I've become an enormous Germanophile of late. The last month and a bit to be precise. Though I suspect I always have been at heart. Big changes in my life and I've decided I like changes. They're good for me. I've broken away from the icy grip of 'the man' and am considering myself as semi-retired from now on. I'm intent on enjoying my life from this point. That's what it's there for anyhow isn't it?
So instead of dragging myself into an unhappy office, I've been teaching German business people online. Digging into the culture again, brushing up my German, learning about the way of and attitudes to life. I think there's much to embrace, relish and admire. So we come to the new Einsturzende Neubauten record. Rampen (apm; alien pop music).
It's a perfect soundtrack for this moment for me and encapsulates everything I've always loved about teutonic culture with a wry restraint that resists the maniacal self destruct button. Blixa Bargeld and his boys have matured nicely over the years. Still in black, no longer so intent on raising messy hell and waking the neighbours. But the Faustian pact was made many moons ago and they remain bound by the same prnciples. This is a disquieting but nuanced listen. Perfect for my Monday morning as I wait for my online workshop with young Leipzig bankers.
Not sure I've ever actually listened to any Einsturzende Neubauten before! Didn't realise they were still going!! I might have to give this a listen. The most I know about German music is from the brilliantly titled Sturm und Twang compilation from the mid-90s, which led me to then buy the first Blumfeld album. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteThey were on The Tube in the Eighties. Very hip. They were really confrontational then. Industrial and no compromise. Blixa Bargeld was in the Bad Seeds for years. They're much more literary and song based now. I like this record. It's funny. Virtually every record I listen to now I want to write about Darren. Happy days.
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