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.
Wüste
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
als hättest du
einen Blick auf mich geworfen
ich mich geduckt
sag mir, was das war
Mir war
als hieltest du
und tausend Disteln
sag mir, was das war
Mene, mene tekel, upharsin
Desert
It was
as if you had
cast a glance at me
I had ducked
tell me what that was
It was
as if you held
me in your arms
and a thousand thistles
tell me what that was
Mene, mene tekel, upharsin
The lyrics to Einstürzende Neubauten's song Wüste are open to interpretation, as is common in many of their songs. At first glance, the verses seem to describe a brief moment or encounter between two people. The singer feels as though the other person has cast a glance at them, causing them to duck. They also feel as though the other person is holding them in their arms, amidst a field of thistles. However, the chorus, which repeats the phrase "Mene, mene tekel, upharsin," adds deeper meaning to the song. This phrase is taken from the biblical story of Daniel, in which the phrase appears on a wall during a feast held by King Belshazzar, foretelling the king's downfall. It is sometimes translated as "numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided." In this context, the chorus may suggest that the momentary encounter has deeper symbolic significance, and perhaps a sense of doom.
The song also features unsettling, industrial sounds, such as clanging metal and grinding machinery, typical of the experimental post-punk genre. These sounds add to the song's ominous atmosphere, further emphasizing the sense of foreboding suggested by the lyrics. Overall, Wüste can be interpreted as a lyrical exploration of a brief moment or encounter, imbued with symbolic significance and a sense of foreboding.
Line by Line Meaning
Mir war
I felt
als hättest du
as though you
einen Blick auf mich geworfen
had thrown a glance at me
ich mich geduckt
I had ducked
sag mir, was das war
tell me what that was
Mir war
I felt
als hieltest du
as though you held
in den Armen mich
me in your arms
und tausend Disteln
and a thousand thistles
sag mir, was das war
tell me what that was
Mene, mene tekel, upharsin
an ancient phrase meaning 'numbered, numbered, weighed, divided'
Desert
a barren, arid place
Contributed by Zachary H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Evelyn Zlon
Telepathic Communication:
Me: I am a citizen of nowhere. What AM I a citizen of? The Black Lagoon? Crappyland? The Wasteland of Wuste?
Blixa Bargeld: Time.
A world-class creative genius that just won't quit. So underrated.
Акула Из Икеи
This album is phenomenal. So sad that it’s not on Apple Music, the same thing with Alles wieder offen.
Michael LaJaunie
It is Not on Napster any longer either.
Danksil
It was
as if
you had cast a glance at me
I had ducked
tell me what that was
It was
as if
you held me in your arms
and a thousand thistles
tell me what that was
Simurg
Давно искал этот трек. В фильме «Я» он был
João Paulo Calvet
Genius!
Scott Jampa
epic.