Nena - Made in Germany
CD Review
Ciro Hiruma
In the late '70s, a musical movement won the pop charts of the planet: the new wave. Besides the direct influence of punk, there was room for many sounds: the British '60s pop, surf music, Reggae, rock 'n' roll pioneer of the 50s. A faction in particular was dedicated to electronics to create their sound. Thus arose the techno or synth rock.
The starting point for the German electronic music techno was produced in the '70s by bands like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. It was through this musical proposal, known as School of Berlin, which created the myth Giorgio Moroder Donna Summer disco era. It was the cultural boundary Germanic techno movement (acid house, drum 'n' bass, trip hop, trance, etc..) Sought resources to produce his compositions.
Bands such as Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell and Ultravox devoted the techno with the intensive use of synthesizers, sequencers, programming, drum machines. The word MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) became obligatory presence in the vocabulary of musicians and instruments interconnected computers, and creative talent in one concept.
In 1984, the German techno group Nena has reached the pop charts around the world with the hit "99 Luftballons" (and its English version, "99 Redballons). Despite the title seem innocent, was in reality a political hymn about Germany divided into two blocs, East and West. Balloons hover over the Berlin Wall, reach the eastern portion of the country and trigger paranoia military:
"99 red balloons / Floating in the summer sky / Siren danger red alert / There's something here from somewhere else / A war machine comes to life / Opens an eager eye / Focusing it on the sky / Where 99 red balloons go by. "
Until the dissolution in 1987, the band Nena remained on the charts, although his popularity was increasingly restricted to European countries. Thereafter, the lead singer Nena Kerner departed for a solo career and has always been on active duty despite personal problems involving health and the loss of a child.
In 2002, the singer had a sudden rise in popularity, re-recorded old hits and new material put on the market too. Got a terrific: Upgrade your sound without losing the musical identity.
Nena Kerner (photo: Felix Lammers)
The CD Made in Germany is one more step in musical evolution from Nena, who seeks inspiration from the past but this is the motivation to innovate and take the accession of new fans.
In "SchönSchönSchön," the techno synths and rock guitars combine to create an atmosphere full of distortion. Low battery and shooting at a rapid pace and the singer shows that he is in great shape.
The influence of electron School appears sharp in Berlin Du Bist So Gut Für Mich. Synthesizers have massive presence, which is not surprising, after all Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen was the keyboardist of the band Nena. The guitar creates a powerful and ceaseless line riffs.
"Ich bin Hyperaktiv" as the name suggests, is completely crazy by the dynamics of the instruments, which are combined in a single block, buster. Nena Kerner shows that his voice is very personal, unique identity. The great drummer Van Romaine is, the Steve Morse Band.
Synths and programming become "Dreh Dich" absolutely danceable, techno one that recalls Confessions On A Dance Floor Madonna. They are singing the same generation. Incidentally, speaking of generations, the daughter of Nena, Larissa Kerner, a presence on vocals.
Multiple layers of keyboards are also present in "Geheimnis", which is an updated version of pop rock band Nena. Follows the same quality standard of the best moments of the group.
Selected to be the first CD single "Wir Sind Wahr" is more commercial, a show of vocal interpretation. If it were written in English, could be a hit in the U.S. market. But the singer does not care about that and is keen to display their origin on the title track, an authentic rock 'Made in Germany ", with musical accent of its own.
Radical change: the first acoustic ballad on the CD "In Meine Leben". Guitar and voice range, sensual and smooth, the entire song that recalls the old hit by Nena, "Lass Mich Dein Pirat Sein."
One more pleasant surprise: "Es Gibt Keine Sicherheit" has guitar riffs in the style grunge, a handy pop chorus, and back in time to collect sounds from the band The Who, especially the awesome battery of Keith Moon, your weight and power attack.
At this point the CD is more experimental, in the case of "Schmerzen". The synths are in the foreground and injects high doses of guitar distortion. Sound explosion capable of knocking down the remains of the Berlin Wall.
"Viel Zeit Ganz" has taken an electron resulting in a dense orchestral atmosphere. Sakias Kerner, Nena's son, makes a cameo, a knack for vocals. Multiple references: "Justify My Love" Madonna, typical Floydian guitar of David Gilmour and that atmosphere of grand finale of "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. All this sounds weird? Only hearing is believing.
The track "Nachts Wenn Es Ist Warm" leads us to believe that the album closes with a quiet song. Big mistake: a rock-style epic "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin emerge suddenly and surprises the listener.
So it is Made in Germany, an eclectic album, mature and current. Nena Kerner leaves no room for nostalgia. Their music portrays this but closely follows the future.
Made in Germany (2009)
Label: The Laugh & Peas Company
1. SchönSchönSchön 3:50
2. Du bist so gut für mich 4:27
3. Ich bin hyperaktiv 3:46
4. Dreh dich 3:15
5. Geheimnis 4:14
6. Du hast dich entschieden 4:13
7. Wir sind wahr 5:41
8. Made in Germany 3:44
9. In meinem Leben 5:38
10. Es gibt keine Sicherheit 3:25
11. Schmerzen 5:33
12. Ganz viel Zeit 6:29
13. Nachts wenn es warm ist 5:49
Musicians
Nena Kerner - vocals, additional guitar (10) and programming (3.11)
Derek von Krogh - bass (3,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13) and guitar (1,3)
Van Romaine - drums (1,3,5,7)
Paul di Leo - bass (1,5,7)
John Andrews - guitar (except track 4) and additional bass (13)
Philipp Palm - drums (2,4,5,6,8,10,11,12,13)
Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen - keyboards (2,4,6,7,8,12), programming (4,8) and string arrangement (7.12)
Reinhold Heil - keyboards (2,6,7,8,11)
Sakias Kerner - vocals (11.12)
Larissa Kerner - vocals (4)
Orchestration by Jonathan Levi Shanes & Reinhold Heil
Orchestra conducted by Adam Klemens
Links:
Videos:
Wir Sind Wahr
99 Luftballons (Techno Remix 2009)
