during the concert along with his guitar. He was joined by drummers Thomas Klein and Markus Hofmann (both of Kreidler) as well as bassist and contrabassist Konstantin Wienstroer, guitarist Dirk Flader, vocalist Victoria Wehrmeister and keyboardists Andreas Reihse and Rembrandt Lensink. The concert went well, featuring much the same set list as the Tokyo concert.
The following day, the entourage travelled to On Air West, Tokyo, arriving slightly behind schedule. The stage was set up in much the same way as in Osaka, with the addition of a 3m square La! Neu? banner created by artist Yuri Shibata. Before the concert the band dined on noodles. Concert tickets bore the cryptic legend "Psychedelic Originators For Space Age Vol. 6",[3] and sold well.
Album content and performanceEdit
The album begins with a short sample of a conversation between Ken Matsutani and Klaus Dinger in transit from Osaka to Tokyo. This is followed on by a lengthier sound-piece recorded as La! Neu? arrived at On Air West. It features conversations in English between Dinger and various Japanese venue staff and fans, as well as the sound of Victoria Wehrmeister conducting a sound check on the vocal microphones.
The concert proper begins with "Tension", a quiet track largely consisting of Rembrandt Lensink's keyboard improvisations. After six minutes "Viva" begins without warning; the band evidently attempting to surprise the audience. "Viva" is extended to 15 minutes and features a new vocal melody sung by Wehrmeister. After "Viva", Dinger addresses the audience for the first time, saying—
The next one [i.e. song] is supposed to be "Hero '96". Does anyone remember that? [silence] Or do you only remember "Hero"? [audience cheers] I mean, it's the same guy, just 22 years later.[4]
Dinger then plays another audio-trick on the audience by turning off a loud synthesizer hiss, which had built up over the previous song without the audience realising. The end of "Hero '96" segues into a lengthy jam called "East West Special", which includes complicated tape manipulation, so at times the song is playing over a recording of itself. This, in turn, segues into the next track - "Anti-Rapman" - in which Dinger uses a preset keyboard rhythm to back more tape manipulation, commenting of the keyboard rhythm: "that should be forbidden, I find it horrid".[5]
Rembrandt Lensink's keyboard improvisations lead in to "Message from California". In 1993 Dinger was sent a tape by English musician Mick Lount, who had encountered Neu! and La Düsseldorf whilst living in Germany as a teenager. Lount had moved to New Zealand in the 1980s, where he met Kerry Aberhard. On the release of Die Engel des Herrn in 1992 Aberhard introduced it to Lount. Soon afterwards Lount moved to Santa Clara, California with his girlfriend, and from there sent Dinger the tape, which includes an audio message of Lount speaking as well as several songs recorded by Lount. During "Message from California" Dinger plays Lount's tape to the audience; primarily the 'message' part, in which Lount explains who he is and why he is sending the tape. A short snippets of Lount's song "Arkesden" and one other song are also played, with added tape effects and ambient drones provided by La! Neu?. Eventually Dinger fades out the tape, leaving the synthesizer drones, which make up the next track - "Rheinarita".
This is followed by live versions of Dinger's songs "Mayday" (from Düsseldorf) and "America" (from Neondian). Following on from these at the concert was "Cha Cha 2000", which is covered by the first volume of the album.
Track listingEdit
All tracks composed by Klaus Dinger, except where indicated.
Disc 1
"Intro A: With Nambu on Shinkanzen" - 0:22
"Intro B: Entering On Air West" - 4:52
"Intro C: Tension" - 6:15 (Klaus Dinger, Dirk Flader, Markus Hofmann, Thomas Klein, Rembrandt Lensink, Andreas Reihse, Victoria Wehrmeister, Konstantin Wienstroer)
"Viva" - 14:10
"Hero '96" - 23:02
Disc 2
"Free in Tokyo A: East West Special" - 21:34 (Dinger, Flader, Hofmann, Klein, Lensink, Reihse, Wehrmeister, Wienstroer)
"Free in Tokyo B: Anti-Rapman" - 3:06 (Dinger, Flader, Hofmann, Klein, Lensink, Reihse, Wehrmeister, Wienstroer)
"Free in Tokyo C: Message from California" - 12:26 (Dinger, Flader, Hofmann, Klein, Lensink, Mick Lount, Reihse, Wehrmeister, Wienstroer)
"Free in Tokyo D: Rheinarita" - 3:45 (Dinger, Flader, Hofmann, Klein, Lensink, Reihse, Wehrmeister, Wienstroer)
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Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol 2 is a 1999 live album by German band La Neu recorded during their 1996 Japanese tour at a concert in Tokyo Despite its title the album actually consists of the first half of the concert the second half having been released in 1998 as Cha Cha 2000 Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol 1 The album consists of a mixture of live improvisation and set songs including some sampled material from English musician Mick Lount Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol 2Live album by La Neu Released1999Recorded3 December 1996GenreKrautrock post punk art rockLabelCaptain Trip RecordsProducerKlaus DingerKlaus Dinger chronologyYear of the Tiger 1998 Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol 2 1999 Blue 1999 Contents 1 Background to tour 2 Tour and concert setting 3 Album content and performance 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 ReferencesBackground to tour EditIn early 1996 Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother met in Dusseldorf to review their ongoing legal battle with Metronome Records for the rights to the three original Neu albums which they made together in the 1970s Metronome had offered to compromise with Dinger and Rother by giving the two musicians a sizable proportion of the profits made from a reissue of the albums and by financing promotional activities possibly including a world tour Whilst Dinger was willing to accept this offer Rother was more hesitant still hoping to secure full ownership of the recordings In the meantime Dinger spoke to Ken Matsutani the head of Captain Trip Records which was at that time releasing Dinger s post Neu back catalogue and Matsutani began looking for venues in Japan for the upcoming tour Matsutani discovered two venues which were interested in hosting Neu Muse Hall in Osaka and On Air West in Tokyo In early 1996 Cluster a band associated with Neu and particularly with Michael Rother had visited both venues as part of a world tour and produced the album Japan 1996 Live from the result Dinger and Neu like Cluster had a comparatively large following in Japan and it was anticipated that any Neu concerts arranged would be well attended Michael Rother was unwilling to commit to a tour however much to Dinger s annoyance Rather than back out of the conversations he was having with Tokyo and Osaka Dinger decided to offer the services of a new group he had been building around Andreas Reihse of Kreidler and Victoria Wehrmeister of Superbilk In reference to Neu and La Dusseldorf he named the new band La Neu and was quickly accepted by owner of the venues Hirokazu Nambu Dinger admitted that Nambu was taking a risk 1 in inviting the unknown La Neu In Germany he finalised the group s debut album Dusseldorf and prepared to take an extended 8 man line up with him to Japan In the summer of 1996 Dinger was consumed with the organisation by mail and fax of an exhibition of his visual art in Auckland New Zealand Kerry Aberhard the curator of the art gallery and a fan of Dinger s work offered to fly to Japan in advance of La Neu to assist the group during their tour Tour and concert setting EditIn late November 1996 Kerry Aberhard flew to Osaka and was met on 1 December by Ken Matsutani and members of Matsutani s band Marble Sheep who had travelled from Tokyo They filled time drinking scotch in Kerry s hotel room 2 until Dinger and La Neu were due to arrive later that day At 8 30 PM Aberhard and Marble Sheep travelled to the airport to meet La Neu whose flight was slightly delayed This was the first time Dinger had met his label head face to face and the first time he had been to Japan They stayed overnight in Osaka where it was snowing heavily and performed at Muse Hall on 2 December The stage had a rope stretched at shoulder height across it from which hung Japanese drums and bells which Dinger played during the concert along with his guitar He was joined by drummers Thomas Klein and Markus Hofmann both of Kreidler as well as bassist and contrabassist Konstantin Wienstroer guitarist Dirk Flader vocalist Victoria Wehrmeister and keyboardists Andreas Reihse and Rembrandt Lensink The concert went well featuring much the same set list as the Tokyo concert The following day the entourage travelled to On Air West Tokyo arriving slightly behind schedule The stage was set up in much the same way as in Osaka with the addition of a 3m square La Neu banner created by artist Yuri Shibata Before the concert the band dined on noodles Concert tickets bore the cryptic legend Psychedelic Originators For Space Age Vol 6 3 and sold well Album content and performance EditThe album begins with a short sample of a conversation between Ken Matsutani and Klaus Dinger in transit from Osaka to Tokyo This is followed on by a lengthier sound piece recorded as La Neu arrived at On Air West It features conversations in English between Dinger and various Japanese venue staff and fans as well as the sound of Victoria Wehrmeister conducting a sound check on the vocal microphones The concert proper begins with Tension a quiet track largely consisting of Rembrandt Lensink s keyboard improvisations After six minutes Viva begins without warning the band evidently attempting to surprise the audience Viva is extended to 15 minutes and features a new vocal melody sung by Wehrmeister After Viva Dinger addresses the audience for the first time saying The next one i e song is supposed to be Hero 96 Does anyone remember that silence Or do you only remember Hero audience cheers I mean it s the same guy just 22 years later 4 Dinger then plays another audio trick on the audience by turning off a loud synthesizer hiss which had built up over the previous song without the audience realising The end of Hero 96 segues into a lengthy jam called East West Special which includes complicated tape manipulation so at times the song is playing over a recording of itself This in turn segues into the next track Anti Rapman in which Dinger uses a preset keyboard rhythm to back more tape manipulation commenting of the keyboard rhythm that should be forbidden I find it horrid 5 Rembrandt Lensink s keyboard improvisations lead in to Message from California In 1993 Dinger was sent a tape by English musician Mick Lount who had encountered Neu and La Dusseldorf whilst living in Germany as a teenager Lount had moved to New Zealand in the 1980s where he met Kerry Aberhard On the release of Die Engel des Herrn in 1992 Aberhard introduced it to Lount Soon afterwards Lount moved to Santa Clara California with his girlfriend and from there sent Dinger the tape which includes an audio message of Lount speaking as well as several songs recorded by Lount During Message from California Dinger plays Lount s tape to the audience primarily the message part in which Lount explains who he is and why he is sending the tape A short snippets of Lount s song Arkesden and one other song are also played with added tape effects and ambient drones provided by La Neu Eventually Dinger fades out the tape leaving the synthesizer drones which make up the next track Rheinarita This is followed by live versions of Dinger s songs Mayday from Dusseldorf and America from Neondian Following on from these at the concert was Cha Cha 2000 which is covered by the first volume of the album Track listing EditAll tracks composed by Klaus Dinger except where indicated Disc 1 Intro A With Nambu on Shinkanzen 0 22 Intro B Entering On Air West 4 52 Intro C Tension 6 15 Klaus Dinger Dirk Flader Markus Hofmann Thomas Klein Rembrandt Lensink Andreas Reihse Victoria Wehrmeister Konstantin Wienstroer Viva 14 10 Hero 96 23 02Disc 2 Free in Tokyo A East West Special 21 34 Dinger Flader Hofmann Klein Lensink Reihse Wehrmeister Wienstroer Free in Tokyo B Anti Rapman 3 06 Dinger Flader Hofmann Klein Lensink Reihse Wehrmeister Wienstroer Free in Tokyo C Message from California 12 26 Dinger Flader Hofmann Klein Lensink Mick Lount Reihse Wehrmeister Wienstroer Free in Tokyo D Rheinarita 3 45 Dinger Flader Hofmann Klein Lensink Reihse Wehrmeister Wienstroer Mayday 11 09 America 10 21Personnel EditKlaus Dinger bamboos bells effects gong guitar keyboard sampling taiko vocals Dirk Flader guitar Markus Hofmann drums Thomas Klein drums Rembrandt Lensink percussion piano synthesizer vocals Mick Lount sampled accordion bass drums guitar slide guitar vocals voice Andreas Reihse electronics keyboards synthesizer Victoria Wehrmeister tambourine vocals Konstantin Wienstroer bassReferences Edit Cha Cha 2000 Live in Tokyo Vol 1 CD booklet CD booklet CD booklet Track Hero 96 disc 1 Track Free in Tokyo B Anti Rapman disc 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol 2 amp oldid 1107127992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
