Active since 1980, the German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten hails from the former (West) Berlin. Their unique industrial sound is attributed to the varied metal instruments and objects used both in recording and performing.
The original lineup, which consisted of Beate Bartel, Gundrun Gut, Blixa Bargeld, and N.U. Unruh, used to play at the venue Moon Club in Berlin. After the two females in the group, Gut and Bartel, left the group and drummer F.M. Einheit was added, the band collaborated on an LP, released in November 1981 under the title “Kollaps” or “Collapse” in English. The musical alias “Einstürzende Neubauten” translated to English means “Collapsing New Buildings,” an appropriate description of the abrasive sounds that make up the band’s music.
Neubauten’s third album “Halber Mensch” or “Half Man” which was released in 1985, showed the band’s growth with more structured songs and coherent lyrics. This breakthrough occurred after the louder, more experimental sophomore album “Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T” or “Drawings of Patient O.T.” in 1983. Einstürzende Neubauten supported “Half Man” by touring in the U.S. and Canada, showing up with unexpected and new performance ideas from pyrotechnics to destruction of metal objects on stage. The band received a following in Asia, especially Japan and their fourth and fifth albums “Fünf auf der nach oben offenen Richterskala” (Five on the open-ended richter scale) and “Haus der Lüge” (house of the lie) brought their bizarre industrial sound to the mainstream.
Some of Einstürzende Neubauten more experimental songs that have become well known include “Armenia,” “Yü-Gung (Fütter mein Ego),” “Z.N.S.” and “Feurio!” Lead singer Blixa Bargeld is one of the more active members of the group, having also sung simultaneously in the band Nick Cave and the Band Seeds for a period of time. Einstürzende Neubauten has celebrated over 30 years of music with both studio and live-recorded albums.
Josh Levi
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