Ornament & Verbrechen is a project that informs the mythos of the pre-Wende East German underground. Formed in 1983 by brothers Ronald and Robert Lippok, the group was more phenomenon than band , an open system of experimentation with other artists and musicians that was continuous for over a decade.
The name Ornament & Verbrechen was taken from a 1908 essay of with the same title (Ornament und Verbrechen, Ornament and Crime) that was fundamental to the Bauhaus movement and helped define Modernism in architecture, though the band took the name more or less ironically.
Facts
1: no label
2: no agency
3: no borders
Questions
1.What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Actually is the process itself. Whenever we come together and play or rehears new themes and sounds unfold like flowers in springtime.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
In the early 80s. My brother and i where fans of experimental and noise band s like cabaret voltaire. We thought if they can do it we can do it to.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Flying Lizards – Forth Wall
Cabaret Voltaire – The Voice of America
Klara Lewis – Ett
Russell Haswell – As Sure As Night Follows Day
Andrea Parker – Melodious Thunk
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
From chaos to capitalism
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Wherever the sun shines on.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Painting, making furniture, building tiny houses in the woods
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Daphne Oram / Andrea Parker – Private Dreams and Public Nightmares
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Mike Kelley, if he still would be alive.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Psychic Tv @ Loft Berlin 1989 an endless stream of fog and kick drums.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Its hard to say. Sometimes a synthesizer sound can be the core of a whole track. I like to get the latest news on music tech stuff but when it comes to the creative process and when im honest with me. I need very little gear.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes, my brother Ronald has a son. He love all the stuff ( i think we doing and shows often up at concerts and exhibitions.
