To do proper justice to a group like GOETHES ERBEN would require an entire songbook of praising anthems. Founded in 1989, the early nineties saw the project evolve to become a figurehead of the juvenile German gothic movement, a project that would eventually mould the scene like very few before.
From the very first nebulous GOETHES ERBEN live performance on April 25th 1990, in a youth centre somewhere in Germany, to the passionately revered debut "Das Sterben Ist Ästhetisch Bunt", right up to the dramatic musical theatre of the young 21st century, Oswald Henke has defined German gothic with his characteristically poetic lyrics, and given a whole scene its identity by means of his soulful musical expression.
The essential double album "Zeitlupe" pays long overdue tribute to this outstanding band. A monument of German gothic culture, it assembles not only the most popular tracks but also unavailable rarities, sought-after gems and alternate versions aplenty. Neither "Das Ende" nor cult classics like "Zinnsoldaten", "Marionetten" and "Der Eissturm" are left out of this 29-track retrospective of the band's extraordinary career.
True worshippers of the "Neue Deutsche Todeskunst" alongside LACRIMOSA in the first chapters of their artistic legacy, GOETHES ERBEN were deeply rooted within a musical sphere of bizarre suicidal philosophy, depressive melodies and morbid lyrics. In the years to come, Oswald Henke constantly reinvented his expression and interweaved alien influences as well as ever more elaborate visual transcriptions of his tunes. Inseparably connected to GOETHES ERBEN until their hiatus in 2007 was the highest artistic standard imaginable paired with an unmistakably theatrical attitude – both pillars of a career encompassing more than two decades. The abundant digipak booklet also pays tribute to this era by delivering exclusive background information on these 20 years as well as liner-notes written by Oswald Henke himself to revive every stage of his career.
"Zeitlupe" – a memorial of German Gothic music.
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