LOVE A Meisenstaat. That’s what’s written on the cover of the new record by LOVE A, and only a trickster would not immediately think of “Ameisenstaat,” the album that brought them their (scene) breakthrough with the Knochenfabrik. The trend of wordplay and allusions seems to have not passed LOVE A by either. Or is the band a fan of Claus Lüer and his band?
LOVE A is this band, somewhere between the fading Hamburger Schule, student punk, and intelligent rabble-rousers.
While the first two albums “Eigentlich” and “Irgendwie” were still aggressive and punky, with “Jagd und Hund” and “Nichts ist Neu” things became quieter. The lyrics remained at a high level, even if they became somewhat more cryptic and woodcut-like.
Now, album number five stands on the shelves, looking at us from a dark mask (or is it the skull of a bird?) with a gloomy gaze. This look could also be interpreted as accusatory, and thus we are already approaching the album as a Gesamtkunstwerk.
Right from the first song “Frag nicht,” it becomes clear in which direction the journey with this album will go.
The masses annoy, the good ones too – too elitist!
I no longer sing of anger in my belly, because it would be too easy.
In these two lines from “Frag nicht,” so much is already contained that interpretation could fill at least half a doctoral thesis. These lines are sung only by someone who has experienced something and has thought about it in detail and about the larger world in general.
Thinking in general, that’s something singer and lyricist Jörkk Mechenbier does very well and extensively.
The lyrics, often a more or less loose stringing together of questions to which answers sometimes follow, stylistically continue the path of the last albums. However, it must be said clearly that the whole thing comes across as unusually dark. The lyrics have been wrapped in a gloomy, sometimes almost avant-garde musical garment. It almost seems as if Jörkk has lost hope...resigned.
The band has largely bid farewell to punk, pressure, and anger, especially musically. However, they are by no means playing ordinary music. It is a very unique style that the band has found and perfected for themselves.
While listening, I sometimes think of Die Sterne in a depressed way, but that doesn’t quite fit either. Acceptable as a reference point, but the arrow doesn’t hit the mark.
LOVE A and “Meisenstaat.” Great tit or blue tit? Long-tailed tit or bag tit? Is that perhaps what is meant instead of (A-)Meisenstaat?
LOVE A leaves me a bit confused, almost disturbed with this album, even after multiple listens. Whether I think it’s good, I can’t really say. It is definitely an album that goes deep and can pull you even deeper down during dark moments. It is atmospherically dense and heavy.
“Meisenstaat” is an album that refuses to be listened to casually. That is good and right. Music is not there to fill silence, as LOVE A impressively demonstrates with this album.
