morgue
1998, Danse Macabre

reviews (in german) are also found within the discography on Das Ich's site.

If you're expecting Das Ich's follow-up to 1997 Egodram to be another CD geared towards the dance floor you may be disappointed. It seems that Das Ich have returned to their older, subtler approach to music. The lyrics on Morgue are all taken from the abstract / experimental poetry of Gottfried Benn. Morgue begins with Mann Und Frau Gehn Durch Die Krebsbaracke, a mellow, nicely orchestrated piece with refined beats, amiable string arrangements, slightly noisy sequences, and whispered vocals.

Kleine Aster is a slow piece that revolves around symphonic sequences and spoken word style vocals. While the beats on Saal Der Kreisenden Frauen are a bit on the furious side, the overall musical texture of the piece remains light. Occasional noisy electronic intrusions stab their way into the track, but they do not take way from its mildness. Several short pieces (Drohung, Mutter, and Kreislauf) act as interludes between the longer, more prominent pieces.

Der Arzt (parts I, II, and III) is spread across three tracks, with the first two being short, building blocks for what I expected to be a mass crescendo of symphonic madness. Actually the final part is the lightest of the trio, with the driving force being the vocals. Erde Ruft? is the only piece that has anything in common with the tracks on Egodram. This piece is very upbeat, rhythm strong, and synth-wise, extremely interesting. Of all 14 tracks, this is the only piece that has any dance floor power. I'd even go as far as to say that this track might have been a leftover from the Egodram recording sessions.

Morgue takes Das Ich back to their roots, with much of the music having certain elements in common with their Die Propheten, Staub, and Feuer CDs. There's even a bit of the soundtrack style music that they dabbled in with Das Innere Ich added in. In it's own category, Morgue is a strong release, but if your tendencies seem to lead more towards the dance orientated electronic music, you may find yourself displeased with this CD.
industrial-bible.com

After Egodram walked the club friendly path with accessible entrées "Kindgott" and "Destillat," Das Ich mastermind Bruno Kramm threw the world for a loop after returning to classical composition with Morgue. Based on the poetry of experimental poet Gottfried Benn, Morgue's focus is organized orchestral time-bombs that explode into static rhythms, claiming the sanctity of Egodram's danceable approach, and flashback to the days of Staub and Die Propheten.
A "hidden" fourteenth track recalls [deep breath] "Mann Und Frau Gehen Durch Die Krebsbaracke"'s laid-back mood, though far more upbeat and not a total impossibility that this track is a cut from Kramm's sessions during Egodram. A brief three minute track, "Saal Der Kreisenden Frauen," again makes use of Egodram's intensity, a ballad comprised of wailing samples and roaring backbeats paralleled to Ackermann's viscious cries.

On the whole, however, Morgue arrives at a much more refined and pristine sound with the aid of its brilliant atmospheric compositions. Ackermann's whispers during "Curettage," another short walk through the gloom stricken ears of Kramm, match the music's unrestrained free-flow of insiduous creativity. Here and throughout Morgue, Kramm balances electronic additions to orchestral clamours, something Ackermann picks up on in his own vocal performance. This is a magnificent blend of classical, electronic, and poetic.

Oddly, German folk music opens "Schöne Jugend." Adding smothered drones behind the Coil-esque look into traditional song writing works splendidly, a task Kramm himself has improved upon since Das Ich debuted ten years ago. Morgue, unfortunately, does require a brief period of adjustment. Like a year-long relationship suddenly slammed into the ground, the expectations of anyone wishing to hear a follow-up to Egodram will be sorely disappointed. If that's your cup of tea, wait for the next Das Ich full length later this year.
DJ process / aural-fixation.com

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