Music Review: Bauhaus Meets Bauhaus

Today marks a special Music Review (and needed a somewhat witty title that tells you nothing unless you already know). I bring you a fairly rare treat - a review of the 7" collaboration between Rene Halkett and David J, "Nothing"/"Armour."

Album art to "Nothing"/"Armour" featuring original artwork by Rene Halkett himself.

I've titled this post "Bauhaus Meets Bauhaus" because, well...that's what this literally is. Rene Halkett was, from 1923 to 1925, a student of the original Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany (the original school was open from 1919 to 1925 before moving to Dessau from 1925 to 1932, and then finally moving to Berlin from 1932 to 1933 before closing for good due to pressure from the Nazi regime). The Bauhaus art form is heavily marked by lack of ornamentation and focuses on meshing function of the object or building to its design. The art form also incorporates modernism, leading to rather simple designs, the favored ability of mass production and industrialization, and an overall clean look. While at the famous art school, Halkett worked on his painting and writing talents. After leaving the school in 1925, he became a bit of a newspaper journalist writing for a local liberal print. Once the Nazis took power in Germany, Halkett left the country for England where he became involved at a children's theater as a painter. Halkett would later serve as a translator during the Nuremberg Trails and eventually found himself working the German section for the BBC.

A younger Rene Halkett in London. Image from http://www.badische-zeitung.de/literatur-rezensionen/ein-weltwandervogel--61120420.html

As many of you perhaps know from my prior postings, David J was the legendary bass guitarist for British post-punk group, Bauhaus (originally named Bauhaus 1919, and going so far as to even use the same typeface logo as the art school once had). Since those days, he has gone on to be part of another legendary post-punk act (now more or less defunct), Love and Rockets, and has maintained a fairly constant slew of solo recordings over the years with some touring here and there, recently with opening and backing band Adrian H and the Wounds. He has also been part of several collaborations including (but surely not limited to) appearing on some releases by Porno For Pyros, having done the bass work on Voltaire's 2011 album (Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children), and contributing bass to a track for Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra. As of this writing, David J has released eight solo albums, contributed (maybe even did all the work? I'm not sure) for four film scores, and five EPs on his own.

The indelible Mr. David J. Image from the LA Stage Times.

So, Bauhaus meets Bauhaus, indeed!

I don't know much of the story about how this little project came to be. What little I've unearthed suggests that somehow David J knew of Rene Halkett and where he lived (the back of the 7" sleeve lists Halkett as having been a lecturer and BBC-broadcaster, among other things, so maybe David J saw him on TV or attended a lecture of Halkett's when attending art school?). In 1980, David J (still very much part of Bauhaus the band, which dissolved for the first time in 1983) drove to Halkett's cottage with a tape recorder and the intention of recording Halkett reciting some of his poetry. Later on, David J added music to the background of these recitations and the initial product released was this 7" in 1981. Years later, the two tracks on the 7", an additional track that was much longer, and the original recordings of Halkett speaking only were released as a very limited press CD (about 1000 copies total). The collaboration was rather fortuitous in timing as Halkett passed away in 1983, only a couple years after the two met and recorded the initial recitations. Purportedly, David J inherited a lute from Halkett and used it to make some of the backing music.

For the purpose of this review, I will look at only the two original tracks on the 7".

"Armour" opens with just Rene Halkett reciting his poetry before (and rather abruptly) piano, drums, and bass enter the fray. Everything musically is fairly signature of David J (keep in mind that Bauhaus musically was typically very drum and bass heavy which is relatively unique and rather refreshing at times, and David J clearly brought that mindset forth to this collaboration). The recitation itself is absolutely sublime. Rene Halkett's voice is strong even in his old age and his accent adds a dark touch to the poem. The recording has a slight echo to it, as if recorded in an empty room. The poetry itself is beautiful and a dark delight to behold.



"Nothing" opens with Halkett and some background music (which at the very very beginning sounds like a small portion of the music from "Hollow Hills" was used? The part towards the end before the lyrics basically repeat "So sad...hollow hills...so sad..."). This track is perhaps even more chilling than "Armour." As before, Halkett's voice is clear and David J does a superb job of meshing the music to the poetry (as an example, at one point early in the track, Halkett recites "As if I could remember it, I'd tell - there was that light" and immediately after he says "light" a loud crash sounds).

Ultimately, this is a truly unique and dark collaboration between Halkett and J. How it came to be, I am unsure, but I'm so very glad it did. Rene Halkett shows his skill as a poet and the manner in which he recites his work is chilling. David J does a grand job providing the background music to enhance the recitations and add another level of feeling and emotion to the poems. The only tragedy in this piece of work is that it was only (originally) the two poems (and even with the addition of the third poem on the limited edition CD, it still isn't enough). This is a rare treat everyone needs to listen to.


Rating: 5 out of 5

More Information: Some info on Rene Halkett and both poems written in full Official Site of David J Official Site of Bauhaus (the band) Official Site of Bauhaus (Dessau)