Customer Reviews

Ich Tote Mich Jedesmal Aufs Neue

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

 

 

You asked what the 'real' title of this album means, and since I am German, I will do the honor of translation:

"Ich töte mich jedesmal aufs Neue, doch ich bin unsterblich, und ich erstehe wieder auf; in einer Vision des Untergangs"

means:

"I kill myself everytime again, yet I am immortal, and I shall resurrect; in a vision of the end"

"Ich töte mich jedesmal aufs Neue, doch ich bin unsterblich, und ich erstehe wieder auf; in einer Vision des Untergangs" is the true title of this CD (though I have no idea what this translates to), Sopor Aeternus' 1st proper CD, originally released in 1994. This 1999 re-issue contains 7 bonus tracks including 3 songs ("The Feast of Blood", "Baptisma", and "Beautiful Thorn") from their out of print 1989 demo tape "Es reiten die Toten so schnell...", the original demo version of "Birth - Fiendish Configuration", and the hauntingly beautiful "Holy Water Moonlight". This release has a much different sound than anything they've recorded since, having a more "gothic" feel, while the demo tracks are downright BatCave. I consider this CD somewhat "un-matured", considering their following releases have been more classical in composure (especially on the Dead Lovers Sarabande albums), but it is still interesting to hear where they began. The demo versions are pretty rough listening, as the music is much more raw, and the vocals are more of a groaning than actual singing (particularly on the demo version of "Birth - Fiendish Configuration"), and those who appreciate Anna-Varney's more operatic tracks will find this even more difficult to digest, but again it is interesting to hear these early songs.

I gave this 4 stars because, as with all Sopor Aeternus releases, the music is pure, untainted by any form of commercialism, and just plain well done. I deducted one star because their later albums show a definate musical growth and maturity. Long story short - on this or any album by these guys, the emotions and pain portrayed remain unmatched in nearly any artist today.

'Ich Tote Mich' is the first real album of Sopor Aeternus. As far as I know, Sopor Aeternus consists of only one member, Anna Varney. (S)he does all the instruments, percussion and the singing, which is quite a feat. The instruments are mostly keyboards, and the melodies are very medieval/tribal based. The percussion is very well done, with lots of catchy rhythms and even some songs are strangely danceable. Anna Varney's voice seems strangely genderless, performing both female and male vocals with ease. Some songs (s)he sings in a slow, chanting voice, while others are performed with a pain-ridden wail. The lyrics are very intimate and thought provoking, though occasionally falling into Gothic cliches. The demo tracks that accompany 'Ich Tote Mich' aren't as good as the rest of the tape, mainly because the lyrics are over the top and the production is shabby. My favourite songs are probably 'Tanz Der Grausamkeit' (Dance of Cruelty) and 'Birth- Fiendisch Figuration'. Highly recommended. Also check out 'Dead Lover's Sarabande 1 & 2' by Sopor Aeternus.

"Ich Tote ..." is a collection of rough demo recordings, but despite it faults (or as Varney refers to them on the inlay card "dreadful recordings") this album has some beautiful gems. I particularly like "Do You Know My name", which seems to me to be the most polished, Tanz Der Grausamkeit, Im Garten Des Nichts, Dark Delight, and Travel on Breath.

The north-American cover is quite beautiful too!