[Cover photo credit to Mara von Kummer]
Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto, known as hackedepicciotto, have announced details of a new album, Lichtung, out on limited-edition candy colored vinyl, CD and digitally on July 10, 2026.
The album has been previwed with the single and video for “Wiederbelebung” (translated as “resurgence”), where the duo sing in unison to an electronic beat. It’s a trait of the album, also, which leans into electronic elements.
The new album marks the point that Danielle de Picciotto and Alexander Hacke end a period of nomadic life. After 14 years, they chose to set down roots and settle in the outer edges of Berlin, close to nature with fields not far from their garden.
They explain:
The album is called LICHTUNG, which means a clearing, a place in which you can suddenly see the light in a dark forest, a place to rest. As the world seems to be spinning ever more quickly into a place of madness, being in this quiet place helps us think about how to deal with it all.
The neighborhood is close to where Alexander grew up and, crucially, where at age 14, only 12 months before he joined Einstürzende Neubauten, he began experimenting with electronics. This also marks the first music that he’s released since departing Neubauten.
Both he and Danielle found themselves experimenting with electronics as well as with their usual composition structure, and language. The album’s lyrics, written by Danielle, are entirely in German for the first time.
For Danielle, an American who had already lived in Berlin for several decades, co-founding the city’s Love Parade, before setting off on her world tour with Alexander, this was a deliberate challenge that forced her to engage intensively for the first time with the German language.
Danielle explains:
I usually read and write in English, but this time I told myself: you have to make it happen: an entire album in German language and syntax. A suite of songs in the language of my adopted home.
hackedepicciotto have announced a series of dates in Germany and Portugal for spring. The tour will include a celebration of Lichtung at Berlin’s Silent Green on June 27, with very special guests, and will be preceded by Alexander‘s UK book tour.
The book tour, in support of the autobiography, Blast – Distorted Memories from Einstürzende Neubauten to Symphonic Drone, will see Alexander reading from the book, speaking about his adventurous life, creating live electronic soundscapes and answering questions at venues across the UK.
HACKEDEPICCIOTTO LIVE:
May 15 – Quakenbrück (DE), Theaterwerkstatt
May 17 – Karlsruhe (DE), Kohi
May 25 – Leipzig (DE), Wave Gotik Treffen Festival
June 6 – Frankfurt (DE), Ono
June 10 – Regensburg (DE), Ostentor Kino
June 13 – Düsseldorf (DE), Art:Walk Festival
June 27 – Berlin (DE), Silent Green – a celebration of LICHTUNG
July 10 – Porto (PT), KISMIF Museum Of Science Of Porto
July 11 – Lisbon (PT), Galeria Zé Dos Bois
Aug 27 – Poznan (PL), Estrada w Centrum
Jan 30, 2027 – Lübeck (DE), Treibsand
Latest dates and ticket links are HERE.
ALEXANDER HACKE BLAST BOOK TOUR:
April 3 – Lewes (UK), Con Club
April 5 – London (UK) Walthamstow Trades Hall
April 7 – Edinburgh (UK), Voodoo Rooms
April 8 – Newcastle (UK), Cluny2
April 9 – Manchester (UK), Kamera
April 10 – Liverpool (UK), British Music Experience
April 11 – Birmingham (UK), Hare & Hounds
