laibach cd kapital

Album:Kapital

Click to buy CD (UK)

Mute, 21st April 1992

All tracks written and performed at NSK studio Reichstag, Ljubljana.

Full Track Listing: click titles for lyrics
Decade Null                                                   WMA Clip     OGG Clip
Everlasting in Union
Illumination
Le Privilege des Morts
Codex Durex
Hymn to the Black Sun
Young Europe Pts 1-10
The Hunter`s Funeral Procession
White Law
Wirtschaft ist Tot
Torso
Enartete Welt
Kinderreich                                                     WMA Clip     OGG Clip
Sponsored By Mars
Regime of Coincidence State of Gravity
Album and Cassette feature different running order and an extra track from the CD listing above:
Steel Trust (Germania)

Review:
Kapital is unlike any other Laibach work. It seems less mainstream than other Laibach albums, and could be categorised as experimental digital techno (it has no cover versions). The electronic approach on many of the tracks is, in my opinion, close to that of 'Cabaret Voltaire' (another Mute label group). There is heavy use of short vocal/musical/effects montage, much in the same vein as Paul Hardcastle's 1985 hit '19' or even 1986 hit 'Pump Up The Volume' by M/A/R/R/S. In keeping with this style 'Hymn To The Black Sun' is sung by a black rapper, albeit with more typical Laibach lyrics.

'Wirtschaft Ist Tot' (The Economy Is Dead) was released as the only single from 'Kapital'. 'Steel Trust' by Laibach's 'sister band' Germania, is not available on the CD version. This track is melodic, haunting, and may, with a little tweaking, have made a successful mainstream single. I could imagine it even now making a great single release with Milan Fras attempting the vocals in soft 'Mama Leone' mode, and swapping the synth horns/keyboard for realistic counterparts.

It is no coincidence that this album bears the same name as Karl Marx's critical analysis on capitalism 'Das Kapital'. 'Kapital' seems to describe the break down of the communist economy as the cold cultural hand of capitalism grips Eastern Europe, but suggests even this 'new' world is inevitably a product of the past, as are all our futures. Beats break down, the soundscapes change and fragment, voices appear and reappear like radio signals tuning in and out of the lyrics. It is as if the past is constantly intruding upon the present.

Both the CD cover art, and the visuals of the video for 'Wirtschaft Ist Tot' have a metallic steamline moderne theme with industrial overtones. In the video one might note that Laibach are dressed in silver, even sporting silver 1930's 'Flash Gordon' style helmets.

My personal view of 'Kapital' is of a missed opportunity. Whilst there is much to commend in the boldness of approach, and the intellectual depth of the message, I feel a number of factors contrive to spoil the experience.
Firstly, before Kapital's release in 1992 the digital sample montage style had run it's course, and was extensively parodied; Harry Enfield's 1988 'Loadsamoney', The Timelords 1988 'Doctorin' The Tardis' etc. So with regard to this the whole album, whilst a good example of the genre, sounds dated, or rather 'late to the party.
The rap on 'Hymn To The Black Sun' may also make some people cringe. It sounds out of place on the album, and although the rapping is very professional, the contrast between the raw street style vocal technique and the factual astronomy based lyrics sounds forced and somewhat artificial. It reminds me of those well meaning public campaigns against drugs etc that embarrassingly use rapping as a means to communicate with 'the street'. It always sounds 'cheesy', and to me Laibach's attempt is no better. Listen to Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Pharcyde and others in 1992 with expletive lyrics, hard attitude, and themes of sex and street violence. You will soon see this track in the same way that teenagers see their parents 'disco' dancing at a wedding.
Dropping 'Steel Trust' from the CD release is also a mistake. True, it doesn't sit well with the other tracks, but is melodic, beautifully sung, and memorable. After repeated listenings to 'Kapital' there are few other tracks that stick in the memory.
Despite this criticism there are a number of tracks I like. These are 'The Hunter's Funeral Procession', 'Wirtschaft Ist Tot', 'Entartete Welt', 'Kinderreich' (but I wish it was Milan Fras on vocals), and the missing 'Steel Trust'.

Worth Buying?
'Kapital' should be high on the list of anyone seeking to hear all nuances of Laibach's sound. I would not recommend it as a first purchase of Laibach material, or for casual listening. For late night serious listening, 'Kapital' serves up some interesting, involving, mindscapes. However, for those looking to showcase Laibach's work to the uninitiated should perhaps look elsewhere; 'NATO', 'Opus Dei', 'WAT' for instance.

Lyrics:

Kapital

1. Decade Null

That's one point seven thirty one acc
say again set course for terminal
Once she starts to break off three one zero five two
Eleven thirty-seven Charlie Langdon here we go

Now, and forevermore!

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2. Everlasting In Union

Sudden halt of great machines
Silence that becomes a brick

Talk to me!

Everlasting union
Talk to me!

Everlasting union
Talk to me!

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3. Illumination

You can begin your deep breathing now.
Said...

Project, project
Mankind has endured many catastrophies,
but none so great as the one which faces it today.
The economic crisis past the gate has brought inflation,
imbalance and chaos to the every corner of the globe.
Some label it the great recession, others are calling it...

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4. Le Privilege Des Morts

La realite souhait etre complexe
Qui vous permet decouvrir le monde sous un forme
A cause du role, la vecu dans la brassee
Vous demande logique comme un source de beau
Et les noirs autre allez

Allez! Allez!

L'ete les communications, peut-etre verifiable
Le vie dans la future, vous tournerai sauf
Role et signification de l'ensemble?
Le charge, le source je vais maintenant
Quelle est le privilege des morts?
L'amour, la verite, les nuits en lumiere
Mais je ne sais pas encore

Capital, de la douleur
Capital
Capitaliste
La mort
Quelle est le privilege des morts?

Ecoutez! Nous voyons la verite que vous ne pouvez plus voir!
La courage et la hontesse, la generosite les sacrifices,
pas au contraire nous allons!

Allez! Allez!

Allons la detruire, et commence

Quel est votre secret? Dites-le-moi, dites-le-moi

Capital
Capital
Capital, de la douleur
Logique, de votre enigme, je trouverai
Quel est le privilege des morts, exactement, dites-le-moi
La mort, la porteau est bloque
La porteau est bloque
La mort, la porteau est bloque

5. Codex Durex

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6. Hymn To The Black Sun

Rap it up!

I shine bright and shed light from afar
93 million miles to be explicit
8 light minutes if you're planning a visit
See I'm the big daddy and this is his system
My turn to burn so keep on listening
I give light when all around is dark
Your choice get sparked or mark my remarks
See ice couldn't hold me back
I fall through forty feet in one minute flat
Meet a solar controller, 'cause that what I was meant to be
'Cause I was a mystery
Decade is null
Decade is null!

It's hot, it's hot, it's very hot
I'm burning up now!
Rap it up!
It's bright, it's bright, it's very bright
I'm burning up now!
Decade is null, decade is null, decade is null
Check it out while I burn your skull
I'm burning up now!
Decade is null

Hold and praise your nearest superstar
I shine bright and shed light from afar
93 million miles to be explicit
8 light minutes if you're planning a visit
See I'm the big daddy and this is his system
My turn to burn so keep on listening
I give light when all around is dark
Your choice get sparked or mark my remarks
Decade is null, decade is null, decade is null
Check it out while I burn your skull
I'm burning up now!
Decade is null, decade is null

From one to all, hear this poem and
Try to understand the greatest power known to man
Am I a nuclear bomb, I'm that I make you look like a firecracker
Alpha and Omega, beginning and end
How can you claim I ain't God, my friend
My atomic magnitude is explosive
I could keep a planet in motion or roast it!
Decade is null, decade is null, decade is null
Check it out while I burn your skull

Into the sun!

I emit energy, over all wavelengths
From x-rays to radio waves
Being the most dominant body of the Solar System
I am the Earth Star

I'm burning up now!
Into the sun!
Hold and praise your nearest superstar
Into the sun!
I shine bright and shed light from afar
Into the sun!
93 million miles to be explicit
8 light minutes if you're planning a visit
I'm burning up now!
See I'm the big daddy and this is his system
Into the sun!
My turn to burn so keep on listening
I'm burning up now!
I give light when all around is dark
Your choice get sparked or mark my remarks
Into the sun!
See ice couldn't hold me back
Into the sun!
I fall through forty feet in one minute flat
Into the sun!
Meet a solar controller, 'cause that what I was meant to be
I'm burning up now!
Into the sun!
'Cause I was a mystery
Into the sun!
Into the sun!

Chain of carbon-nitrogen
Witness the power of chains
Into the sun!
Everything dies in fiery heat
Everything dies in fiery heat
I'm burning up now!
Everything dies in fiery heat
Everything dies in fiery heat... of the sun

I emit energy, over all wavelengths
From x-rays to radio waves
Being the most dominant body of the Solar System
I am the Earth Star

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7. Young Europa

Come, be with me
You too, kid!
Am feminine.
Forty-six degrees
Come, come, come
You too, kid!
Come, be with me
Come, come, come, be with me
Come, be with me
You too, kid!
Our bodies are unimportant

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9. White Law

White law
Injecting new life
White law
Projecting white wills
White law
Keep your eyes white
White law
The chance won't come again

White law
Injecting new life
Projecting white wills
Keep your eyes white
The chance won't come again

10. Wirstchaft Ist Tot

11. Torso

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12. The Hunter's Funeral Procession

Wir tanzen und springen - tief ist Dein Weh
Wir hupfen und singen - Weh spricht vergeh
Elftausend dungfrauen zu tanzen sich frauen
Keine Musik auf der Erde mit uns'rem Spiel kann werden

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14. Sponsored By Mars

I fall, I fall!

Nuclear riders who only know
To go back regenerates will
They ride into battle of absence
In the place that parades from the soul

Strange attractors who cannot deny
What is already preordained
Gravity is not God's law
It's what prevents man's fall

I fall, I fall!

Does not know those who have lost faith
Ask what is it, real ??? before
To put yourself outside the range
A profound man's core
Nuclear riders who only know
To go back regenerates will
They ride into battle of absence
In the place that parades from the soul

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15. Regime Of Coincidence, State Of Gravity

You're standing back.

What's wrong?
Eye contact... A trip, something is touching?
What's wrong?
Eye contact... nothing like it, nothing like it
What's wrong?
Eye contact... hold it right here, this is crazy.
What's wrong?
Back off for a second, just back off.
My heart restriction
Take hesitation
Yes, fine.
Take hesitation
I'm thinking after seeing you... excellent.
Take hesitation
Very good.
Take hesitation
My dime is yours.
I need...
I need something stronger.

Take four red capsules, in ten minutes take two more. What's wrong?
What's wrong? Take hesitation.
I need something stronger.
Take four red capsules,
I need something stronger.
Could you be more... specific?

Our voices are not raised in any harmonious chorus
One idea...
Our voices are not raised in any harmonious chorus
But our differences are differences of empathy!
We need a new unity!
We must first...
One idea to get us out of here!
We must first...
We need a new unity!
We must first choose a leader.
We need a new unity!
Could you be more...
We need a new unity!
Could you be more...
We must first choose a leader.
Could you be more...
We must first choose a leader.
Could you be more... specific?

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16. Steel Trust

Lonely days
Eternal nights
Sweet words of youth
In paradise
Where only emptiness
Remains the same
I love you more and more in pain

Quiet dreams
In golden cage
Were sent to us
From different age
To tell the story
Of love and hate
I wish I'd never seen your face before

Sleepless nights
The city lies
Dark blue shadows
On the wall
All the pictures
In my mind
I love you more and more in vain

Good and evil
Death, despair
All these pictures
Everywhere

Love has come and love has gone
I was left here on my own
Now it seems so far away
I love you more and more again
Again
Again
Again