Der deutsche Musiker und Futurist André Uhl liess für sein am 17. November 2017 erscheinendes Debütalbum I hope the roof flies off, and I get sucked up into space. nicht nur die Industriestandards Grafik und Video erstellen, sondern von verschiedenen Autorinnen auch Kurzgeschichten schreiben. Ausgangspunkt der 13 Geschichten waren die 13 Tracks von Uhl, die sich wie seine früheren Arbeiten aus vielschichten Beats und verqueren Melodien zusammensetzen. Die Übersetzung von Musik in Text hängt dabei von der Interpretation der Autorinnen ab: Die Kurzgeschichten finden mögliche Narrative zu den Tracks, führen bereits vorhandene Erzählstränge fort oder suchen andere Zusammenhänge von Klang und Sprache.

Ein bemerkenswertes Beispiel ist «Awakening/Justice» von Walter Lacy. Der Hip-Hop-Künstler und Poet aus Detroit erzählt eine Geschichte, die einen ähnlichen Sog entwickelt wie der Track «Here Comes the Ruler», auf den er sich bezieht. Geschichte wie Track oszillieren zwischen Diesseits und Jenseits, scheinen von Unheil umgeben zu sein und finden dennoch eine positive Grundstimmung. Wer jetzt – aus aktuellem Anlass – an Stranger Things denkt, liegt nicht weit daneben: Geschichte und Track würden in der Netflix-Serie nicht aus dem Rahmen fallen.

Wir freuen uns, an dieser Stelle Uhls Track «Here Comes the Ruler» und Lacys dazugehörige Kurzgeschichte vorab zu präsentieren:

Awakening/Justice
*for André Uhl

Echoes of a haunting midnight descend upon the concrete wilderness that he has transformed into his playground.
His enemies fear the darkness while he revels in it.
Self-assured indeed, he understands his purpose.  A child of the light.  Almost.

Surrounded by a world of chaos that barely maintains a facade of normalcy, he seeks to lift the shroud that veils the truth.
Amidst dysfunction, he finds himself at home.
Weaving through shadows, he instills dread in those who might otherwise bring society to its knees.

Our world is one of deception; empires that evolve and transform themselves.
From pirates to robber barons; politicians to pontiffs.
The poor are exploited, left to suffer at  the whims of snake oil salesmen.  Magicians.  Despicable warlocks and witches who conjure destruction, under the guise of wisdom.
Agents of deception.  They believe themselves illuminated.

No.  They are the blind. They are the wicked.
Enchanted souls lost to their pride, consumed by ego.
Foolish enough to believe that they are gods.  They are not.
There is but one Creator, and he has chosen his hero.
A shining knight fortified by armour unfamiliar to this world.
An astute fighter; he has been bred for this moment.

Vengeance waits patiently around the corner for those that have wrought madness upon the people of Earth.  Do not cry for pity, if you did not lament for the wailing widow.
Spare your tears, if they haven’t been shed for the abandoned child.  Are your doors open to the refugee?  Do you point a finger at the convict and the whore, or do you extend a hand to lift them from bondage?  Do you feed on their misery?

If there be any among us that is enslaved, we are all in danger.
Be forewarned.  It is time to stand.
No longer can oppression be tolerated.
No longer can villainy be celebrated.
Shake free of the shackles that keep us bound to a system that thrives by discord.

They will send their armies.  Let them.  They will send their provocateurs.  Anticipate them.  Nonetheless stand firm.  A hero walks among us. A hero lives within us.  Do not deny the truth.  Embrace the awakening.  It is the call we long awaited..  JUSTICE.

Now.  Answer the phone.

—

André Uhls I hope the roof flies off, and I get sucked up into space. erscheint am 17. November 2017 digital und auf Vinyl bei Neofakt, inklusiv eines Booklets mit den 13 Kurzgeschichten.