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.
Ein leichtes leises Säuseln
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vor aufgebrachten Massen
Quer durch die Wildnis
Am Ende angekommen
Warte lange schon am Eingang
Stumm und ohne Plan
Zunächst ist da ein Sturm
Dann ist da ein Beben
Aber auch da bist du nicht involviert
Ich werde heftig von unten an den Wurzeln reißen
Bis die obere Welt sich regt
(Col de ma ma daqua)
(Col de ma ma daqua)
(Ein leichtes leises Säuseln)
(Eine Stimme verschwebten Schweigens)
Und gäbe es ungeheure Wassermassen
Ich weiß du nähmst an keiner Flut mehr teil
Selbst wenn es heute noch Meteore regnet
Du bist ganz einfach nicht mehr dabei
Ich werde heftig an den zweiundzwanzig Wurzeln reißen
Bis die obere Welt sich regt
Ich erhebe meine Gegenstimme
Bis aus dem Säuseln die Antwort mir weht
The lyrics of "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln" speak of someone who is on the run, and they are trying to escape from a raging crowd. They have gone through a lot to reach the end of their journey and now they find themselves at the entrance, quiet and without a clear plan. The first verse sets the scene of a person who has been through a lot and has finally reached their destination, but they are left feeling uncertain and lost.
The second verse introduces a violent storm that the singer is unable to avoid, and an earthquake that doesn't involve them. The line "Ich werde heftig von unten an den Wurzeln reißen / Bis die obere Welt sich regt" ("I will violently yank at the roots from below / Until the upper world stirs") paints a vivid picture of a tenacious individual who is determined to make a change, no matter how difficult the task ahead may be. The refrain, "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln / Eine Stimme verschwebten Schweigens" ("A light, quiet whisper / A voice of suspended silence"), is haunting and demonstrates a sense of isolation or detachment.
The final verse speaks of a person who understands that they are no longer part of something that they used to be a part of. They reference grand events, like epic floods and meteor showers, but acknowledge that they are no longer part of these occurrences. They continue to pull and struggle until finally, "die obere Welt" responds to their efforts. They raise their voice and wait for a response to the "Säuseln" that surrounds them.
* "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln" was released as part of the 2000 album titled "Silence is Sexy" by German band Einstürzende Neubauten.
* The song is considered to be a significant change in Neubauten's style, moving from their traditional metallic and noisy sound to a more ambient, atmospheric sound.
* The song features various experimental music techniques such as using noise generators, air compressors, and sampling sounds from a washing machine.
* The line, "Col de ma ma daqua", is a reference to a 1959 Italian comedy film "La Grande Guerra" and has no meaning or relevance to the song's theme or message.
* The song was included in the soundtrack for the 2005 film "The Legend of Zorro" directed by Martin Campbell.
* The song was also used in a 2015 episode of the TV series, "Hannibal".
* The lyrics for "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln" were written by Blixa Bargeld, the lead vocalist of Einstürzende Neubauten, who is known for his poetic and cryptic lyrics.
* The song's video clip, directed by Adam Jones of Tool, featured vivid visualizations that complemented the transition from loud and noisy to slow and peaceful music.
* The song's ambient sound and evocative lyrics have made it a fan favourite and a popular choice for remixes and covers.
* Despite being one of the band's more popular songs, "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln" has only been played sporadically at Einstürzende Neubauten concerts and was not part of their 2020 "Alles in Allem" tour setlist.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chord progression for "Ein leichtes leises Säuseln" is not available.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich bin auf der Flucht
I am running away
Vor aufgebrachten Massen
From angry crowds
Quer durch die Wildnis
Across the wilderness
Am Ende angekommen
Arrived at the end
Warte lange schon am Eingang
Been waiting long at the entrance
Stumm und ohne Plan
Silent and without a plan
Zunächst ist da ein Sturm
At first there is a storm
Du ziehst nicht damit vorbei
You cannot simply pass it by
Dann ist da ein Beben
Then there is an earthquake
Aber auch da bist du nicht involviert
But you are not involved in it
Ich werde heftig von unten an den Wurzeln reißen
I will pull fiercely on the roots from below
Bis die obere Welt sich regt
Until the upper world moves
(Col de ma ma daqua)
(Col de ma ma daqua)
(Ein leichtes leises Säuseln)
(A light, quiet rustling)
(Eine Stimme verschwebten Schweigens)
(A voice of hovering silence)
Und gäbe es ungeheure Wassermassen
And if there were massive amounts of water
Ich weiß du nähmst an keiner Flut mehr teil
I know you would no longer take part in any flood
Selbst wenn es heute noch Meteore regnet
Even if meteors were still raining today
Du bist ganz einfach nicht mehr dabei
You are simply no longer there
Ich werde heftig an den zweiundzwanzig Wurzeln reißen
I will pull fiercely on the twenty-two roots
Bis die obere Welt sich regt
Until the upper world moves
Ich erhebe meine Gegenstimme
I raise my opposing voice
Bis aus dem Säuseln die Antwort mir weht
Until the answer blows to me from the rustling
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Blixa Bargeld, Andrew Chudy, Alexander Hacke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind