British Genre-Busting Group Aufgehoben Interview at AAJ

Aufgehoben is a band that defies categorization, a band unlike any other; its music is freely improvised, with only the sketchiest of plans being agreed upon in advance. And yet its music ends up sounding a million miles away from improv, and even further from jazz. The reasons are twofold: the sound, which is pumped-up, full-on metal rock music, with everything turned up to the max, and the post-production and mixing, which the raw material undergoes, enhancing the sound further and focusing the music. The end result is unique and utterly distinctive.

2007 has seen the secrecy and mystique that has surrounded the band slowly relax. Incredibly--for a band formed in 1999--in December 2006 they played their first ever gig, in Porto, Portugal. This was followed in February 2007 by their second gig, in London, followed by Gateshead in May and then Bristol in June. Altogether, in some eight years as a band, they have only played together some fifteen times--including all recording sessions, rehearsals and gigs.

To accompany their “coming out," the band also started to give occasional interviews. Earlier in the year, AAJ contributor John Eyles attended one of their rehearsals in Brighton, and then talked to the band over a few drinks in a local pub. Following a successful day playing together, they were in an ebullient mood, easy in each other's company, sharing jokes and banter.

Check out Aufgehoben: Counter-Intuition at AAJ today!