Customer Reviews

Tabula Rasa

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

 

 

Yep. That's the sound you're buying this CD for. Nothing as bracing as having Blixa Bargeld screeching this at you over something that sounds like the Berlin Philharmonic being savaged by rabid tigers in a cement pit. The problem, though, is that while that track fits the wonderfully ear-wrenching legacy of Einstuggy, as do a couple of others, there's also a couple of _songs_ on here. I mean...pop songs. Poppy. Not what you'd expect from EN. And this, to me, is a little annoying, as _I_ buy Einsturzende Neubauten discs for their ability to peel paint off of walls and incinerate your neighbors. And I don't think EN was totally into that direction either, as I saw the tour for this release, and the poppy material never made it to the stage. But by ghod, "Headcleaner" alone makes up for this. The group hasn't been this abrasive or harrowing since perhaps "Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T." Just keep in mind that there are tracks you will likely want to skip in the course of getting to this climactic aural cataclysm. Break out that pneumatic drill, boys!!!

Tabula Rasa was the first album I ever had from this band. It is simply amazing: obviously it is not that much if you have listened to the rest of the cds, but I think that every Neubauten album is unique in their hyper-personal style. The process of controlling the noise and agressiveness continues here, but is that a bad thing? I suppose it depends on opinions. For me, Tabula Rasa is not the best Neubauten album, but it's closer to it: in fact, I think that the best way to taste what Einstürzende Neubauten implies in the history of music is to follow their evolution throughout all their cds, from the spontaneous agressiveness of 'Collapse' to the delightful game with silence and noise of 'Silence is Sexy', their last album up to date. Tabula Rasa begins with one of the best Neubauten songs, 'Die Interimsliebenden', a long mid-tempo song which could serve (if that's possibel) to sum up the music of this band: minimalistic rhythms, noise in battle with melody, and on top of that a voice full of nuances. 'Zebulon' introduces at first a very skeletical song, with a voice that recites more than sings, just to prepare us for the explosion of noise at the end of it. 'Blume' is sung by a female voice, very sweet and melifluous, introduced at the beginning of each stanza by bargeld's recitation of different species of flowers. A very beautiful song. The comes '12305te nacht', a more typical Neubauten song, which has really no bad connotations, since it's one of the best of them all. Noisy, similar to the first one but shorter and less megalomaniac. 'Sie' is a very disturbing song, combining Bargeld's voice with a talking voice. 'Wüste' lacks beat but is mysterious enough not to bore us. And finally 'Headcleaner' is the typical extra-long neubauten song full of varied passages to make us enjoy every single minute of it: it is by far the most agressive song in the album, which I imagine the fans of the old works will prefer. Tabula Rasa is a new masterful album by a band which, i think, deserves at last to stop being undervalued. (at least in my country, where they are completely ignored. The same as Skinny Puppy,...)

EN NUE's album Tabula Rasa is a fantastic piece of work, from a group that helped define industrial music with the likes of Throbbing Gristle. This album has come along way since then though, at points even having hints of commercial stlyes. The first and only single entitled"The Interemlovers", is a beautiful song with a mix of graceful tones and destructive beats. Few songs off this album are not unique and addicting in the traditional EN NUE way. This album is a addition to the already gigantic EN NUE library, and added also is a sense of new listening.

This is a strong album - very strong - if not stark. Tunes like
12305te Nacht - this is my 12305th Night - that's how long Blixa's been alive - where his life was that night. A song frozen in time - a little piece. (pun intended)
Die Interimslieben, the transitory-ness of time - in one blink of an eye - all of these things happen - you think time is one thing - when really it is not at all - it is so fast - or it is just one thing - or is it slow?
Me likey these two songs best right now. The whole album is really quite good - it's more than that really - so much and alot more. Probably one could listen to this album in cycles - your favorites will perhaps cycle has you cycle your listening. Tabula Rasa is such a big album - there is so much packed into this little CD. I like to listen to Interimslieben, Sie, 12305te Nacht. Then I will listen to Blume, Zebulon, Headcleaner. Then Sie, Wueste, Headcleaner, Sie. You think of the possibilities. Of course you could listen to the whole album right through a lot of times. It would all be different which ever way you will listen to it. If you want to buy this album you ought to. Go on, go get it.

N

Always an intelligent, "thinking man's" industrial group, in 1993 Einsturzende Neubauten released "Tabula Rasa", the first hint of the quiet, more melodic direction that would dominate their music afterwards until the present. As a result, it's a perfect blend of their older, more aggressive style and this new approach. All of the lyrics are brilliant, and very visual and descriptive even after translation, which really says something about Blixa's skill in this area. It's also a very diverse, yet balanced album. Each track must be discussed individually.

"Die Interimsliebenden" is a groovy, bass guitar driven tune. Blixa's vocal performance makes the song with its infectious energy.

"Zebulon" is driven by melodic guitars and guitar noise. Layers of vocal overdub build until its triumphant rhythmic ending. Shows EN's ability to write a catchy melody that isn't annoying or cheesy.

"Blume" is a hypnotic, pretty song with no rhythm except what is created by the steady guitar harmonics that form the ambient cloud the song sits on. The guest female vocalist unfortunately has an accent that makes her hard to take seriously. The versions in alternate languages found on the "Malediction" EP are as a result better. However, this is still a beautiful song.

"12305(te Nacht)" is a little harsher, with its muffled electronic percussion. The song's topic, as someone else mentioned... a snapshot in time. This 12,305th night of Blixa's life. The song has a martial feel with some dramatic synth in its second half.

"Sie" is next, and a highlight. It's an anxious, percolating track with a ravey sort of atmosphere, yet very light rhythms. Two different processed voices weave in and out of the song, playing different characters in a vague but evocative story (read the translation, it's beautiful) elaborating on a romantic relationship, and metaphorical rambling about ruins, nighttime, and so many other things which could have political meanings, but are surely intensely multi-interpretable.

"Wuste" is beatless, consisting only of shimmering, ruffling noises and dark strings. It sounds just like waiting on a beach in the dark for a boat to return.

"Headcleaner": Part 1 is a well-placed, absolutely brutal finale. It's clear something is different from the opening metallic squall. The song picks up and introduces Blixa's catchy shout of "HEEEEEEAAADCLEANER" before breaking down into microtonal, minimal, avant garde chime melodies. The noise comes back for the end, where Blixa sings in English for the first time on the album is huge dramatic effect. Part 2 is much different, and is one of the subtlest pieces on the album.

"Tabula Rasa" is flawless, a masterpiece. One of many solid EN albums, yes, but the only one to so perfectly integrate the old with the new. Highly recommended.

Tabla Rasa is one of the best experimental rock records I've ever heard... Every song is phenomenal... Listed as seven tracks although for what it's worth Headcleaner is broken up into several movements if that makes a differences to anyone... Blixa Bargeld incorporates Beatles lyrics from "All You Need Is Love" into Headcleaner which is somewhat odd but quite cool... Also, if you've put off buying this one because many of the songs are on the Strategies III compilation, take note that most of the songs are slightly different versions... and that the cd is well worth it just for Headcleaner alone...

This is a truly amazing album. It is one of the few albums I own where every single song is excellent. Of course, the best of them all is Headcleaner. At first glance, this seems to be a simple song. However, if you listen closely, an amazing complexity emerges. When you buy this, listen to Headcleaner first. This is best done in a quiet room using a good pair of headphones. Also, make sure to listen to it all the way through reading the translation as you go. If you do this, you will change in some way. Really.

It might be tempting to categorize this work as some sort of modern Industrial Xenakis with a beat but That would not be doing it justice: meLodic, grinding, soAring, dissonant, smooth, sereNe, catchy, thick german - it's tough to pigeonhole this. It's possible, I suppose, to just put this on for background music or dance but it's thoughtful enough for dedicated headphone listening that does not get stale.

If you are tired of music that follows the dictated and simplistic formula of Guitar-Bass-Drums-Vocals and Intro-Chorus-Refrain-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus. If you are looking for something that you will be able to listen to a thousand times and hear something new each time, then experience Einsturzende Neubauten.

...I don't really like this album... I can dig stuff like Ministry because it seems more focused and traditional perhaps. The songs on this album are so uneven and the pacing is so untraditional. Don't get me wrong; I love progressive rock. I listen to Can and Neu and Faust. I just think that this album has progressed in the wrong direction.

For a Industrial fan, read another review. For anyone else, take my advice and skip this album. ...