Reclusive EBM pioneer and underground icon Robert Goerl of Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft releases new solo material...
“If you know my solo album ‘Night Full of Tension’ – it’s a bit in that direction,” tells Robert Goerl of his new single, ‘Schwarzer Engel’. “Right now I didn’t want to make a hardcore or experimental track, for me the challenge was to make a pop track.”
With musical partner Gabi, DAF’s output laid the foundations for a new movement in music, a pulsating, dark electronic sound with a cold industrialism. So now, 30 years on, it’s no surprise that to challenge listeners, Goerl first has to challenge his own sound. “Making solo tracks always gives you other opportunities,” he says, via email. “I did a lot of hardcore tracks in the 90s, but sometimes I really like romantic pieces. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s either. And with DAF I did a lot of mixed genre tracks...”
DAF played a rapturous show at London’s Islington Academy this March, in perhaps what was one of the most passionate nights out of the year - fans’ unflinching dedication to this underground world proving one of the most euphoric experiences for any music junkie.
“Being a pioneer is always like a double edged sword,” Goerl muses, when broached. “On one hand you get a lot of respect – on the other hand, if you want to move on and push new ideas, people sometimes get it wrong because they are seeing you in that kind of spot - and you should always be there. But to me that means you’re stuck somewhere. Myself and Gabi always see things in a very free way, we wanted always move on to other things and refresh ourselves.”
It might be a good time for Goerl. The forcefully independent subtext of the band sits well with our digital culture and do-it-yourself ethic. He’s released ‘Schwarzer Engel’ online without big label back-up. “I think it’s a great opportunity nowadays to have the internet for releasing your work,” the man in black agrees. “I also think this is the future, just as you said: you are very much in control of everything, even the date of release is in your control. The only disadvantage is you have to find other ways to promote your release, since you are without the support of a record company.”
Goerl needn’t fret too much, he is in a better position than most. His army of fans are behind him, and they’re focused.
Schwarzer Engel is available now via iTunes.