Okay, let’s be honest here. Art/roise rock is not for everyone. Not even close. Those connoisseurs of this type of music are a small group, percentage wise. But they and the musicians they listen to are some of the most influential in today’s art rock music scene. Sure, Einstürzende Neubauten are considered industrial. But industrial, and the other genres and sub-genres of music of that ilk established in the past 20 or so years, have stemmed from the art rock phenomenon. Just as the progression of country blues of the 1920s to today’s hip-hop can be shown clearly and linearly, so can art rock’s progression through to the fads and phases of today that haven’t even been named yet.
So, bottom line, kids. If you like, or think you’ll like, groups like Can or Neubauten, or if you’re in a learning mood, if you want to learn some of the history of this type of music, you won’t find a better place to start.
The cover art of this issue is apropos. This CD will put you through the meat grinder.
Prior to writing this article, I’d not only never listened to Human Being, I’d never heard of them. But once I read the prepublicity, I was hooked. I had to have this CD. It is, and will remain, a keystone of my music collection.
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