Launched back in 2005, albeit somewhat redundantly, to give the always recording Einstürzende Neubauten an outlet for their “more experimental impulses and explorations,” the group’s always interesting Musterhaus series is in fact no more. Weingeister – their eighth and final installment – finds Blixa and the boys popping and pouring, gargling and gorging on vintage European libations amidst a backdrop of various other wine-related sounds. According to the sleeve notes, any and everything in sight was fair game for a contact mic – “the table, the glasses, the throats.” And as a tribute of sorts, each track is labeled according to the vintage consumed:
- “2004 Carridi Bianco/Colosi, Sicilia,” 5:00
- “2004 Moscato Giallo/Manincor, Alto Adige,” 7:02
- “1997 Cuvée Annamaria Clementi/Ca’ Del Bosco, Lombardia,” 4:28
- “2003 Rosso Di Bisaccia/Cossentino, Sicilia,” 6:49
- “1995 Brunello Riserva/Col D’Orcia, Toscana,” 5:27
- “1997 Condrieu Les Chaillets/Cuilleron, Rhone,” 3:46
I can honestly say I’ve never seen a sommelier thanked on a record before. (Kudos to you Peer Martiny!) For those still craving their members-only Blixa fix, www.neubauten.org webmaster/Bargeld’s wife Erin Zhu has promised that despite the demise of the Musterhaus series, the multi-phase Supporter Project will continue on as planned.