Einsturzende Neubauten - Solo Bassfeder

Arty industrial noise. A collection of compositions on Bass Springs by individual band members. A number of these end up being “theoretically interesting” but aurally blah (always the risk with electro-acoustic composition). The ones that succeed turn out very well, and end up impressively creating soundscapes of industrial-electronic noise from chopping up and re-combing basic single-source samples. No FFCs. Tracks 19, 18, 5, 4.

1. A somewhat academic exercise (see back of CD) in electro-acoustic processing. Sounds not too interesting, mostly like a clicky protools session whose tracks aren’t cross-faded correctly. [4:26]

2. More interesting processing job on the same basic concept as track 1, making use of the harmonic sounds of the Bass String, with a little bit more character/more composer fingerprints on it. Rhythmically complex, steady tribal/industrial beat with aggressive whirring sounds flying overhead. Beat collapses around 3:17 and writhes around on the ground a little, then returns back to the main themes. Towards the end, almost synthy, ocean wash ambient sounds. [10:13]

3. Spoken German voice, I never thought an E.N. member would sound so friendly. Voiced then apparently used to trigger Bass String sounds, which ends up being another sort of interesting intellectual academic exercise / boring aesthetic result. [5:37]

*4. There we go, some intense sounding vocals over a fuller sound, with a number of different variant sections packed into a short (for this project) time. [3:11]

**5. Creepy, ominous sounding industrial electronic, with the sound of creaking arrhythmic springs, an overlord-voice, and some lasery sounds. [3:27]

6-17. Series of short pieces using one central beat/sample sound source to replicate a number of different ethno-culturally diverse rhythm tracks.

****18. Wow, Neubauten like I’ve never heard them before, I’m not sure what to make of this coming from them: samples of the same sort of Bass Spring sounds in the other tracks, but with French horn, string quartet, and flute accompaniment. Like E.N. meets Clint Mansell’s Requiem for a Dream soundtrack. Definitely the most musical of the album / that I’ve heard them (though it is a single member’s solo work, so maybe the musicality is not so shocking). [8:03]

*****19. Deep, resonant German voice with a “Dub” soundtrack. The track has this great far-away, harmonic siren/alarm sound that I love, alongside glottal voice sounds, thundering metallic noise, and future-electro crinkle-ings. Last 45 seconds is very quiet and delicate, then blasts off. [5:30]

/Kraid