EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN LIEBESLIEDER DVD K7, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: NOVEMBER 3, 2005 REVIEW: DECEMBER 23, 2005

- We work in rock'n'roll sets, play rock'n'roll numbers on rock'n'roll stages. It is our intention to break up the ways other people make music and to put something else in its place. That was the reason we started out in the first place. We thought the way others made music was boring, explains Alexander Hacke - one of the original, and remaining members, of legendary Einstürzende Neubauten, in "Liebeslieder".

The 97 minutes long documentary (in German) was first released in 1993 and has been available only on VHS until now. The new DVD version is quite abstemious though; the disc has two readable sides - one PAL (without subtitles) and one NTSC (with English subtitles) - and there are three choices one can make (Start film, Choose chapter, Choose music). These are the differences compared to the video; in other words the DVD contains no enhancements, extras or any fuzz what so ever. Mind you, the film in itself gives a pretty good picture of the band's history from 1980 to early 90's, with a lot of curiousities, like interviews, anecdotes, live performances and videos. A few highlights to mention are visiting the water tower (the sound foundation in "DNS-Wasserturm"), getting (some of) the band's instruments demonstrated plus an, in particular, fine live version of "Ein Stuhl in der Hölle".

If you've followed Einstürzende Neubauten over the years, "Liebeslieder" will endow you with nostalgia and one or two good stories. If you're not that familiar with the band's background and earlier work, this documentary will give an interesting perspective on their music today.

SUSSI PETTERSSON

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