A On Saturday, August 23rd 2008 in a long-planned performance at the Ludwig-Forum in Aachen, plus49 decided to establish for the first time the main theme of their new studio album. The title: “Aircrash saved my life”. The plane crash as worst-case scenario. Three days prior to the premiere a SpanAir airplane with 175 passengers crashed at the Barajas Airport in Madrid. 154 of the passengers were killed. For 21 passengers this experience has changed their life for ever. Rumor has it that during World War II Joseph Beuys crashed with his Stuka over the Crimea. Tartars found him and saved his life. They covered his burns with fat and felt. “The first performance of my life” says Beuys later on. The experience was essential for his later artwork. Three days after the accident of Madrid plus49 was still deeply touched by the crash – too deep. Art, which is always a reflection of reality, became real for a moment, was swept out of the exhibition hall for some days and the multimedia performance “Aircrash saved my life” was postponed for several weeks.
The pursuit of integrity, for the untouched existence, is determined by physical or mental injuries. This is the main theme of the 16 new songs on „Integrity and Injury“. Within this context, the song „Aircrash Saved My Life“ builds the center. plus49 have been regarded as “phenomenon on standby” for years. They are part of the new generation of artists who have as many hands as possible in as many different plays as possible. Since 2002 they have recorded multiple Electronic-Alternative-Pop albums (All The Beautiful Things, Hymn Without Country), published radio plays or created music- and video setups, e.g. in 2003 for the Gasometer in Oberhausen (The night of angels). They shot artistic movies (pollyDAYS) and developed sound designs for cell phones, TV stations and the sound of the gong for the Cologne-Bonn airport. plus49 also won the Midem NetAward for the best Online Event in Cannes. Their music, performances and productions range somewhere between Pop and Avantgarde. plus49 started out as a project and have ultimately transformed into a full-blown band with traditional cast (guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals), supplemented by electronic plots and a classic cello player.
„Integrity and Injury“ marks plus49’s most consistent album so far. It tries out and makes use of all musical possibilities. The music is inspired by all possible disciplines. An album that consequently exceeds expectations. But „Integrity and Injury“ marks a contrast to its predecessor album „Hymn Without Country“ – no poetic creation which romanticizes, no more lament about personal misery. An album that takes on the spirit of the time. The focus is on the world’s standby condition; distant, ironic, also sarcastic, but never indifferent. The songs of “Integrity and Injury” are not a kick in the butt – but at least a slap in the face of today’s crisis generation.
