Michael Rother is back in Glasgow, Hector, Howard and Marg were there. There had to be Curry afore, tonight, home-cooked Pork Vindaloo.
The published – Pork Vindaloo Recipe – was the base for this creation, somehow, Tamarind found its way in too. The Masala was not blended and the surface Oil was scooped off to create a much Drier Curry than shown previously.
Ah, Keema! – claimed Marg when she saw the contents of the pot – my favourite!
It looks as though Hector’s next home-cooked Curry could be Keema Mutter.
Tangy – was Marg’s first comment on tasting, sufficient Tamarind then.
That Vindaloo has to be ridiculously Spicy is a misconception, just as Korma has to be bland. I had to judge this such that Marg would find the Spice Level to be palatable, success.
Not bad at all – was statement #2.
That was a proper Curry – was her final compliment.
The Curry was seriously Dry, with the Thickest of Masala. The Seasoning was exactly as Hector seeks, and it was never adjusted after the Salt was added with the rest of the Spices. With the added Methi, Dry Methi this time, I must admit that a Hector Curry is quite distinctive, perhaps this is a Clydebank Curse, they all turn out the same?
Doors open at 19.00, – plus Special Guests – said the ticket. The room was surprisingly empty at 19.30 when we entered, there was no support act. Instead a chap sat at a laptop and played stuff that nobody knew. How do these guys get these gigs, and why are they indulged? A posted notice said Michael Rother would take to the stage at 20.30, he did, more or less.
Isi and See Land from Neu! 75 kicked off the set, a familiar start given that this is the third time I have seen Michael perform. Tonight’s set would feature all of the second solo album, Sterntaler (1978). This was my first Michael Rother purchase, the attraction being the drumming of one Jaki Liebezeit (CAN). When I last saw Michael Rother perform in Düsseldorf (2016), it was hoped that Jaki would be in the audience, that was a matter of weeks before his passing. Hans Lampe has the drum seat, he maintains the – morotik – drum beat. Actually, the same beat accompanied almost every composition, only speeding up for the last couple of numbers.
A barefoot Franz Bargmann once again accompanied on Rhythm Guitar. His role is hardly challenging, simply keeping the beat with Lampe, he must like what he has to do.
In Düsseldorf, it was the first time Rother had performed all of his first solo album Flammende Herzen. Sternatler has no weak tracks, though from a compositional point of view, one could argue that the root of many tracks is identical. I have always found it difficult to tell Sonnenrad, and Sromlinien apart, but not tonight. Rother truly – rocked – when he played the latter or Sonnerad #2, this was my highlight moment. Blau Regen gave Lampe a break, no percussion required. Why is it only on the third time of seeing them that I noticed that Lampe’s drum-kit is all electric?
Sterntaler, Fontana Di Luna and Orchestrion concluded the sequence of tracks from Sterntaler, thereafter things became less melodic. The final numbers were less song-form, a grind. The encore I assume was from Katzenmusik.
Between each – piece – there was a break for water, and occasional banter. Michael asked for the monitors to be turned down a bit.
Too piercing, man! – he said referring to the famous Stan Freberg parody of the Banana Boat Song. I wonder how many present got it.
Brexit clearly puzzled Herr Rother, why are we doing it?
I know it’s different in Scotland but get rid of your government.
Towards the end of the gig he said he hoped we would stay, and shook his head.
Exactly.
a bit more…
I happened upon Janice Forsyth on BBC Radio Scotland earlier this week. One of her cohort mentioned tonight’s gig, describing the music in a positive way. The indifference, contempt, was almost audible. I have not listened to the radio, for music, since the mid 1970s, John Peel R.I.P.. Why should music of this type be automatically dismissed?
What have the BBC ever done for us?