Dessau is the musical output mainly of one John Elliott. Mining a similar a… Read Full Bio ↴Dessau is the musical output mainly of one John Elliott. Mining a similar artistic vein as Nitzer Ebb and early Ministry, Dessau delivered powerful, rhythmic industrial dance tracks that translated better to the dancefloor than to the home stereo.Songs like Suffer, Sun 90, Unshakeable and of course, Isolation are well known amongst the scene's "older" aggro fans.

Elliott began his musical career as the drummer for punk rock outfit Cloverbottom in Nashville, Elliott later experimented with electronic percussion as a member of the Actuals (later known as Factual).After becomming fed up with the stagnant Nashville rock scene, Elliott moved to Chicago in 1982, where he made important friendships with producer Martin Hannett (Joy Division, New Order) and Ministry member Paul Barker. Returning to Nashville in 1985, Elliott even lured the famed producer into the studio to work on Dessau's first EP, Red Languages.

Working with veteran Nashville rockers Skot Nelson (guitars) and Mike Orr (bass), Dessau would release a series of dance-oriented EPs through the latter half of the '80s, including Happy Mood in 1986. The 1988 Mad Hog EP featured a remix of the minor dance hit "Unshakeable" by Ministry's Al Jourgensen. Both Jourgensen and Paul Barker would contribute to a 1988 cover of Joy Division's "Isolation" which would become Dessau's dancefloor breakthrough. A full-length album, Exercise in Tension, would follow in 1989. Produced by Giles Reaves and including "Isolation," the CD version included "Beijing," Dessau's third (and last so far) hit dance track. With industrial dance becoming old hat in the face of the Seattle revolution, Elliott disbanded Dessau.

During the '90s, Elliott turned toward other projects which included the band, Passafist. (the group's 1995 self-titled album even received a Dove Award nomination for Best Christian Heavy Metal Album.) Re-forming Dessau with guitarist Norm Rau, Elliott released the heavier, less dance-oriented Details Sketchy in 1995, collaborating with members of Ministry, Pigface, and Filter. Mausoleum Records would later buy the rights to Dessau's back catalog; old friends Jourgensen and Barker revisiting and remixing Dessau songs like "Beijing," "Skeletons By Nature," and "Isolation" for the label's 1995 CD reissue.

They have worked with a virtual "whos-who" of "Industrial" including Paul Barker and Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Jason McNinch (Lick), Van Christie, Jim Marcus (Die Warzau), Luc Van Acker (revco), Richard Patrick (Filter) and many others........

There may be a possibility (hmmm hint hint here, I wonder who may be smart enough to release this??) of this great band releasing some new material soon soon which may include the re-release of some old Ep's, unreleased Paul Barker/ Al Jourgensen remixes, demos and out-takes as well as another new release that has NEW songs and new remixes on it! Would all of you be as excited about something like this as I would?

(parts of this thread was written from an article by Rev. Keith A. Gordon, All Music Guide)

Discography:

Red Languages (12") Not On Label 1985
Happy Mood (Vinyl, EP) Faction Records 1986
Isolation (12") Carlyle Records 1988
Mad Hog (12") Carlyle Records 1988
Exercise In Tension (CD) Carlyle Records 1989
Exercise In Tension (LP) Carlyle Records 1989
Exercise In Tension (LP, Album) Carlyle Records 1989
Beijing / Europe Light (Remix) (12") Carlyle Records 1990
Dessau (CD, Album) Mausoleum 1995
Details Sketchy (CD, Album) Fifth Colvmn 1995
2009???????

In July 2009, DESSAU will release the 17 song THE TRUTH HURTS on WTII Records. This 1985-2000 retrospective package contains tracks from their first two vinyl only 12" EPs, RED LANGUAGES, produced by Martin Hannett and HAPPY MOOD, plus 4 unreleased Paul Barker produced songs, alternate mixes and 2 live Joy Division tracks. THE TRUTH HURTS will be the precursor to the first new DESSAU material in 10 years.

Revenge
Dessau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pushed me off the dirty floor
You watched as my head hit the floor
You watched as I rolled round and round and round
You watched as I came tumbling down

You watched as I rolled down the stairs
You never wished me "fare thee well"
You watched as I got on my feet

I ran towards Al and he started to plead

Ain't got time for what you're feeling...

Far below original sin
Far below the state i'm in, you know
Far below malicious crimes
Far below her for the first time
Far below, far below
Far below, far below, below
Far below is the place that you'll go

Ain't got time for what you're feeling...

You did it again
You did it again
You did it again

I went through the window, quiet as a mouse
No sound stirring throughout the house
I'd heard a noise that made me startle
I kept on walking down the corridor
The corridor
The corridor
There you were with a man before
I ran toward her and he started to plead, no

Ain't got time for what you're feeling...
You did it again...

Overall Meaning

The song "Revenge" by Dessau tells a story of betrayal and vengeance. The singer is describing how someone they trusted pushed them off the floor and then watched as they fell down. The pain and anger they felt caused them to seek revenge. The lines "Far below original sin, Far below the state I'm in" show that the singer has been hurt so much that they feel like they've been lowered to a very dark place. They feel that the person who hurt them is responsible for all the pain and darkness they are feeling. They also say "You did it again" several times indicating that it's not the first time that person has betrayed their trust.

The chorus "Ain't got time for what you're feeling" shows that the singer is so focused on getting revenge that they don't care about the other person's emotions. The second verse shows that the singer continues to seek revenge, even as they discover the person they trusted is cheating on them. Overall, the song showcases the intense feelings that people can experience when they are betrayed and how those feelings can push them to seek revenge.

Line by Line Meaning

Pushed me off the dirty floor
You stood by as I fell to the ground

You watched as my head hit the floor
You stood by and saw me hit the ground with my head

You watched as I rolled round and round and round
You watched me as I rolled on the ground uncontrollably

You watched as I came tumbling down
You saw me fall down from where I was standing

You watched as I rolled down the stairs
You watched me fall down the staircase

You never wished me "fare thee well"
You didn't say goodbye to me

You watched as I got on my feet
You saw me stand up again

I ran towards Al and he started to plead
I ran to someone named Al and he begged me not to

Ain't got time for what you're feeling...
I don't have time for your emotions

Far below original sin
Deep down, below my inherent evil nature

Far below the state I'm in, you know
Deep down, below my current condition that you are aware of