Kalte Sterne Early Recordings by Einsturzende Neubauten

Kalte Sterne Early Recordings

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Kalte Sterne Early Recordings

Features

Audio CD (June 29, 2004)

Label: Mute U.S.

Reader Reviews
I discovered this album in an independent record store only three or four days after I first heard Einsturzende Neubauten through Napster. It was the only EN album that they had, so I picked it up pretty quickly. I was somewhat apprehensive about the first listen, not knowing exactly what to expect. The only EN album I had heard so far was "Ende Neu," which, from most reviews I read, appears to be markedly more mellow than anything else that the band recorded prior. "Kollaps" was generally reported as the noisiest, most unlistenable of their recordings, so when I realized that "Kalte Sterne" predated that CD, I prepared myself for a very trying experience. In some ways it is very trying. A friend of mine said that he got visions of a Nazi concentration camp in his head from listening to this, that it was the soundtrack to starvation and totalitarian beatings. I, however, have really learned to appreciate almost every song on here. Some of them have pretty catchy rock beats ("Zuckendes Fleish") while others have more of an industrial techno sound ("Pygmaeen") and some defy classification altogether ("Schwarz," "Durstiges Tier"). Every track is intense. On "13 Loecher (Leben ist illegal)," a power drill is used as an instrument. On "Bakterien fuer eure Seele," probably my favorite track, a pounding drum beat is intermixed with psychotic screaming and the crunchiest, most minimal of guitar attacks, while still remaining mellow and quiet in parts. On "Schwarz," Blixa Bargeld mumbles his way through must of the lyrics (accompanied by a keyboard drone and some random mechanical drums) before letting loose some incredibly disturbing howls. "Durstiges Tier" is beyond my ability to describe. "Aufrecht gehen" has drums that are dizzyingly psychedelic and thick. "Thirsty Animal" may have English lyrics, but its no comfort when they're screamed at you (a watery scream diluted by distortion) by a woman, accompanied by ear-aching drums and a repetitive acoustic guitar riff that seems to parody the conventions of rock music. In short, I found lots to like on "Kalte Sterne," despite the warning on the back that "the sound-quality varies from track to track." It's much more mellow than I expected; its noisy but the noise is used effectively. The melodies are there if you choose to look for them. And the vocals are some of the most impressive I've ever heard in music.

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