Der Ernst des Lebensrelease date: Oct. 1981
format: cd (2005 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Konrad 'Conny' Plank & Ideal
label: Warner Music Group - nationality: Germany
Track highlights: 1. "Eiszeit" (4 / 5) - 2. "Schwein" - 3. "Sex in der Wüste" - 5. "Feuerzeug" - 6. "Immer Frei" - 8. "Monotonie"
2nd studio album by German quartet Ideal following an unexpected national sales success with the debut Ideal (1980), originally released on the band's newly started Eitel Imperial label. On this, the band has teamed up with Kraftwerk producer 'Conny' Plank to ensure it was state-of-the-art sound. The quartet remains unchanged, as it would throughout the band's lifetime.
Compared to the debut, the immediate difference lies in how much better this is produced. The style remains somewhat unchanged, although, the small difference is a move away from the reminiscence of energy-based new wave rooted in punk rock towards a bolder style of art rock and new wave with heavier use of synths. Annette Humpe is still credited as songwriter but now with the whole band credited all music. Ideal was primarily with Humpe as lead vocalist but on this, several songs are with leading male vocals. WEA promoted the album and tempingly called it 'dance music'. Well, that's a bit taking the mouth full, but nevertheless, there's certainly a stronger stress on the rhythm-section, and when having B52's in your mind, this comes close at times.
"Eiszeit" is the lead single and the strongest track here, although, "Sex in der Wüste" is another highlight but pointing in a complete different direction, sounding more like crafted by D.A.F. And that's touching on the 'problem' with this fine follow-up: it really contains some great compositions, a few of which take up the tone from the predecessor but then the band both experiment with rhythm, using stylistic input from reggae, calypso and electronic music, and they also vary the level of energy as well as the arrangements - some tracks are harsh and more simple, whereas others are more complex, and you end up wondering if they aim to be a German version of Blondie, B52's, XTC, or they would rather pick up the baton from Nina Hagen - "No wait! It's the band who shows Depeche Mode how to deal with synths!" Yes, it's a bit of a mixed bag, although, mostly a positive one. Comming to think of it, when revisiting this album the first thing that struck me was vocal by Einar Örn from the Sugarcubes. Anyway, the two aforementioned "Eiszeit" (both being highly original and yet linking to Joy Division) and "Sex in der Wüste" are my personal favourites on this, and they are really so far from one another that you wouldn't expect them to be from the same album, and hardly from the same artist. Another minor weakness is the decrease of great songs in the second half of the album where only "Monotonie" shines. That said, Ernst... is still a great album that shows a band with great potential.
Not as coherent as the debut but still an essential new wave album.
