However, Neubauten soon outgrew the confines of even the broad scope of industrial music. In their 25-plus years, they have produced a dozen studio albums, live records, a remix album and EP, scored theatre pieces, and more.
Lead vocalist Blixa Bargeld is perhaps the best-known member of the group, both for his work with Neubauten and as guitarist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His fellow founding members Alexander Hacke and N.U. Unruh have likewise been active in various musical roles outside the group over the years.
Bassist Mark Chung was a member of the group from 1981 to 1994. He founded the publishing house Freibank Music Publishing to handle business affairs for Neubauten and other groups, and has continued in this role (concurrently serving as a senior vice-president of Sony Music International for nine years). Percussionist FM Einheit, was a member from 1981 to 1995, and has also been active as a solo artist and member of groups such as Gry.
Since 1997 the group has also included guitarist Jochen Arbeit and percussionist Rudi Moser.
Neubauten's most recent work has been available exclusively to subscribers to their online home, www.neubauten.org. Neubauten completed the third incarnation of their online project in November 2007 and were touring Europe in 2008 in support of their latest album Alles Wieder Offen.
Currently Einstürzende Neubauten is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour through Europe and the United States. In October/November 2010 the band is releasing Strategies Against Architecture IV, the fourth album in the archival compilation series by Neubauten which collates the band’s output from 2002-2010.
Am Landwehrkanal
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
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Schwarz und behäbig und nicht allzu tief
Behäbig und schwarz, nur einen Menschen tief
Ich sitze allein' am Landwehrkanal
Wir trafen uns manchmal
auch manchmal bei Nacht
Berlins dunkler Himmel gab uns ein Dach
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr
Dabei am Landwehrkanal
Ich sitze allein' am Landwehrkanal
Ich war nicht dabei, damals bei Rosa
Nicht im Eden Hotel und auch nicht danach
An der Lichtensteinbrücke nach Mitternacht
Ich sitze allein' am Landwehrkanal
Wir trafen uns manchmal
Auch manchmal bei Nacht
Berlins dunkler Himmel gab uns ein Dach
Wir hatten 1000 Ideen, und alle war'n gut
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr
Dabei am Landwehrkanal
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr
Dabei am Landwehrkanal
The lyrics to Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Am Landwehrkanal" describe a reflective and melancholic scene by the Landwehrkanal in Berlin. The Landwehrkanal is depicted as a sluggish and murky waterway, not too deep and cloaked in darkness. The singer sits alone by the canal, which seems to evoke a sense of isolation and stagnation.
The lyrics also imply a past connection between the singer and someone else. They used to meet occasionally, sometimes at night, finding shelter under Berlin's dark sky. Together, they had countless ideas, all of them good. However, the other person is no longer with the singer by the Landwehrkanal.
The reference to Rosa and the Eden Hotel alludes to significant events or places that the singer was not present for. The Lichtensteinbrücke, mentioned towards the end of the song, seems to be a specific location in Berlin, where something happened after midnight. Despite not being present for these moments, the singer still sits alone at the Landwehrkanal, perhaps contemplating what could have been or feeling the absence of the other person who was once part of their shared experiences there.
Line by Line Meaning
Das trübe Gewässer fließt langsam vorbei
The murky water flows slowly by, symbolizing the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Schwarz und behäbig und nicht allzu tief
The water is dark and sluggish, reminding us of the depths of our emotions and experiences.
Behäbig und schwarz, nur einen Menschen tief
The water is so deep that just one person can disappear in it, emphasizing the loneliness and isolation of the singer.
Ich sitze allein' am Landwehrkanal
The artist is sitting alone by the Landwehrkanal, feeling isolated and detached from others.
Wir trafen uns manchmal auch manchmal bei Nacht
We used to meet sometimes, even at night, highlighting the fleeting nature of their encounters and the secrecy they shared.
Berlins dunkler Himmel gab uns ein Dach
Berlin's dark sky provided them with a shelter, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and freedom.
Wir hatten 1000 Ideen, und alle war'n gut
They had countless ideas, and all of them were considered valuable and promising, showcasing their creative synergy and optimism.
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr Dabei am Landwehrkanal
Now, she is no longer present by the Landwehrkanal, indicating a significant loss or absence in the artist's life.
Ich war nicht dabei, damals bei Rosa
The artist was not present during certain historical events related to Rosa Luxemburg, highlighting their detachment from important moments in history.
Nicht im Eden Hotel und auch nicht danach
The artist was neither at the Eden Hotel nor after it, emphasizing their exclusion from significant places and times.
An der Lichtensteinbrücke nach Mitternacht
The Lichtenstein Bridge after midnight symbolizes a mysterious and transformative setting that the singer did not experience or participate in.
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr Dabei am Landwehrkanal
Now, she is no longer present by the Landwehrkanal, reinforcing the theme of loss and absence in the artist's life.
Jetzt ist sie nicht mehr Dabei am Landwehrkanal
Now, she is no longer present by the Landwehrkanal, emphasizing the irrevocable change and the sense of longing or emptiness it brings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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