Blog 3: Elvis, weissbier, dodgy wi-fi and dusty Roses: Update from Antwerp, Munich, Cologne, Zurich & Bucharest Hello again - apologies for this very tardy blog update! Due to late nights, early mornings, short-lived computer batteries, step kids, general madness and procrastination, I suddenly find myself en route between Milan and Rome - and our time in Germany already seems eons ago. So for the sake of getting this update finally posted and committing our recent experiences to paper whilst still fresh in mind, here is a super-sized entry covering our impressions from Antwerp, Munich, Cologne, Zurich and Bucharest. I've tried to be brief... I have to say, we've withstood a couple of very intense but satisfying weeks, starting with the Recoil tour van transporting our multi-national crew (British, French, German, Norwegian) from Hamburg to Brussels. In Belgium we didn't see very much at all unfortunately, apart from the inside of the venue and hotel (and an interesting little Italian resto 'Arse Vinorum') - but the people we met were lovely. We were assisted by a great crew at Trix XL in Antwerp and the sound and screen quality was impeccable - quite possibly the best on the whole tour. The charming and industrious Bernard van Isacker (Sideline) came out to see us, in person finally, after years of supporting Alan and his projects. And again, our favourite frog opened for Recoil - Olivia performed a really good set which seemed popular with the Belgians too. Well done, Louve! Within the first 10 minutes after arrival in Munich, we realised to our amusement that the rumours we'd heard were true: as we drove into the city we witnessed three people wearing lederhosen, several grumpy-looking pedestrians and a small anti-abortion protest march. Furthermore, to everyone's shock and horror, on the morning of the event the tour's main computer decided to break down! Thankfully, our tour guru/agent/magician Peddy averted the crisis by promptly dialling up his local mac-connections and we received the precious machine back, restored and good as new, within a few hours. In spite of all the palava, the event at Feierwerk still turned out to be really good evening: we were made very welcome by the promoter Achim and his crew, who had pulled out all the stops to provide the best possible sound and screen for us, and to top it off we were joined by the loveliness that is Sarah Blackwood (Client B) who supported Recoil with a very cool dj-set (even though she needed to text us from on-stage to ask when she should get off!). And last but not least, Alan's old acquaintance and tech-trainspotter Francois Buat turned up to enthusiastically supplement Recoil's stage set up with a myriad of his collectible synthesizers. With his sweet girlfriend (Camille) they had ditched work and sped from Munich to Berlin for the Hansa event a few days earlier only to make it in time for the credits - so it was nice to finally meet up in Munich for a proper chat. The following day, we stepped off the ICE train in a drizzly Cologne where we were warmly welcomed and chauffeured around by Simone Wien of Deutchland Funk radio, her husband and lovely friend and driver (really a doctor of plasma technology or similar), ensuring we arrived to our promo activities in style. Speaking of style, DDR seemed alive and well at Deutschland Funk(!) where Alan presented a very unusual German version of Desert Island Discs 'entitled' Klassik Pop Etc (it will air sometime in July). After resting up briefly at the hotel, we met with the rest of the Recoil tour party for a lovely dinner downstairs at The Hopper and later again with Simone, enthusiastic promoter Elvis and their friends for some drinks. The event the next night at Alter Wartesaal was rocking and the place itself is absolutely beautiful - an old converted train station waiting-hall, it now houses a theatre, 1000-cap venue and excellent restaurant, which we happily sampled after soundcheck. To sum it up; all went well, and after nearly everything had been signed (and drunk), we headed out for a final nightcap at the hotel. As for the rest of our time in Germany, we spent it the way we usually do - searching for proper espresso and reliable wi-fi, camping in the hotel bar or a nearby cafe. Our room at Hopper (which has seen better days) was so spartan that we tried to avoid it, but the white clean walls proved quite useful as Alan had the foresight to bring along our portable mini-projector, helping us to a viewing of Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' (after some stroke-inducing fiddling with knobs and cables:) Still a brilliant film. Zurich proved to be an all-around lovely stop on our tour. Partly due to the city's beauty (untouched by WWII) and pristine alpine surroundings, partly due to the gorgeous and cool Greulich hotel, but mainly due to our incomparable host - promoter and dear friend Reto Bühler. He saved the day even before we arrived, informing us that in addition to cooking dinner, he could arrange the broadcast of Bayern Munich vs. Man Utd for Alan and Peddy - oh, the sigh of relief.. A few hours and 7 bottles of wine later, having enjoyed our fill of intelligent company, swiss delicacies and football, we stumbled happily into a taxi, mimicking Swiss-German accents and clutching some last morsels of cheese - no wonder the driver decided to stuff us and charge double the fare. As for the event at Kaufleuten, it was difficult to not get excited about such a beautiful place! - every room inspiring and cool, which included the backstage area of course. Reto is a man who employs attention to detail, right down to the little ricolas and toblerones - absolute class as PK would say... Jerome Soudan, aka Mimetic, played a very cool set to warm up for Recoil. Pas mal. Thank you Reto, Clement, Melanie & Gabi: ) The morning after, we were ready at the ungodly-but-becoming-familiar hour of 6am and on our way to Bucharest - decidedly the most eastern and different destination up to that point. Not just 'a strange hour' but 'a strange few days' ! - in a good way of course. What an incredible place - dusty, warm, full of old and new, monolithic communist monstrosities (courtesy of Ceausescu) clash spectacularly with Parisian-influenced art nouveau. Excuse our ignorance in any case - we just took the little we knew, added the new knowledge we learnt and soaked in the atmosphere - and we'll never forget it. The welcome was so warm (and efficient), the language direct ( you! come here!, take gift ), the venue and it's host so sweet and hospitable - featuring its own back door-market - and we were looked after so respectfully by enthusiastic promoter Cristian, his crew, family and friends. Our very own Romanian, Robert ('Bobby Sixpence') Schilling at Mute had reassured us we would be taken care of and he was right of course - as he presided in spirit over our comings and goings. Thanks Bobby for the Recoil video projections on the neighbouring building of the in-store signing by the way - nice touch! We were especially excited to make the acquaintance of Cosmin Bumbut, such a talented photographer and top bloke. The event went well, even with yours truly acting as 'proper' manager of it all (Peddy was occupied elsewhere) and with Alan managing to complete a great signing session with Romanian fans and enjoy some local wine plus pastries before heading out to a nightclub. That exit was special enough, when right outside the venue as we left in New-Dehli style traffic, the Bucharest market traders were setting up their stalls with fresh flowers at 3am, like they always do. Very odd, and lovely and fragrant..: ) We have no photo of that event unfortunately due to the inebriation of our party, en route to 'Control' where the promoter's wife and I finally got AW on the dance floor!! Very rare, I can ensure you... Must have been a good night. Speaking of the promoter's wife - the lovely Silvia made sure our last evening in Bucharest was a domestic affair, as she treated us to some wonderful, home-cooked Romanian food at her and Cristian's house. As we were escorted back to our hotel around midnight (the glamorously carpeted Marriott), we caught a glimpse of the masses of people gathering in the streets and spilling out of over-filled churches to celebrate Easter - adding further to the strange atmosphere of the city. We took off for London the following morning with so many sweet and special memories that not even getting slapped with ¬ 250 excess baggage fee, courtesy of Wizz Air, could taint them... Thank you to the darling Sarah Blackwood + Olivia Louvel, Jerome Soudan and Silent Strike for guesting, to Pete, Bradley and crew at Trix XL, Achim and all at Feierwerk, Francois & Camille, Elvis and everyone at Alter Wartesaal, Simone Wien, Oliver Thiede, 'mad' Steph Cruche, Reto in Zurich and last, but not least - thank you to Cristian, Dragos, Andreas, Julian, Cosmin, Cassandra, Silvia and everyone who helped and looked after us in Bucharest. Update from Italy, Athens & Budapest to follow soon. Cheers, Britt