ok I downloaded (yeah, yeah, I buy music too, so shut it) the third installment of stragies against architecture. I’m about to listen to it but was wondering which studio albums are worth looking into?
All of them! I think EN are a band, that once initiated, is one you’ll want to keep digging deeper into their large catalog to explore further. I think it’s interesting to map their progression from the early percussive-only days to their middle period where they started introducing melody and more instrumentation.
I say start with Ende Neu. It’s not a fan favorite, but it’s got a great balance of their harsher songs, quiet ballads (the song Stella Maris is my favorite ever love song) and even a song that could be almost categorized as dance/ebm.
If you started on the third strategies album, maybe Silence Is Sexy or Perpetum Mobile. Neubauten’s one of those bands that i’ll either hate it, or absolutely love it and want more and more. Top albums imo.
Alles Wieder Offen
Halber Mensch
Haus Der Luge
Tabula Rasa
They tone it down each album pretty much these days, but they’re still amazing after all of these years. I started with Perpetuum Mobile and worked my way down. By the time I heard Kollaps and O.T. it was real weird, but I grew into liking it and seeing them for what they are.
You haven’t given us enough information (how familiar you are with them etc etc or whether or not you are after the more abrasive material) but for what it’s worth I’d say go with (in order):
Strategies Against Architecture 80 - 83 (1983)
Haus Der Luge (1989)
Tabula Rasa (1993)
Halber Mensch (1985)
The Jewels (2008)
I believe they have a new album out next year as well. Something to look forward to.
And if you get a chance, there is a recent-ish live album called Palast Der Republik which has to be heard to be believed.
Wasn’t aware they were working on another one. That’s awesome.
I’d start with Haus der Luge if you want their most immediately accessible and a disc that captures the whole realm of different sounds they’ve spanned over their career. Definitely start with that album.
I’d say “1/2 mensch” first “endu neu” second third “Kollaps” now that i think about it i have’nt heard anything since “endu neu” (1996) i need to brush up on them
I’d start with Haus der Luge if you want their most immediately accessible and a disc that captures the whole realm of different sounds they’ve spanned over their career.
This.
But I don’t think it matters too much where you start. You can flavour the different phases they’ve had; I’d split it into 4 and select the following (chronological order)
Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T.
Haus Der Luge
Strategies Against Architecture III
Alles Wieder Offen
However I don’t have everything of EN, so this is not an expert opinion.
To get the full experience I think you need to see a live show.
Palast der Republik and The Halber Mensh DVD are great.
Ende Neu is a good, accessible starting point. And it’s my segue into a story.
I got married over the summer, and we slipped the lyrics for Stella Maris into our wedding program; we set it up as a “poem” by Blixa Bargeld. Cut two months later, an old friend of my wife’s family completely nicked our “poem” and put it in the program for her civil ceremony. I wonder if they did a google search before or after…
You haven’t given us enough information (how familiar you are with them etc etc or whether or not you are after the more abrasive material) but for what it’s worth I’d say go with (in order):
Strategies Against Architecture 80 - 83 (1983)
Haus Der Luge (1989)
Tabula Rasa (1993)
Halber Mensch (1985)
The Jewels (2008)
I believe they have a new album out next year as well. Something to look forward to.
And if you get a chance, there is a recent-ish live album called Palast Der Republik which has to be heard to be believed.
the abrasive material would be better, considering I’m into stuff like Napalm Death and Merzbow.
I started out with Kollaps thats pretty abrasive. Tracks like Tanz Debil and Negativ Nein will knock your socks off buddy boy!
You should also pick up Tabula Rasa it contains quite a gem ‘Headcleaner’. Hands down their best track ever.
Haus Der Luge is where I’d start. It’s not my favorite (I think Tabula Rasa is) but it’s a great entry point.
Kollaps
Kollaps
Kollaps
Related, but unrelated. Just got my hands on the alva noto/blixa bargeld ep. Good stuff. But yeah, i’d definitely just start on haus der luge. Good balance of the older sound and the newer sound they were working to
Become.
I think Haus Der Luge is a little too soft. You’ll get bored with it quickly, at least I did.
Any album would make a fine entry point imo.
To get the full experience I think you need to see a live show.
Palast der Republik and The Halber Mensh DVD are great.
I live in the United States. not likely to my knowledge.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Strategies IV. For a while there I thought they were all washed up, but that Jewels cd from a few years back re-ignited my love for that band.