Projects.

01 · Current project

Dr. Freddie's Atomic Commotion

A four-piece band, with no band leader and nobody plays a fixed instrument. We all play what the other three tell us to play. And me, comply, but don't ever touch the drums. They asked me once, but that was a disaster. They still make me sing now and then. And vice versa.

Currently working on a new album. Dr. Freddie's Atomic Commotion debuted with the album: Croquette.

02 · Project

Watson

Mark Watson — better known as The Unvoice — and I go back a fair way. We first crossed paths as mutual Frank Zappa fans on Facebook, which is perhaps as good a place as any to begin a musical friendship. A shared enthusiasm for Zappa's wonderfully peculiar universe turned into conversations, collaborations, and eventually a rather impressive amount of musical mischief.

Since 2015, Mark has appeared on several of my musical productions. You can find those appearances in the discography.

At the moment, we're working together on a Zappa album. It's taking shape, making noises, and occasionally refusing to behave. More details to follow in Spring 2027. Watch this space — or, knowing us, keep an ear on it.

03 · Project

Filthy Brillos

Filthy Brillos are a finely balanced musical organisation held together by questionable decisions, alarming levels of talent, and the occasional snack. Six individuals, one shared commitment to keeping things gloriously unpredictable. Allow us to introduce the personnel.

• Armin keeps the groove unpredictable and the band awake. Once built a snare out of an old suitcase. It worked. Nobody asked why.
• Sebastian can turn any chord into a Zappa moment. Known for making synthesizers confess their secrets.
• Sascha is half rock prophet, half stand-up comedian, and 100% genius. Once sang an entire gig without a microphone, yet everybody heard him. Genius, I say.
• Guacamole mixes funk, fuzz, and food metaphors. Plays every note like it owes him money.
• Fred is a part-time pianist and full-time sonic anarchist. Quotes Zappa, Bach, and Monty Python in the same solo, sometimes in the same bar.
• Flo is the quiet storm. Once accidentally invented a new tuning and decided to keep it.

Individually questionable; collectively, a force of nature. Please do not feed them after midnight. Or give them access to the lighting desk.

04 · Project

ArF! Duo

A two-man project devoted to exploring the music of Frank Zappa in an unusual and intimate format: just piano and drums. Featuring pianist Fred Händl and drummer Armin Beck, the duo brings a fresh and personal take on Zappa’s challenging and often unpredictable compositions.

Fred Händl, a longtime admirer of Zappa’s work, approaches the music with care, curiosity, and a touch of mischief. His piano arrangements reveal surprising details and textures in pieces that are often densely orchestrated. Armin Beck brings energy and precision to the drums, navigating Zappa’s rhythmic twists with both discipline and flair.

Rather than aiming for note-for-note reproduction, The ArF! Duo interprets the music in a way that feels spontaneous and honest. The result is playful, at times intense, and always rooted in a deep respect for the original material.

This year, The ArF! Duo will be performing at Zappanale, Germany’s renowned festival dedicated to the music and legacy of Frank Zappa. Their set offers a quieter but no less compelling perspective on Zappa’s work — an invitation to hear it differently, through the lens of two musicians who clearly love what they play. If you’re curious about what Zappa sounds like with all the excess stripped away, The ArF! Duo is well worth your time.

05 · Project

Yo Cats

A duo devoted to the music of Frank Zappa; not as a tribute act, nor as a reconstruction project, but as an ongoing musical conversation. The focus is on clarity, interaction, and the idea that this music is still very much alive, provided it is not handled too carefully.

The band consists of Guacamole di Lindini (bass, cajon) and Fred Händl (keys, vocals). Together, they reduce Zappa’s often expansive compositions to their essentials: rhythm, structure, humor, and intent. What remains is compact, agile, and open, leaving space for nuance, timing, and the occasional detour.

The group’s overall approach might best be described as polite confidence. The music is played with precision, but without stiffness; arrangements are respected, yet never treated as fixed. Humor is present but understated, complexity handled lightly, as if to suggest that this music does not need explanation to make its point.

Live performances balance focus and freedom. Yo Cats is not interested in nostalgia, reenactment, or faithful imitation. Instead, the duo offers an intimate perspective on Zappa’s work—one that values listening over spectacle, and playfulness over reverence, while always leaving room for the unexpected.

06 · Project

ArF Cats Compendium

Soon, girls and boys. Soon.

07 · Project

Aitken

Soon, girls and boys. Soon.