Einstürzende Neubauten are on tour!

After a four year hiatus and a lot of trouble with their original distributor, they’ve finally released a new studio album called Perpetuum Mobile, which is meant to be quite mellow. I haven’t bought it (yet) but will let you know.

And four years since the last time I saw them (4th June 2000 at the Astoria on Charing Cross Road), they are returning to London. This time they’ll be playing on 3rd April at The Forum. And I can’t wait.

Last time I saw them there was a succint lack of early tracks (namely all the ones that involved angle grinders, chainsaws and the rest) which was either due to HSE regulations (15 foot long trails of sparks could pose a fire hazard, apparently) or simply because they’re getting a little older and laid back in their middle age and only want to play their newer tracks. They have been going for nearly a quarter of a century, after all (since 1st April 1980) and they’re not getting any younger.

This year could be a very good year for music (or at least, for the type of music I regularly listen to). Neubauten have released a new album and are touring. Foetus, who were the last band I went to see live back in October 2001, have a new album in the works, due for release this summer (but the website has been painfully short of updates since August!) and NIN are possibly releasing a new album (called “Bleed Through”) if they get it finished and apparently are going “on the road” to preview some of the tracks, according to a Rolling Stone interview with Trent Reznor. What’s the betting they don’t make it to this side of the pond?

To paraphrse Mr Reznor, there’s going to be plenty of material from the old masters to combat all the shitty music out there right now.