Lullabies for loves long lost - Vol 6 - Wizards From Oz: The Emo Vocal Edition

Torsten Schmidt aka Akshun Schmidt

RBMA, Cologne

"It's just not possible" is not a phrase that's familiar with this particular Akshun hero: just ask anyone who's ever been at the Academy, with him being one of the original yadastar triumvirate breathing life into this shindig, season after season. Or ask the scores of musicians and handful of arrangers who found themselves orchestrating an emotional tidal wave at the MacCaw Hall in Seattle. Whether it's a lederhosened schoolboy Torsten cycling up the hill to listen to AFN radio 'cause the reception wasn't so good in the living room, or swapping pirate mixes with foreign exchange students, when it comes to music, Torsten's can-do attitude has been there for time. It wasn't long until Tor was asked to edit Frankfurt's Groove magazine, and Cologne's Spex magazine soon after that. And as sure as Ralf Huetter wears lycras, after countless scribbles and doodles in zee dschrmann publishing world, the Championlover Soundsystem followed - classic back room steez that emptied crates of champagne like early Biggie videos. Tor's always been keener to bust some moves on the floor than risk getting carpal tunnel, so expect slap dash panache rather than technical perfection. But this empathy to the dancers does mean he'll be playing a selection you won't catch anywhere else, instead of the latest hype. Btw - did you guys eat already?