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Monday, November 7, 2011

Dust Bin German-Engineered to Fit Your Life

Posted by Kathy Fennessy on Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 9:04 AM

If you like Kraftwerk and Yello, but find them a little too robotic and/or quirky, allow me to introduce another outfit that may meet your need for German synth-pop (assuming you share my need for same): Rheingold. Even if you prefer their better known peers, it's always interesting to hear from fellow musical travelers who found fame domestically, but failed to break out internationally.

Then there's their name, which brings to mind the image of a dry Bavarian beverage, misleading Wagnerian reference, or condescending cartoon character known for wearing a monocle (it's also the name of a Brooklyn brew that featured everyone from Jackie Robinson to the Marx Brothers in their advertisements).

Two words: JEFFREY JONES.

If John Hughes had used "Fluss" in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, rather than Yello's "Oh Yeah," things might've turned out differently. Or maybe Volkswagen could've used it in their Golf commercial, rather than Trio's "Da Da Da," but I digress.

The Düsseldorf band emerged after Krautrock had peaked, but just in time to participate in the new wave explosion. By combining guitars with synths and electronic beats, the trio produced a poppier sound than their contemporaries, and I can see why their countrymen embraced them. If Bodo Staiger had sung in English more often, they might have found wider success, but I'm glad he didn't.

Sounds like Brian Eno, circa Lodger, on the keyboards.

While reading up on the group, who remained active through 1984, I found that they count Radiohead's Colin Greenwood as a fan. Mixed by musician/producer Connie Plank (Neu!, Devo), Rheingold's self-titled 1980 album, their best, is out now on EMI with B-sides and English-language versions (they released three records altogether). Other Music's Chris Pappas proclaims it "a German classic."