Chordblossom
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Chordblossom
No Result
View All Result

Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld – 18th March 2014

Christopher Owens by Christopher Owens
March 26, 2014
in Live Reviews
Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld – 18th March 2014

Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld
Tuesday 18th March 2014 – Union Chapel, London

London is a hateful city at the best of times, filled with cancelled services and losers who try and impress you with some piece of shit shirt that someone in Shoreditch bought for 50p in a charity shop and resold for £40 as “vintage clothing.” But it’s a necessary stop for music lover and, with this being the sole UK date for Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld, one must bear such burdens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone knows Blixa from his role as singer and strategy definer in the legendary industrial outfit, Einsturzende Neubauten, as well as being guitarist and sideman in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for nearly twenty years. But Teho is maybe less of a household name. He began his career as an industrial musician (early works include collaborations with Nurse With Wound and Ramleh) as well as working with people like Mick Harris (Napalm Death, Scorn) and Lydia Lunch. In recent years, he has branched out into film scores and sound installations.

These two characters collaborated on an LP released last year called ‘Still Smiling.’ Although first impressions were that it was a bit patchy, it quickly became one of this writer’s favourite albums of last year. So it was going to be intriguing to hear it played live. The Union Chapel is exactly that, a chapel. Church benches and a hushed atmosphere make it an unusual place for a live show. But it was the perfect setting for the best gig of the year so far.

Beginning with ‘Nur Zur Erinnerung’, cellist Martina Bertoni recaptures the drama of the recorded version while Teardo uses his Fender to give the track some low end. Bargeld’s voice is still rich with grandiose power. ‘Mi Scusi’ is filled with playful melodies and the might of European classical music. Later on, a string quartet are introduced to give tracks like ‘Alone With The Moon’ (a Tiger Lillies cover) and ‘A Quiet Life’ (a song about a mafia killer renouncing his past) extra pathos and beauty. Teardo conducts the quartet by swinging his guitar in the air and seems enthused by the addition.

Throughout this, Bargeld is the consummate front man. Although very different from the early days of Einsturzende Neubauten (when he would set stages on fire and scream in such a way that Nick Cave compared it to something that comes out of strangled cats or dying children), he is witty as well as being engaging and a brilliant vocalist who can confront the audience and interpret a vocal beautifully (such as the aforementioned ‘Alone With The Moon’). Closer ‘Defenestrazioni‘ begins on a more ambient note, with Bargeld reciting a list of stupid questions he’s been asked over the years (with a sample of his wife asking them). As the track progresses, the use of the string quartet, chimes, loops and samples of a cheering crowd build to an ecstatic finish. It is breathtaking.

Simply put, this was a show that took the listener out of their comfort zones and re introduced them to the power of chamber music, while using minimal electronic backing to make it more than a night at the proms. Roll on the next album.

teho teardo & blixa bargeld photo

Leave a Comment ⁞

Tags: Blixa BargeldChristopher OwensTeho TeardoUnion Chapel
ShareTweetShareShareSendSend
Previous Post

Interview ⁞ Paddy Glasgow

Next Post

Captain Kennedy – Draw It In Chalk

Related Posts

No Matter - Bad Chemistry
Music Reviews

No Matter – Bad Chemistry

December 20, 2022
Myriad Things Band Photo
Fresh Northern Irish Music

Watch: Myriad Things – Let It Come Down

September 6, 2022

Recent Posts

Chordblossom Northern Irish Releases of the Year 2022 blue

Northern Irish Releases of the Year 2022: 10 – 1

January 19, 2023
Chordblossom Northern Irish Releases of the Year 2022 blue

Northern Irish Releases of the Year 2022: 25 – 11

January 18, 2023
Northern Irish Songs of the Year 2022

Northern Irish Songs of the Year 2022: 25 – 1

January 12, 2023

Twitter

Instagram

Follow

  • Photos from Myles McCormack’s album launch at the Deer’s Head with support from The Brigideens.

Photos by Jonah Gardner
  • More from King Villain in the Union Bar, with Parker and Slow Healer on Saturday night.

Photos by Jonah Gardner

Spotify Playlist

Fresh Music From Northern Ireland

Mailing List

  • About Chordblossom
  • Kickstart
  • Music Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Fresh Music From Northern Ireland Playlist
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • Mailing List

© 2020 Chordblossom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies

© 2020 Chordblossom

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT