Parallels, Shellac Reworks
When the world celebrated Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday in 2020, Deutsche Grammophon invited electronic music producer Christian Löffler to rework four Beethoven tracks from original 1920 recordings of the pieces. This cooperation sparked the idea for the record “Parallels”, bringing together Löffler’s atmospheric signature soundscapes with works by Bach, Chopin, Wagner, Smetana, Bizet and, of course, Beethoven.
The text:
A
I went to our cafe last week,
the one with the cortato you had liked
Your sly smirk was still there
Iingering in the sun-soaked wood beams
Made holy by our devoted and sweet cackling
Now, plexiglass
and a Hand sanitizer pump
stand guard
It’s still summer here
The hush has lifted
Almost Normal
Teens cluster again, masks on chins
Invulnerable, confident
I wondered what you would say
When the streets erupted
Rioters’ detritus still blows against shop windows
Should be flowers
My makeshift sign still holds on to the back of my bike
Flapps lazily in the healing sun
Forgive me, Friend, for not having the words
On the day of all days when you did not need any at all
When only hug and a knowing nod would have sufficed
Forgive me, for standing paralyzed
For Clogging my throat
and avoiding your gaze
Your grief made me feel so small
I hope you are…
.
B
I walk without a mask, along
The stream where i smoked
My first joint
A muddy can, a sock, and an empty lighter
Rest, huddled around a forgotten firepit
I remember something you taught me
The forest forensics
About the pillows and cradles
Another new case in our town
My mother, changed by solitude
Reads virus charts for her morning hymns
The rapid testing line
The new meet-cute
The leaves are crisp at the edges now
I am reminded of
My favorite tuesday
When we laughed for so long
When we slipped through each other and emerged richer
Forgive me friend, for needing too much of you
For taking too much
My waves were too high
Forgive me for leaving
Maybe, when time changes again….