Birmingham band Einstellung’s first release is a 28 minute single called Sleep Easy Mr Parker. The band recently played the track live for the first and final time at a 7 Inch Cinema evening at The Rainbow, Digbeth.  | | Einstellung |
The single, released on local Birmingham label Bearos Records, is dedicated to guitarist Andrew Parker’s father who passed away shortly before the recording. The sleeve shows the spot on the remote Scottish Isle of Jura where Mr Parker’s ashes were scattered. Andrew teamed up with a friend, Paul Finn to develop a series of projections based on photos he took on Jura which provided a visual element as the band played the 28 minute track. PerceptionAndrew and bass player Steve Hough told me a bit more about the band before the gig. “There’s always been a strong association with cinema in this band.” explains Andrew. “The name itself is taken from a line in a Wim Wenders film called Wings of Desire (also the title of the bands debut LP). Einstellung means a way of seeing the world through a lens. It’s about perception. Seeing things in your own way and recording them.” Hypnotic kraut rockThe band’s sound was developed by Andrew Parker and guitarist Andy Smart. Drummer Si Rider fitted in perfectly and Steve Hough who is a sound technology lecturer at South Birmingham College later joined on bass. There is no singer. Reviewers point to hypnotic kraut rock influences which are combined with emotive riffs to create a momentous sound reminiscent of the legendary noise-pop maestros My Bloody Valentine.  | | Einstellung |
“You can hear Black Sabbath in there as well. No question about that. We love the Heavy Metal and industrial heritage of Midlands music. I played with Godflesh and was in Cable Regime who were kind of like Big Black. We just love combining over drive and melody” continues Steve. “Yeah, but I know for a fact that my Dad will looking down and he’ll be happier that the first single sounds more like Neu! than Black Sabbath!” says Andrew. Wings of DesireThe band’s LP Wings of Desire, released earlier this year in Australia also displays a pop sensibility. “It’s pop – I’ve seen people dancing to it but at the same time we’re about order and neatness. We’ve christened our rehearsal studio Powerkraut and I think that phrase sums up the Einstellung sound as well. Si’s krautrock beats are very important and Andy Smart’s immaculate industrial inspired design work is also an essential element in the Einstellung package.” So why all these German references? “I just love the beauty and despair of new German cinema” explains Andrew. “We’re doing a special Christmas gig in Birmingham with a band called Knives. They are quite loud as well so we have called it Heavy Krautmas. It’s at the Sunflower Lounge on Tuesday 19th December. We’re going to make an effort with the Christmas theme and it’s free in so we’re looking forward to a great night.” Konstant“We’d like to release Wings of Desire in the UK. We know that people are buying it as an import. There are a few things coming up. We’ve got a download only single, a track called Konstant coming out on Shifty Disco Records at the end of the year.” says Steve. Einstellung took to the stage at the end of the evening. The band’s reputation has been spreading by word of mouth in Birmingham for while and the audience appreciated the sentiments the song captures. The music was repetitive and hypnotic with a pulsing beat. Gradually the band began a measured climb towards a thunderous noise freak out. At the peak of the song all three guitarists scrubbed away at their instruments clearly relishing the sensation of the noise that bounced off the walls. Just before half an hour was up the song floated back down to earth. Unique“I definitely got the tingles” one person told me after the gig. “They may look like any other guitar band but they did more without words and with one riff than most bands could dream off. It certainly didn’t feel like they were playing for half an hour and the projections were really powerful. I’m really glad I saw it. It was totally unique and very special.” Look out for Einstellung and their power kraut sound in the New Year. Pictures by Matt Murtagh | 
