MOG

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.

mmmm... i like... the mandoline stuff is pretty damn good...

very...Berlin...but I like it, alot

annika, i know her ...we used to work together........she is very funny!!!

The German girls I've lived with where very funny and VERY emotional. (I've still got the scar's to prove it! LOL! )

The first track... too weird.

I enjoyed the beat of the second one though.

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?

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.

usually not my thing, but I am enjoying the videos

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.

Good stuff, although I find myself overcome by the desire to drive a tank through Poland.

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!

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.

Neue Deutsche Wunderlichkeit?

To echo above statements, the first video weirded me out and I had to stop it. Really enjoyed the second one, though :)

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...

This is great

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.

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.

The first video reminds me a lot of Lene Lovitch.

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!

I win the internets again.

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

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.

The song and video are fun..and the girls sell it well, but the clown almost gave me an anxiety attack.

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 :)

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.

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.

Thanks for translating Hermes.

Coolness, me likey. Extra points for getting her hula hoop on while wearing such heels at the first vid :)

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.

I'm glad you liked The Chefs. Nice post about Cobra Killer!

You had me with the photograph. Wow.

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.

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.

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.