Einstuerzende Neubauten.

Benjamin Strange · #1 06-09-2008, 08:59 AM

This is one of those bands that people have been telling me about for years, as it's the kind of thing that should be right up my alley, yet for some reason I've failed to look into them until now. Holy crap - from what I've heard on their Myspace page, they are destined to become one of my favorite bands.

What's the story behind this band? Any place I should start with their albums? I could certainly use a proper introduction here.

myspace.com/neubauten

JMX · #2 06-09-2008, 09:04 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neubauten

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blixa_Bargeld

Blixa collaborated for years with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds,too.

sarcastro83 · #3 06-09-2008, 01:19 PM

Benjamin, if you're ever lucky enough to have them come to your town, do yourself a favour and go. Seeing them live was pretty freaking incredible.

I really like Neubauten.

MakiSupaStar · #4 06-09-2008, 03:02 PM

I saw them years ago. From what I understand they started out making noises, and very few conventional instruments. Did some recordings inside of a hollowed out water tank, etc. When I saw them they had a conventional bass, and were running a lot of loops. Pretty cool stuff. Pretty far ahead of their time, and one could argue that they paved the way for bands like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails.

Against Will · #5 06-09-2008, 04:22 PM

It depends on how far out you're willing to go. All of their albums are great, but they're all very different. Their early albums, up to Haus der Lüge are for all intents and purposes, noise. I really like Drawings of Patient O.T. but its probably the harshest, most abrasive album I've ever heard, it takes a commitment to sit through it.

The stuff beginning around Tabla Rasa is more accessible (i.e. fewer band saws grinding against concrete tunnels). I would reccommend that one, Ende Neu and Perpetuum Mobile. I haven't heard Silence is Sexy but its also supposed to be one of their best. I also like Strategies against Architecture III which is the third in a series of retrospective discs of live tracks, alternate versions etc.

I also highly recommend their DVD Palast Der Republik. The songs are great, and its a thrill to see the way they produce them in a live setting. I really admire their analog approach to creating sounds, it would easier to dial in dubby bass sound with an ordinary sink, but they go the extra mile and haul out the 8 ft. pvc pipes onstage.