Welcome to the Germany of Annika Line Trost and Gina V. D'Orio. Together they are Cobra Killer. This is a Germany filled with exploitation movie broads, high heels tracking blood across the floor, wine bottles littering the rooms and the perfect soundtrack to accompany it all. Originally spawned from Alec Empire's Digital Hardcore movement, Cobra Killer released three albums. I hesitate to call them a fully Electroclash or Digital Hardcore band, because their sound can veer so sharply from folk (the mandolin heavy album Das Mandolinenorchester) to sampling and programmed beats (76/77). Here is Mund Auf Augen Zu:Trost and D'Orio have managed to maintain Cobra Killer while releasing their own work and touring extensively. D'Orio came out with her ode to the ocean, Sailor Songs in 2003. You can here songs on her Myspace page here. My current favorite song, "In Diesem Raum", comes from Annika Line Trost's second solo album, Trust Me. The combination of big band horns, a 60's strip club beat and the hypnotic psych that can only come from Germany makes me very happy.I will leave you with a few words from the band: "We have known each other since the golden teenager year 13 where we had been swinging through the Berlin 6T's scene, playing in bands like the Lemonbabies or the Sophisticated Troublemakers, collecting coloured pills in beautiful tiny boxes started to be interested in the sound a tv-set makes after throwing it out of the hotelroom. We fight the lack of blood, that is surrounding all of us; by sitting in the deep red wine cellar, cutting the barrels with sharp-edged tools and powerful saws to make the blood flow..Sometimes we also watch Das Boot.”
contrabandwidth says
Happy Germans? I didn't know they were capable of emotions. That first video was VERY German. Interesting stuff, sexy in a kind of scary way.
Dompaczko says
As above...what is it with clowns...I must admit, I am a fan of Atari Teenage Riot and the Digital Hardcore label...so much so I always wanted to create my own DH band, but never found the people to do it with! not so keen on this...no reason why...although I am sure it was the clown.
Spike says
Judging from their poetry, it's probably not a good idea to be their health insurance provider. The second video (beautiful) has a melody reminiscent of the Temptations' "Get Ready," ja?
Kate says
I do hear a little "Get Ready"- nice call!
I think this is the first MOG post I've done where some folks think the music is "too weird"! I must be so deeply entrenched in weirdness of late (listening to lots of Von Sudenfed) 'cause I don't think this stuff is strange at all.
Or it just could be the clown.
fistula spume says
Can't view the video at work right now. I like the girls voices on the previous work. Annika had a very sexy/sultry "I did too much heroin" kind of voice on Shizuo's releases. Gina was similar only more angry. I think that's Patric C's influence there. I like the name Lemonbabies. Maybe I just like things with the name babies in it. Bushbabies, Moonbabies, Blake Babies... I've been wanting to pick up a Cobra Killers release for a while. Thanks for reminding me.
Girlcrawl says
Great post; these gals are fabulous. The clown in the Mund Auf Augen Zu video does seem like a rather nefarious chap. If you do not already suffer from coulrophobia (an abnormal fear of clowns), then just watch this video a few times. Think I may travel to Berlin soon!
Jonh Ingham says
Any scene with a band called Sophisticated Troublemakers is one worth being in. Cobra Killers do just about everything that makes German music interesting. Thanks for the pointer.
ciphermedia says
Not weird at all Kate. (If anybody thinks that's weird, they should listen to some of the stuff i've got sitting around here on vinyl...). Really like the first track. Would love to know what the lyrics mean in English. (mickimicki or any other german translators out there?) I mean, what lyrics would inspire you to put images of giving a blowjob to a clown in your video??
The second track is okay, but maybe a little too 'normal' (!!) for me...
Mike the Knife says
I hate to repeat the words of our pal sunscream, but this is indeed great. One of my favorite "suggestions" from Kate, f'sure. Doesn't seem so weird to me, either. More like industrialsexelectro biz as usual.
LadyC says
kate i love this post. i don't watch music videos so this is a treat. i'm a big fan of trost, plus she's an interesting character, very solitary and real.
Kate says
Funny that you should say that, 'cause I was just watching a live video of Lene performing Lucky Number and I came across a duet she did with Nina Hagen. That got me thinking that I should write this post- full circle there!
Hermes says
Wow, didn't know that kind of music yet - it seems, I'm too far from Berlin ;).
But I'm acquainted with the rythm of the first song: it's quite common in some songs I heard on gothic/industrial parties.
@contrabandwidth: yes, sometimes we have feelings - but only sometimes ;).
But I can only speak for me as one of 80 millions, so that's no representative.
By the way: the most weird, but also coolest thing, I've seen in the last year, was a noise event here with three artist from DETROIT (U.S.). So the artists don't have to be Germans, to do weird things. I refer also to the short movies of David Lynch - for example the Rabbits series. Watch and reconsider. But maybe, that's exactly why the noise girls (+ one guy) toured through Europe: maybe the U.S. aren't liberal enough for this. The guy scoffed a little bit at our cathedral (it's the tallest one worldwide) and at people who go there on Sundays in general. But the shock effect contained itself, as christians usually don't go to noise concerts and even when, they would have to tolerate it. I guess he would have been shot in the bible belt for such profanities.
But now to the translation for the first song - the text is quite artistic, so don't bother if it doesn't make sense at times - to me it does neither. Additionaly they make use of the possibility in German to build up new words from other words, which seem sometimes to be constructed rather regarding the rythm flow than regarding the sense - check Heidegger for the extensive use of that that possibility ;). The text is far more like poetry than like narration.
-----------------
Schloss zu-Schluessel rein &&& Lock/bolt locked - (put) key inside
Schloss auf-ich dreh`um &&& Lock open - I turn around (the key)
Schalter ein-Nadel rauf &&& switch on - needle up (whatever that shall mean)
Schuhe an-ich dreh`ab &&& Shoes on - I lose the plot
U-Bahn Schacht - Menschen drin &&& Metro funnel - men inside
Tuer geht auf-ich dreh`um &&& Door open - I turn around
Schuss im Nacken- Mann kippt um &&& Shot in the neck - man passes out
Frau rennt hin-ich schau`zu &&& Woman is running there - I'm watching
Heisser Schweiss-Wasserstrahl &&& Hot sweat - water jet
So sieht`s aus-ich werd`nass &&& That's how it looks like - I get wet
Einstellknopf-Blut im Kopf &&& Adjustment knob - Blood in the head
Minimum-ich schalt`rum &&& Minimum - i switch/operate around
Treibstofftank-trink`ich aus &&& Fuel tank - I drink up
Laserstrahl &&& Laser beam
Rueckstellknopf-festgehakt &&& Adjustment knob - hooked
Muenze rein-Kugel los &&& Coin in - bullet (goes) off
Mund auf-Augen zu &&& Mouth open (more likely it's an imperative here -> open your mouth) - eyes shut (imperativ -> shut your eyes) I'll use the short form, read it as imperative.
Mund auf-Augen zu &&& Mouth open, eyes shut
Mund auf-Augen zu &&& Mouth open, eyes shut
Mund auf-Augen zu-Stecker raus,ich dreh`durch &&& Mouth open, eyes shut, I blow a fuse
Kugellager im Gepaeck &&& Bearing in the baggage
Passkontrolle-ich flieg`mit &&& Passport check - I fly (fly with -> no direct english translation)
Phaenomen im Dauerlicht &&& Phenomenon in the continous light
Kmh in mein Gehoer &&& Kilometeres per hour (miles per hour .. haha) in my hearing
Mein Gehirn-mittendrin &&& My brain - right in the middle
Datenbank-heut`gesperrt &&& Database - locked today
Simikolon-Opiat &&& Semicolon - opiate
Spaltungsdauer-keine Zeit &&& Duration of cleavage - no time
Sendemast-abgesaegt &&& Antenna pole/tower - sawn off
Auf die Schulter-nehm`ich mit &&& On my shoulders - I take with
Syntheseschritt expandiert &&& Synthesis step expands
Reagenz einkassiert &&& Reagent cashed
Auf der Scheibe Epilog &&& On the pane epilogue
Tiefgerfroren-aufgetaut &&& Deep frozen - unfreezed
Rueckstellknopf-festgehakt &&& Adjustment knob - hooked
Muenze rin-Kugel los &&& Coin in - bullet (goes) off
Mund auf-Augen zu [se above for translation]
Mund auf-Augen zu
Mund auf-Augen zu
Mund auf-Augen zu-Stecker raus,ich dreh`durch
Cheers, and thanks for the post Kate
P.S.: Maybe I'll translate the second track later
Kate says
Wow, Hermes, that was fantastic! Thank you so much for the translation, you are right, the lyrics seem to be more about poetic flow than anything else. I think now that I know what they are saying, the song is even better.
Hermes says
No problem, but I made a big error in the translation, that explains the "blowjob" scene - I forgot a part of the refrain.
"Mund auf - Augen zu - Stecker raus, ich dreh durch" translates to
"Open your mouth - shut your eyes - fetch your plug/jack // I fetch my plug/jack, I blow a fuse" - I forgot the "Stecker" (=plug).
The problem with the "Stecker raus", as with the other short forms in the refrain is, that it can be translated as imperative or as a kind of short proposition. This openness not only applies to the translation but also the original text. But regarding the video, I'd say, it's an imperative regarding the masked man - as women don't have "plugs". But it can also be seen as a description of the act, of what they do. Either way it has a slight S/M aftertaste to me, what is quite common in the industrial scene. So that doesn't surprise me much. Well, but I know, it's not industrial ... . Interpret yourself :)
Hermes says
So, here's the second translation - 'cause translating is muc more fun
than working :). This text is much less cryptic than the first one. But is it
therefore less poetic? It's a sad but beautiful lovesong - a love that apparently ended dolefully for her.
In diesem Raum In this room
Ich fürchte mich so, in diesen Raum zu gehen
denn er erinnert mich an Dich,
er erinnert so an Dich
I'm so afraid of going in this room,
'cause it's reminding me of you
it's reminding so much of you
ditto
Einmal warst du da und ich war nicht so allein
und jetzt sitzt niemand mehr am Tisch,
jetzt sitzt niemand da am Tisch
Once you were here and I wasn't that alone,
and now nobody's sitting at the table any more,
now nobody's sitting there at the table
ditto
Die Treppe,
ist viel zu hart zum Schlafen
The staircase,
is much too hard to sleep upon
ditto
Ich kann Dich niemals wiedersehen,
denn du erinnerst mich an Dich,
du erinnerst mich an Dich.
I can never see you again,
because you're reminding me of you,
you're reminding me of you.
ditto
Ich fürchte mich so, in diesen Raum zu gehen
denn er erinnert mich an Dich,
er erinnert so an Dich
see above
Ich halte mich an ... (can't understand the rest)
und denke nicht an Dich
und denke nicht an Dich
I stick to ... [something]
and I am not thinking of you
and I am not thinking of you
Die Treppe,
ist viel zu hart zum Schlafen
Die Treppe,
ist viel zu hart zum Schlafen
Ich geh da nicht rein
The staircase
is much to too hard to sleep upon
[repetition]
I don't go in there
ditto
ditto
What I like most, is the language game, she's playing,
when she says "Ich kann dich nicht wiedersehen, denn Du erinnerst mich an Dich,
Du erinnerst mich an Dich".
In ordinary German, one would need much more words to say that, and I think in English too. Kate, for sure you know 2Raumwohnung, don't you? I think some songs of them could suit you. It's a little bit more "light-weighted" than Cobra Killer.
Kate says
I haven't heard 2Raumwohnung, but I went to their site and listened to a bit. I like it a lot. Reminds me a little of Brazilian Girls. When I saw them play, I dug their German songs the most.
Thank you for translating In Diesem Raum. I had no idea the song would have such heartbreaking lyrics. Judging by the music, I thought it would be more of a song of seduction.
Cody B says
Though not my cup of tea, the way such harsh images and cool(as in cold) electronics are used to convey very human emotions is very interesting.
TheMangInBlack says
This is the first I've heard of Cobra Killer and I'm digging it, most definitely.
But I must say that the clowns freaked me out....and I'm normally not one of those "gets creeped out by clowns" kind of people. Yes, I've witnessed many clowns and this one takes the creepy cake. Although that last sentence makes it seem like I see a lot of clowns and I really don't....just the normal number, no more, no less. But what is the "normal" number? Not sure. But I am sure that clown creeped me out.
TheMangInBlack says
That last post, well, posted weird. I don't know what's up there, so I'll repost, or whatever:
This is the first I’ve heard of Cobra Killer and I’m digging it, most definitely. But I must say that the clowns freaked me out....and I'm normally not one of those "gets creeped out by clowns" kind of people. Yes, I'm witnessed many clowns and this one takes the creepy cake. That last sentance makes it seem like I see a lot of clowns.....I don't, just the normal number....no more, no less. But what is the normal number? Not sure. But I am sure that clown scared me.
Carlyle says
Thank You Kate,
I've actually been itno cobra killer for a while, especially the song L.A. Shaker which I always go back to, but you made my day today, cause I didn't know they had solo stuff . . . thanks for the info and keep up the posts.
Welcome to the Germany of Annika Line Trost and Gina V. D'Orio. Together they are Cobra Killer. This is a Germany filled with exploitation movie broads, high heels tracking blood across the floor, wine bottles littering the rooms and the perfect soundtrack to accompany it all. Originally spawned from Alec Empire's Digital Hardcore movement, Cobra Killer released three albums. I hesitate to call them a fully Electroclash or Digital Hardcore band, because their sound can veer so sharply from folk (the mandolin heavy album Das Mandolinenorchester) to sampling and programmed beats (76/77). Here is Mund Auf Augen Zu:Trost and D'Orio have managed to maintain Cobra Killer while releasing their own work and touring extensively. D'Orio came out with her ode to the ocean, Sailor Songs in 2003. You can here songs on her Myspace page here. My current favorite song, "In Diesem Raum", comes from Annika Line Trost's second solo album, Trust Me. The combination of big band horns, a 60's strip club beat and the hypnotic psych that can only come from Germany makes me very happy.I will leave you with a few words from the band: "We have known each other since the golden teenager year 13 where we had been swinging through the Berlin 6T's scene, playing in bands like the Lemonbabies or the Sophisticated Troublemakers, collecting coloured pills in beautiful tiny boxes started to be interested in the sound a tv-set makes after throwing it out of the hotelroom. We fight the lack of blood, that is surrounding all of us; by sitting in the deep red wine cellar, cutting the barrels with sharp-edged tools and powerful saws to make the blood flow..Sometimes we also watch Das Boot.”
Comments (37)
What I like most, is the language game, she's playing, when she says "Ich kann dich nicht wiedersehen, denn Du erinnerst mich an Dich, Du erinnerst mich an Dich". In ordinary German, one would need much more words to say that, and I think in English too. Kate, for sure you know 2Raumwohnung, don't you? I think some songs of them could suit you. It's a little bit more "light-weighted" than Cobra Killer.