On 1 May 1761, at the age of twenty-nine, Joseph Haydn officially became Vice-Capel-Meister to Prince Paul II Anton Esterházy, after having been Director of Music (Musikdirektor) to Count Karl Joseph von Morzin, who had squandered his fortune and had to disband his orchestra. Much has been made of the contract he signed that day. However, despite its demanding terms, it is not true that Haydn was reduced to the level of a servant, far from it, and his salary of 400 Gulden a year was double what he received from Count Morzin. But one of its restrictive clauses did forbid him to communicate to anyone new compositions requested by the prince, and to compose for anyone else without the monarch’s “gracious permission”.
Alix's energetic post-grunge stoner rock is smooth and refreshing. Just the right mix of head-down rock and roll and smoke-choked hypnotics, making for some irresistible bliss. The biggest surprise comes from vocalist Alice Albertazzi…