SUSO

MORITZ VON OSWALD

The analog assassin has been taken ill after all.

The web’s been popping in certain quarters this week after Moritz von Oswald missed his slot at DEAF last week in Dublin. A rumour surfaced: he’d suffered a stroke on the flight over and was in very bad condition. I was alarmed, not because I was due to see Mr. Maurizio himself up in Leeds this weekend - and might conceivably miss him - but because one of modern music’s true icons was at risk. Screw this weekend. What about Moritz?

I was in touch with various promoters as soon as I heard. Could someone confirm; did anyone know the truth? His agent informed those who asked that he was, in fact, in full health. But it’s since transpired that he hadn’t actually spoken to his man. And so to this morning, when said agent confirmed what the rest of the world seemed to know: Moritz von Oswald had indeed suffered a (minor) stroke and was recovering in hospital. Touring would cease until 2009.

Secretive, humble, brilliant, Moritz is a legend amongst legends for his contributions to dub and techno with his Basic Channel, Rhythm & Sound and Maurizio projects. And only this month some luminous reworkings of French pianist Maurice Ravel, created alongside Carl Craig (above with Moritz on the left and Tristiano on the right), were released. They are testament to the von Oswald’s boundless creative spirit.

Somehow the ever-impressive Red Bull Music Academy managed to coax him out of lifelong interview retirement to get him on a sofa, with a record player, in front of rolling cameras . If you’ve got two hours, you know what to do... Get well Moritz.

Moritz von Oswald @ RBMA

www.basicchannel.com

Categories Music Tags Moritz von Oswald Techno

By on 31/10/08