The band's musical adventures first began in 1982 when McCarthy and Harris, along with drummer David Gooday, formed the group whilst still at school in Chelmsford. Listening to the likes of Abwärts, Neubauten, Malaria, DAF, Cabaret Voltaire, Killing Joke and Bauhaus among many others the boys began experimenting with synthesizers and samples culminating in the release of four singles on their own Power Of Voice Communications label (a joint venture with Pet Shop Boys producer Phil Harding) before Daniel Miller was impressed enough to sign them to his own label Mute.
Nitzer Ebb's debut album, 1987's brooding 'That Total Age', displayed a brutalist yet polished élan. Following the powerful opening singles 'Murderous' and 'Let Your Body Learn', the band's club reputation was truly secured with the release of 'Join In The Chant', which in a version remixed by Phil Harding, became a staple in Britain's acid house and techno clubs.
Having won over club-land the band turned their attentions to the live arena and at the invitation of label mates Depeche Mode, supported them on their huge Music for the Masses tour. Meanwhile original drummer Gooday departed to be replaced for live performances by Julian Beeston, whilst McCarthy and Harris returned to the studio with producer, Flood, to record the follow up to 'That Total Age' for the album that would eventually become 'Belief' and set in progress a highly creative partnership that would extend over four albums.
The new album once again retained the musical and visual aggression of their previous work. Yet 'Belief' also hinted at the band's growing ability to display a sense of wit, imagination and sheer caustic comment within their music. There were no sacred cows in terms of subject matter or indeed the band's merciless capacity for piss taking.
Upon its release 'Belief' not only attracted much domestic critical praise but also saw their stock rise in Europe. In part this was aided by the series of remixes provided by the band for the singles 'Control I'm Here', 'Hearts & Minds' and 'Shame'. Along with additional mixes by William Orbit they helped maintain the band's popularity in the clubs and encourage the burgeoning fascination in Europe with what was then known as EBM (Electronic Body Music).
In 1990 the band and Flood once again returned to the studio with every intention of upping the ante even further. The resulting album 'Showtime' showed further evidence of the band's progression, combining their trademark energy with a growing musicality that added menacing depths to tracks such as 'Getting Closer' and 'Lightning Man'. The album also spawned a most improbable, though brilliantly effective remix of 'Fun To Be Had' by George Clinton, the visionary behind two of the greatest freak-funk bands ever - Parliament and Funkadelic.
Arguably the success of this collaboration acted as a spur for the band's next release, the EP 'As Is'. This saw McCarthy and Harris working with four different mixers to reveal the different musical aspects at work within band. Their collaborators included Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke, a recording artist whose musical aggression was even more noted than their own, and Alan Wilder, then of Depeche Mode, who applied his noted production skills to enhance the melodic potential within the band.
It was this potential that the band sought to develop on their 4th album, 'Ebbhead'. Released in 1991 the album was a full-blooded affair and with Alan Wilder joining Flood in the production hot seat it was perhaps no surprise to hear the rich musical instrumentation now firmly part of the band's armoury. Any suggestion though that the Ebb were somehow softening up were blown away by the full on pulverising assault of 'Godhead', an assault that had by now successfully overcome audiences in the US.
Though it appeared that the main external battles had been won, the band were arguably now having to battle with the internal tensions that naturally had arisen following a decade sustaining an intense level of shared creativity. Four years in the making 'Big Hit' finally made the light of day in 1995. The diverse and experimental nature of the band was still there, and in the lead-off single 'Kick It', the Ebb showed that they could still easily conjure up those moments that would batter the listener into submission yet make it a strangely rewarding process at the same time. Unfortunately, the band's decicion to update their sound with grunge-inspired guitars fails throughout most of the album, as the big rock-styled choruses proved incompatible with the band's signature electronics. Once ahead of their time, but now left behind, Nitzer Ebb found their last release headed straight to the cutout bins.
The cracks that appeared between McCarthy and Harris during the making 'Big Hit'--as well as longtime producer Flood's inattentiveness to the group's material--proved to be decisive and shortly after its release it became clear that another album would not be forthcoming. In fact it would take seven years before the band could bring themselves to talk to each other. Perhaps it was this enforced silence that encouraged critics to reassess the precocious impact and originality of the band, as a number of subsequent artists lined up to cite them as a major influence, or less honourably, simply exploiting the Ebb's musical template for their own individual gain. Whilst such a situation may be a cause of great annoyance to most bands, the Ebb maintain a healthy level of stoicism. As they say, “That's the problem with being ahead of the game - the pioneers get the arrows and the settlers get the land.”
In the end of 2005 when the quantity of requests for new Nitzer Ebb live acts went beyond the limits McCarthy and Harris met to discuss the possibility of reunion. Since the beginning of 2006 they started to give concerts and since summer Nitzer Ebb are on reunion tour. A 2CD compilation of best tracks and a bunch of remixes "Body Of Work" was released in may and later, in july, a remixes album "Body Reworked" followed. For the tour Nitzer Ebb hired a new drummer - Kourtney Klein, mostly known for her work in CombiChrist. In august of 2006 it was officially confirmed that Nitzer Ebb are working on the new material. The recording actually started in March 2007. New record is going to be produced by british producer Jagz Kooner and should be issued, according to Douglas McCarthy, at spring 2008.
I Thought
Nitzer Ebb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
hid and over your head
Moved away from our town
Ask me what has been found
But don't tell me nothing
won't tell you nothing
I know there's something out there
Someone who I can take care
don't tell me
don't tell me
Stars and moon are up late
Sun is sealing their fate
Time to let out a sigh
sweet, sweet child will always ask why
so don't tell her nothing
she won't tell you anything
she knows that something's out there
someone that she can take care
Don't tell her
Don't tell her
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought you knew
I thought you knew
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought you knew
I thought you knew
The lyrics to Nitzer Ebb's song "I Thought" seem to be about a relationship that has ended and the search for something new. The opening lines "Lost you under my bed, hid and over your head" suggest that the singer has misplaced something important and is searching for it. This could be a metaphor for losing a relationship or a sense of purpose. The next lines "Moved away from our town, Ask me what has been found" indicate that the singer has left behind their old life and is now searching for something new.
The chorus "don't tell me nothing, won't tell you nothing" implies that the singer is closed off and guarded, not willing to share their feelings or thoughts. However, they do acknowledge that "there's something out there, someone who I can take care." This could mean that they are open to finding a new love or purpose in their life, but they are hesitant to put themselves out there. The second verse switches to the perspective of a child and their curiosity about the world. The line "sweet, sweet child will always ask why" suggests that their innocence and curiosity is something to be cherished and protected.
Overall, the song seems to be about the search for something new and meaningful in life after a loss or disappointment. The singer is hesitant to open themselves up to new experiences, but they are aware that there is something out there worth searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost you under my bed
I cannot find you anymore, you have disappeared without a trace, and it's like you are lost under the bed which I cannot see or reach.
hid and over your head
You are hiding and overthinking, worrying excessively without letting out your feelings, which only makes the situation worse.
Moved away from our town
You have moved away from our town and left everything behind, including me, which makes me wonder what has happened and why.
Ask me what has been found
You ask me what has been found after you left, but I am clueless and do not know what to tell you.
But don't tell me nothing
Although you want to tell me something, you say that you won't because you do not want me to know or to drag me into your problem.
won't tell you nothing
In the same way, I refuse to tell you anything because I do not want to hurt you or give you false hope when I am uncertain about everything myself.
I know there's something out there
Despite our reluctance to tell each other anything, I know that there is something out there that we are both looking for, even if it's not clear what it is.
Someone who I can take care
Personally, I am hoping to find someone who I can take care of and protect, someone who needs me and can make use of my love.
Stars and moon are up late
The stars and moon are still out, even when it's late at night, and they seem to suggest that there is still hope, that things can get better.
Sun is sealing their fate
However, the sun is rising, and it's sealing their fate, which means that whatever they have found, it's going to take its course, whether they like it or not.
Time to let out a sigh
At this point, it's time to let out a sigh and to acknowledge that things are not going to be easy, that there are no quick fixes or easy solutions.
sweet, sweet child will always ask why
The innocent and pure child, who doesn't understand the complexities of the world, will always ask why things are the way they are, but there are no answers that can satisfy them or make sense.
so don't tell her nothing
For this reason, we do not want to tell her anything, to spare her from the harsh truth of reality that may crush her spirit or break her heart.
she won't tell you anything
Likewise, she won't tell you anything because she doesn't want to trouble you or make you worry, she just wants you to be there for her and to love her.
she knows that something's out there
Deep down, however, she knows that there is something out there that she needs to find, something that will give her hope and purpose, even if it's not clear what it is.
someone that she can take care
She wants to find someone who she can take care of and protect, someone who needs her and can make use of her love, just like we all do.
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought that you knew what I was going through, that you understood my pain and my struggles, but it seems like I was wrong.
I thought you knew, I thought
I thought that we were on the same page, that we shared the same dreams and hopes, but it seems like we were not as close as I believed.
I thought you knew
I thought that you knew the real me, that you saw through my mask and my facade, but it seems like I still have a lot to learn about myself and about you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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