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.
The Interimlovers
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there is big bang and total entropy
from red giants to white dwarfs
the whole scale
of cosmic dimensions are falling
out of my mouth
in the description of a kiss
of the interimlovers
of the interimlovers
in the interim
between microphone and macrocosm
between genesis und sixsixsix
in between and on the bоttom of the sea
between plankton und philosophy
there they are
the interimlovers
in their communal mouth
lives a hummingbird
with each beat of its wings
too swift for any eye to see
cultures flourish and perish
whole continents vanish
i wade through the filth of mighty metaphors
meta, meta, meta by metre
with gestures far too wide
for the interimlovers
the interimlovers
are lovers in the
INTERIM
between temporary and tempura
between tightrope and sabre dance
between chaos and with no course at all
between semtex and utopia
there they are
the interimlovers
in the course of just one
winking beat of an eye
they have putsched
the government was felled
parliament dissolved
elections held
results annulled
new elections called
then finally exiled
in history reviled
I wade through the filth of mighty
metaphors
meta, meta, meta by metre
with gestures far too wide
for the interimlovers
the interimlovers
are lovers in the interim
between temporary and tempura
between tightrope and sabre dance
between chaos and with no course at all
between semtex and utopia
there they are
the interimlovers
right there in each others arms
thirstily devour
the last drop of light
they are not there yesterday
and tomorrow not yet
the lovers
the interimlovers
they are not there yesterday
and tomorrow not yet
the interimlovers
they are not there yesterday
and tomorrow not yet
es gibt sie gestern nicht mehr
und morgen noch nicht
The song "The Interimlovers" by Einstürzende Neubauten is a complex and enigmatic piece that explores a range of themes and ideas. One of the main focal points of the song is the idea of the interim, the space between one thing and another, whether it be between two people in love or between two cosmic events. The lyrics describe the moment of a kiss shared by the "interimlovers," during which the entire scope of the universe seems to be contained in the slipping of a tongue. The brief moment of connection between the two lovers is depicted as a miniature version of the entire universe, with everything from red giants to white dwarfs flowing out of the mouth.
The song is heavily metaphorical, using language that is both poetic and cryptic. The "filth of mighty metaphors" is referenced throughout the song, suggesting that the themes and ideas being explored are not easily grasped. The interimlovers themselves are described as existing in a kind of liminal space, caught between chaos and utopia, between temporary and tempura, and between semtex (a powerful explosive) and utopia. The lovers are presented as misunderstood outcasts, exiled and reviled by history, struggling to find their place in the world.
Overall, "The Interimlovers" is a deeply introspective and thought-provoking song that delves into complex themes of love, liminality, and the nature of existence. The lyrics are rich with symbolism and metaphor, inviting listeners to delve deeper into the mysteries of the interimlovers and their place in the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
During one slip of the tongue
In a single mistake in speech
there is big bang and total entropy
There is chaos and disorder on a cosmic scale
from red giants to white dwarfs
From the largest stars to the smallest
the whole scale
The entire range
of cosmic dimensions are falling
Is being expressed
out of my mouth
In the description of a kiss
in the description of a kiss
Through the act of kissing
of the interimlovers
Of those who are in a temporary state of love
of the interimlovers
in the interim
Of those who are in a temporary state of love, in the interim
between microphone and macrocosm
Between the smallest and largest scales
between genesis und sixsixsix
Between the beginning and the end
in between and on the bоttom of the sea
In the spaces between, even at the depths of the ocean
between plankton und philosophy
Between the smallest life forms and the biggest ideas
there they are
the interimlovers
Those who are in a temporary state of love, they are there
in their communal mouth
lives a hummingbird
In their shared language, there is a hummingbird
with each beat of its wings
too swift for any eye to see
cultures flourish and perish
whole continents vanish
With each movement, the world changes and evolves in ways that are too fast for us to perceive
i wade through the filth of mighty metaphors
meta, meta, meta by metre
with gestures far too wide
for the interimlovers
I navigate through complex and grand metaphors with language, hand movements and actions too excessive for those in a temporary state of love
the interimlovers
are lovers in the
INTERIM
Those who are in a temporary state of love are lovers during a transitional period
between temporary and tempura
between tightrope and sabre dance
between chaos and with no course at all
between semtex and utopia
In between ephemerality and Japanese cuisine, acrobatics and swordplay, disorder and directionless action, explosives and an ideal world
right there in each others arms
thirstily devour
the last drop of light
In each other's embrace, they consume the last moments of fleeting happiness
they are not there yesterday
and tomorrow not yet
They exist only in the present moment, neither in the past nor the future
the lovers
the interimlovers
they are not there yesterday
and tomorrow not yet
Those in a temporary state of love, the transitional lovers, are only present in the current moment, neither in the past nor the future
es gibt sie gestern nicht mehr
und morgen noch nicht
Yesterday they no longer exist and tomorrow they do not yet
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ducktape
So sad that so few today understand how much Einst changed music. even now this is ahead of its time
Isaac Dominguez
@Gabe Patrick and… today 2022
Gabe Patrick
your comment is from 9 years ago and it still reigns true today
Cris
magnificent! I never get tired of listening to that masterpiece!! sending love from Portugal <3
Jonatan Hanzlík
Kinda difficult not fall in love at first hearing of this :-)
Ben Ang
I just came home from teaching a class on sampling and extreme audio effects in Ableton, then saw this, and realized that I'm still playing catch up to what they did in 1993.
Aljoheri
1993 and more futuristic than 2020.
Paolo Vallejo
genau
Lauren Emerson
I used to play this song on my radio show in college twenty years ago.
Abisynthe Odalisque
I swear the first time I heard this (on Tabula Rasa) I thought "what just happened to me?" I didn't even know there was a video for this until recently - incredible