Einstürzende Neubauten was formed in 1980 in Berlin. They released the five cut Schwarz EP in 1981. Schwarz, which translated from German means "black", is a moody lovesong -- "Black does not reflect / Want no explanations / No allegiances / No betrayal". The song is played on air conditioning duct and lacks the controlled noise focus of later recordings; however, it is powerful in its primitive form. Also on that record Kalte Stern (Cold Stars) is a standout.

EN released Kollaps that same year. Its combination of guitar drones and machine shop renders it one of the most shocking visions ever committed to vinyl. Tanz Debil, Steh auf Berlin (renamed Krieg in den Stadten), and Negativ Nein are some of the best.

80-83 Strategies Against Architecture recorded prior to 1983, but released in 1984 on Homestead Records, includes the aforementioned tracks, adding U-Haft Muzak and Draußen Ist Feindlich from Kollaps. Including previously unreleased recordings like Mikroben (whose effects include the recording of the sound of turning off the studio itself), or unavailable ones (in the case of Stahlversion the the b-side of Für den Untergang, the band's first single released June 1980) and live performances such as Schwarz from a show in Oisterwijk, Netherlands in early 1982 and the performance art style Zum Tier Machen in which the band manually rearranges the physically recorded tape and plays back the spliced result onstage in Copenhagen later that year, the band is clearly in its own light.

The band continued to appear in or produce art house films and release records over the next several years. FM Einheit stars as an anti-muzak-producer who creates a "decoding" tape that causes heavy riots in the film Decoder, appearing with William S Burroughs and Genesis P-Orridge and directed by Muscha and K. Maeck in 1983. The recording Drawings of Patient O.T. was released in 1983 on Some Bizaare and in 1985 the Yu-Güng twelve inch, remixed by Ardian Sherwood, and the LP 1/2 Mensch. Halber Mensch, or Half Man, is the groups strongest record yet, displaying a wide range of creative compositional technique and a clear musical structure. The title track is a cappella and Letztes Biest (am Himmel) uses soft bass harmonics as the only pitched instrument. Other tracks include grand piano and dance beats as EN disperse with their noisy elements to make a remarkable record that is also easier to listen to.

1986 saw the group break up briefly before reforming to record Feunf auf der Nach Oben Offenen Richterskala (Five on the Open-Ended Richter Scale). Atmospheric songs with far more instrumental shiftings and soft vocals, frequently only a whisper, dominate this record in contrast to earlier screeching to make it a subtle record, and the leaves listener hungry for more. Following a lengthy repose, during which Blixa recorded with Mick Harvey in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Alexander Hacke in the side project Crime and the City Solution with Mick Harvey in 1987, EN released Haus der Luge in 1989.

Haus der Luge (House of Lies) shows the musicians' mastery over cacophany. More dynamic than before, the group has a higher intensity level than on previous recordings. The opening Prolog combines a naked narrative punctuated by colossal bursts of crashing noise. Feurio! (arguably the band's best song) and its remixes have the band exploring heartbeat dance rhythms with grand success. Haus der Luge is a fantastic record.

In 1991 the band releases Strategies Against Architecture II, a collection of material recorded from 1984 to 1990. It is a tribute to noise. The songs come from the band's most creative and productive period and is an essential recording. fackeln! (flame on!) appears in numerous renditions from a live version to a radio jingle version created for Jordache. The liner notes describe Z.N.S. as "a rondo, Z.N.S. came out of Blixa's journey though his central nervous system -- endless nights without sleep spent observing the decay of his body and psyche." Bildbeschreibun's rhythm is played on a miked up shopping cart.

During the years that follow, FM Einheit does solo work under the moniker Stein and the band works on music for a series of performances by LaLaLaHuman Steps, a Canadian dance-company. In 1993 the band releases a CD single Interim that is the precursor to the LP Tabula Rasa and the Malediction CD that same year. Interim shares Die Interimsliebenden and 12305(te) Nacht with Tabula Rasa, while Malediction contains Blume (also on Tabula Rasa) the group's first use of foreign languages (Japanese, French, English, in addition to German), to make this group of recordings a musical tryptich.

The subsequent tour for Tabula Rasa is the only time I was able to see the group perform. The ease with which they were able to incorporate the "traditional" guitar, synth, and drums with the real world industrialism of hammering steel and pouring stones on sheet metal was amazing. As an offering of sorts, my friends and I snuck in a ten inch adjustable wrench and 9mm bullets which we tossed on the stage. Blixa picked up one of the bullets as a prop during a song. We were in awe.

Ende Neu, released in 1996, is a less pretentious work, though maybe even stronger. The songs tend to be melodic and fairly simple; however, every trace of the early days nihilistic Einstürzende are refined in a new sound that is well produced. This development has taken place without any loss of strength or originality. Stella Maris, a duet with Blixa and Meret Becker is one of the most lyrical moments ever produced by the group.

Ende Neu is followed up with two remix releases that bear little resemblance to the band. Darkus is credited for NNNAAAMMM Remixes. It is a tired techno beat already in 1997. The best thing about the recording is that it is only two tracks. ENDE NEU Remixes is longer and features more artists (notably, as a fan, Jon Spencer), but is no better. Neither one of these recordings has anything to do with Einsturzende Neubauten.

Mid 2000 the band releases silence is sexy. FM Einheit has left the band. Blixa responds with a beautiful record. silence's strength is the complexity of "silence". Dramatic, it seems as if Blixa's gone soft...but no. Redukt and Pelikanol are as aggressive as before.

Late 2001 Blixa is set to tour with Nick Cave for No More Shall We Part. I'm excited because I'll get to see Blixa again. Strategies Against Architecture III is set for release October 23, 2001 and I've ordered it already. The September 11th tragedy put the tour on hold.

Strategies Against Architecture III renews my faith in the band with excellent live versions of songs like Ende Neu that blow away the studio versions. Some of the singles I'd missed purchasing before are represented, as well as obscure versions of songs. Neubauten has transformed itself from sonic assault artists using jackhammers for percussion into something sublime and in total control of the atmospheric repercussions. I like it.

I've been at neubauten.org since they launched and have had the great opportunity to listen to the new record as it was being written and during the preliminary recording and mixing sessions. The band is putting the finishing touches on it now, but the songs are complete. If you have checked the site out, you should know it has been worth every penny. The new album is due out very soon. Having heard the songs, I can say without hesitation that it is excellent. Blixa has resigned in the Bad Seeds, and while that is a sad note, I hope it also indicates that there will be a fairly comprehensive tour.