Einsturzende Neubauten

Jun 13

Posted by: Michael Willow in 2010, Music

Post Comments

We could described them as an industrial-dark ambient, West Berliner band with both English and German lyrics. Unlimited experimentation together with visible influences of minimalism is what Einsturzende Neubauten have to offer. If you like listening to a rhythm section that does not only consist of real drums, bass guitars, keyboards etc, but samples taken from factory pipes, iron bars, water drops, electric drains and bits, screwdrivers and other factory machines or generally sounds that belong to noise music then Einsturzende Neubauten is what you are looking for. Undoubtedly their music could become more popular but due to their extreme industrial feeling it has been limited to their very dedicated fans. They are not an “easy-listening” band. Their music cannot be appreciated with a one-time listening. It requires further search of their project (watch some videos, reviews, study their history, formation etc).

The band has a long history in the music scene. From 1980 when they appeared with Stahlmusik, their music used to be much more extreme comparing to what you find in their last album “Alles wieder offen” which is more melodic with less noise samples. Some of their fans appear to be apprehensive towards this change. Let me say that one of the problems in the music industry today is that the audience expect all artists’ works to be the same as the well-accepted previous works. Why do the artists have to stick to their past and never deviate? Of course, nobody can deny that some bands make tough compromises as time goes by in order to become more commercial reducing the quality of their music. Of course, the latest Neubauten albums contain more easy-listening songs but that does not mean that they have lowered their standards. I would not compare Neubaten with other bands who abandon their extreme profile and adopt a more commercial one. Would it be really predictable, flavorless and boring somehow if all their albums sounded exactly the same? They have not lost their dark-underground feeling, their virtuosity has not been lost. The experimental level is still high and there are so many songs that would still require a lot of patience to listen to. They may have softened their arrangements and added more melody because they simply became the “ripe fruit”, musicians who know what they are looking for instead of repeating themselves again and again. The changes in the lineup also during the years (all of them, newer or older members are highly skilled multi-instrumentalists in most of the cases) has of course affected their inspiration and performance.

Early releases:

It is certainly hard for somebody who is not familiar with this type of music to appreciate them. Almost all their first 5 albums contain pure noise music. No melodies, a few vocals (mainly screaming) and extensive experimentation with metal objects. I would recommend for somebody who wants to find out more about the band and does not know anything to start with their latest four albums.

All 5 of their first albums are worthy and words are unnecessary to describe them. Every moment is unique. Stahlmusik (1980) Kollaps (1981) Zeichnungen des Patienten O. T. (1983) Halber Mensch (1985) Fünf auf der nach oben offenen Richterskala (1987). The dark, creepy atmosphere and their aggressiveness are common characteristics.

Late albums:

Ende Neu (1996): one of my favorite albums of them. “Was Ist Ist” a fantastic opening song. One of their most beautiful moments of the album “Stella Maris”. Amazing atmosphere, minimalistic melodies together with the presence of Meret Becker in the “Garden”. More songs “Installation No. 1″ and “NNNAAAMMM”… almost everything of this album deserves maximum attention… A masterpiece!

Silence is sexy: More laid back, melodic, more approachable and of course a good introduction to extreme industrial music. “Sabrina” possibly is their most commercial piece. A good choice for those who know nothing about the band, and would find it hard to start discovering them with an older album such like the “Strategies Against Architecture, Volume 1 (Strategein Gegen Architekturen)”. Some notable tracks are “Sabrina” (track 1), “Silence Is Sexy”, “Die Befindlichkeit des Landes”, “Redukt”. Deep dark lyrics while Blixa Bargeld’s vocals have really matured. Similarly good is the “Perpetuum Mobile” album. Some notable songs “Ein leichtes leises Sauseln”, “Ein seltener Vogel”, “Der Weg ins Freie” and of course the “Dead Friends (Around the Corner)”

Alles wieder offen: Songs like “Nagorny Karabach” and “Weil weil weil” are just hymns! Melodic and minimalistic just like the “Die Wellen”. More experimental ones “Von Wegen”, “Let’s Do It a Dada”,”Susej” and “Alles wieder offen” are purely stunning. It may seems like the years of unlimited experimentation are maybe over, but the band still continues to produce good music.

Tabula Rasa and Stahlmusik… are albums where I hardly could exclude any song as well. “Feurio”, “Der Kuss”… they are all simply great!

Rating: 6.0/6 (1 vote cast)

Read also

The Clash, “London still calling” The 70s, one of the most racially difficult eras for Britain. Despite the general discrimination against the black population, it was very common for the police force to behave brutally against them. The Carnival of Notting Hill which started in 1959 as a response to a series of racist attacks that took place during the [...]...
May 2009: Nick Cave Australian-born Nick Cave had a long career (almost 10 years) of live performances and albums before he became widely known as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, band members including the same people he played together from the very beginning (The Birthday Party). Not considered mainstream but with significant fanbase, he is now a very [...]...
George Carlin: Double Feature!!! Doin it Again 1990 Jammin’ in New York – 1992 Passionate performance, intelligence, a sharp political incorrect humour and sarcasm are the main characteristics of Carlin’s shows. The “Jammin’ in New York” and “Doin it Again” are of course not an exception. Always strong and catchy Carlin has the power to put us into self-criticism [...]...