L'Etat Et Moi

Blumfeld | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Big Cat Records
• ASIN: B000005NHJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,595 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Draußen Auf Kaution

2. Jet Set

3. 2 Oder 3 Dinge, Die Ich Von Dir Weiß

4. Walkie, Talkie

5. Eine Eigene Geschichte

6. Verstärker

7. Ich-Wie Es Wirklich War

8. L' Etat et Moi (Mien Vorgehen in 4, 5 Sätzen)

9. Sing Sing

10. Evergreen

11. Superstarfighter

12. You Make Me

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Notice what I notice?, May 14, 2008

By 

M. Buisman "Martijn Buisman" (Amsterdam, NL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: L'Etat Et Moi (Audio CD)

one night in the Vera Club in my hometown of Groningen (Holland) I saw them do a great show. Some Pavement members were in the back, fans as they were, while these Germans from Hamburg played their set. They were called the german Pavement for a few reasons. Musically it had the same slacky atmosphere, but without the humor and frivolity of Malkmus.

The other reviews I've read all say that they didn't understand a word of German. This album almost made me study German. But don't worry, lot of my German friends don't really understand it.

"everywhere there are people in the streets, I don't know them, I don't belong with them. I ask myself who I belong to. And when they talk to me I don't listen" he sings in the opening bars of 'Draußen auf Kaution', a lyric that fits the music. A song about not knowing who you are, not being 100% yourself, almost standing outside yourself. But also, a love song.

Blumfeld was a character from a Kafka book, and Kafka fans will appreciate the lyrics and maybe also the music if you don't know German. For some germans they are a little too artsy, but I don't really care.

By far the best song is the moody and almost droning "Verstärker" (amplifier), with it's feedback breaks and 3 note rhythm.

My favorite German record of all time I think.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous!, August 25, 2002

By 

"beorgegush" - See all my reviews

This review is from: L'Etat Et Moi (Audio CD)

Not being able to speak a word of German shouldn't put you off buying this fantastic album (Nor trying to track down the equally wonderful 'Ich machine'). Blumfeld have a fantastic approach to Indy rock that at once both familiar and unique to fans of Pavement, Fall, Smiths, Sonic Youth. Tuneful at times, edgy at others. I think it was the guitar sound (like a ultra tuneful Sonic Youth) that first made me fall in love with them. Later on, ever without the benifit of understanding the lyrics you'll find the tunes stuck in your head. I'm lead to believe from German speaking friends that the lyrics are great as well. Now if i can only find someone to translate.......

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome German post-punk, January 3, 2008

By 

Laszlo Matyas - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: L'Etat Et Moi (Audio CD)

Although Blumfeld's music is often compared to Krautrock, the band has much more in common with Sonic Youth an The Smiths than they do with Kraftwerk and Faust. Their sound is a swirling, churning, and often utterly gorgeous sort of indie-pop, with hypnotic melodies soaring and twisting their way over oceanic rhythms. Like the aforementioned 80s underground groups, they know how to create evocative sound sculptures using their guitars, merging acoustic and electric sound in an understated and beautiful way. The lyrics, although almost entirely in German, sound wonderful in this context- plus, they're full of surprising references to American music (such as the startling nods to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash on this record's second half). Released in 1995, L'etat Et Moi is the group's second album, and it features such as "Draußen Auf Kaution," which slowly builds an eerily hypnotic and dreamy swirl of guitar feedback. "Jet Set" is twisted guitar screech and rollicking post-punk, while "Verstärker" is a quietly beautiful spoken-word rumination set to a new wave disco-punk rhythm and loosely meshed guitars. "You Make Me" has some great acoustic guitar playing, and "Walkie, Talkie" is a summery (and slightly melancholy) and completely catchy pop number. All in all, a fantastic album that belongs to every indie fan.