Customer Reviews

Alles Wieder Offen

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was putting off buying this one, for some reason, but I wish I hadn't. I was a big fan of "Perpetuum Mobile", and found "Alles Wieder Offen" to be similar, but by no means a repeat. Rather, I find "Alles" to be a better album-- from the same world of music, but better.

One thing that Neubauten seems to be perfecting is this sense of lightness. Older material, the classic stuff, is often very heavy. Incredible, but harsh-- brutal, maybe even.

Newer albums make forays into pop, combining drone and ethereal elements with metallic percussion, sprinkles of electronics, and, of course, Blixa's voice. In this work, Blixa sounds as powerful as ever, and his voice works nicely with the music.

There are moments of sadness in this album, but then Neubauten really isn't just for kids anymore, so what would a person expect? Nonetheless, having listened, I felt both enlightened and satisfied.

Einsturzende Neubauten have definitely created a very focused sound in these last few recordings, maybe it's because of frontman Blixa's leaving the Bad Seeds to concentrate on EN.

The first thing a listener will notice is that it is definitely work in the Silence is Sexy and Perpetum Mobile vain, the mark of that work being a hold on intensity while often remaining almost calm and downtempo. At points while listening to the smooth(yet still mechanical) flow of the work, i'm put in almost a trip hop mood. It's a very mature work on the part of EN, and it shows. For instance in the begining where the music grows and grows in intensity(and loudness), and the beat pounds like a heart going faster and faster after a long run, Blixa's voice remains steady and calm like the wizard summoning the tempest. And that is what makes EN so fasinating to listen to in the first place which is displayed heavy on Alles Wieder Offen, is that sense of control that dominates the work. Many groups can't be experimental(or industrial for that matter) without losing themselves in trite cliche, dullness, or at least a little bit of pretension. Einsturzende skips all that and only anwsers to themselves, and the sharpened ears of their fans. Most industrial fans who have wondered what happened to their precious genre that has grown away from its more expermental and freethinking roots would do good to drown themselves a bit more in EN's work. It is always nice to see a serious and true artist still providing a unique voice after all these years.

EN crashed into my world long ago with Seele brennt. It opened up a field of sonic and emotional experience unbeknown to me, quite exciting. But after Tabula Rasa I really became disinterested. I listened to the new releases but apart from the occasional song, the material just could not keep me captivated.

But Blixa and consorts have found new ground to erect temporary dwellings for the soul. There is a new vulnerability to the material which is really touching (and sweat!).

The into the abyss brutal expressionist noise - I admit I still miss it and long for it sometimes - has been replaced by careful, thought through song structures. This development had already begun on previous albums but now it seems to pay off. There is a balance between the new open sound and philosophical bend lyrics that wasn't there before. Not for me anyway.

There is a strong delivery of the words by Blixa that comes across as convincing and honest, reminiscent of the Halber Mensch era. And what is most important, there again is a vast amount of space and time between the bars creating the tension and friction which made EN music special and exciting to begin with.

Meine Ohren sind wieder Wunde!

Unlike some of my other favorite bands like the Fall or the Swans, I really think people would like EN if they gave them the chance. AWO I think is a great starting point. Sure there is the problem of lyrics in German which some will never get by. Still its really just a block. I really cant imagine someone listening to Nagorny Karabach or Ich Hatte ein Worte and not putting it in the same category as Peter Gabriel, the later Beatle Albums, Leonard Cohen etc. Unfortunately I am not sure how many more records these guys are going to put out but I for one think they have some really solid stuff and much of it here on Alles Wieder offen. Sure some art rock fans may complain they are getting to soft but that would only apply if they had a horrible progression slowly turning into elevator music. Instead here we have songs that at times remind me of Simon and Garfunkle but at others sound like early EN. There is no doubt some catchiness to some of these tracks and the others still have that EN creativity that keeps them worthwhile. If you are reading this you probably already are into Kraut Rock/Industrial etc so you must know all this. But I think this album shows how fans of Gabriel, progressive rock, Radiou head and even some folk rock can like this stuff.

Alles Wieder Offen being EN's 2007 release and can be said to be a mix between experimental rock and industrial rock. EN is not for the person used to standard rock music and one has to have experienced quite experimental music to fully understand the genius that Blixa Bargeld is. The lyrics are often confusing and filled with strange allusions but make for reflection as one listens to the lyrics. The album was met with positive reviews and Allmusic and Pitchfork Media both gave it high marks. The booklet contains all the lyrics and for each track one gets a list of whom plays what. 4/5.

This is a wonderful CD but an outstanding group.

Vendor is great and I would use him again.

Rob Russell

I'm proud to claim that I have witnessed and participated in the gestation of this album, whose conditions of production are perhaps as novel as the band that authored it. Einstürzende Neubauten, the sound of collapsing buildings, have never courted novelty merely for the sake of it, but they have always been open to innovation in every aspect of their creative process. And that might just go some way to explaining how after more than 27 years they still show no sign of tiring, no sign of losing their music-making vitality. Operating through supporter subscriptions, EN have pioneered a truly independent business model, free of the capital constraints of a record label. Instead, it is the fans that sponsor their creative endeavour, able to watch regular webcasts of the band at work and participate in discussion groups that analyse their music. But even if you didn't facilitate the creative process that culminated in `Alles Wieder Offen', it's still available for you to purchase! It's never too late to discover the wonder that is Einstürzende Neubauten.

EN have come a long way from those early days of cacophony wrought from metal scraping, banging and resonating on metal, but that improvisational ethic persists - EN still dwell in a world of useful detritus, which given the right constructive impetus can yield some awe-inspiring methods of generating sounds dramatic, subtle and exciting. Their percussive mastery is surely unrivalled, but added to this are the cryptic, poetic utterances of their lyricist Blixa Bargeld (also formerly the guitarist with Nick Cave's Bad Seeds). These days it's obvious that the music of EN is authored by a tribe of experts who understand sound, structure, and composition better than almost any other contemporary musical innovators. Neubauten remain a unique musical proposition which has enriched my life no end, and `Alles Wieder Offen' is a tremendous offering - let it do the same for yours!

The CD is great and the shipping costs too. So, allthough the dollar is low now, I have the idea that I paid a reasonable price. That's nice for once.

Thanks to the world economy.

Gr. TPE