Himmel’s music occupies the territory between drone, krautrock and cosmic jazz, creating a powerful live spectacle that combines minimalism with the elemental power of a rock band in full spate. Tolling Fender Rhodes, bass guitar and Chris Cutler’s unique drumming lay the foundation for a mosaic of shifting harmonics and submerged melodies from an orchestra of vintage organs played through fuzzboxes.

Himmel was founded in 2008 by Andy Saunders and the experimental arts collective Lewes Arts Lab. Andy is a founding member of Towering Inferno, whose album ‘Kaddish’ fused chanting rabbis with heavy metal guitar and hypnotic systems music. Brian Eno once described it as the most frightening record he had ever heard.

In July 2015 Himmel conducted a two-day workshop with at Festival MIMI in Marseille with 10 local musicians who had never played the material before, culminating in a group performance that MIMI organiser Ferdinand Richard described as “exceptional… generous and inspiring”. In November they return to Cafe Oto for what has become an annual event – last year’s sold out, and the band take up a lot of floor space, so early booking is advised.