Kollaps

33⅓ Europe #18

by Melle Jan Kromhout, Jan Nieuwenhuis

Perhaps the best musical encapsulation of the Cold War as experienced in the walled city of West-Berlin, Kollaps is a product of its time while remaining as vital, exhilarating and surprising as the day it was released.

The book explores the contexts, themes and influences that shaped Kollaps. It describes the early days of Einstürzende Neubauten in West-Berlin, their infamous live performances and guerilla style recording tactics, and the scrap metal banging, piercing guitar noise and evocative lyricism that went on to inspire generations of fans. Most significantly, it explores the desire and deep sense of belonging that is expressed by what Nick Cave called the 'incredibly mournful, haunting' nature of this music. The beginning of a 40-year career, this first burst of energy remains their purest statement.

Genres: Music

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2024

Reviews

[Tim Weemhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sterk, begeesterd pleidooi voor het onconventionele, nietsontziende, muzikaal prikkelende avontuur van Blixa Bargeld en zijn Einstürzende Neubauten, aan de hand van een zeer goed gedocumenteerde, doorwrochte analyse van de onvolprezen debuutplaat van de band.

Alle facetten komen aan bod. Van technische, muzikaal-inhoudelijke analyses tot historische duiding in het rauwe Berlijn van begin jaren tachtig. En van hun roemruchte live-optredens met zeer onalledaags instrumentarium tot fraaie beschrijvingen van de opbouw van het album en het ontstaan van de nummers.

[Simon McMullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good enough assessment of Kollaps, but I would have liked maybe a bit more substance. The commentary on Blixa's androgynous appearance in tandem with the music itself is something I've thought about often, and it was nice to see a scholarly approach to that idea.