The "chief machinery operator" for German industrial terrorists
Einstürzende Neubauten from the band's inception in 1983,
F.M. Einheit has had plenty of time to record side projects between his group's usually relaxed release schedule (one which also permits bandmate
Blixa Bargeld to play with
Nick Cave's Bad Seeds).
Einheit recorded his first project, 1990's
Stein, just after the sessions for
Einstürzende Neubauten's Haus der Luege. Then he formed a band -- confusingly named
Stein -- with
Ulrike Haage and
Katharina Franck of
the Rainbirds; the project released
Steinzeit in 1992 and
Königzucker two years later; in the meantime, he released his second proper solo album,
Prometheus/Lear, in 1993. With poet
Andreas Ammer,
Einheit recorded the
Radio Inferno LP (which also included the talents of DJ
John Peel and guitarist
Caspar Brötzmann) and recorded again with
Brötzmann on the album
Merry Christmas in 1995 and left
Neubauten during the sessions for Ende Neu due to a lack of creative interest in the project.
Einheit returned in 1997 with
Sensation Death for Invisible Records. One of his major projects post-
Einstürzende Neubauten was forming the band
Gry with vocalist Gry Bagøien from Denmark. They released two albums: The Touch of E! (1998) and
Public Recording (2000, featuring
Pan Sonic and former
Neubauten bandmate
Alexander Hacke).
Crashing Aeroplanes with
Andreas Ammer followed in 2002.
Einheit began collaborating, writing and scoring various theater and radio plays over the next four years. He also created his own label, FM 451 to reissue his catalog works. He returned to recording in 2006, releasing
Echohce in collaboration with
Jamie Lidell,
David Link, Saskia v. Klitzing and Volker Kamp, followed by The Sallie House with
Michael Esposito in 2008 and No Apologies with
Hans-Joachim Irmler the following year. Evol/Ve with
Massimo Pupillio was issued in 2010. In 2011,
Einheit collaboration with
Irmler again. The album, entitled Spielwiese 3 -- a further chapter in the latter's soundfield explorations -- included German multimedia performer Ute-Marie Paul and American composer and bassoon player
Katherine Young. Over the next two years,
Einheit did the occasional experimental live performance with former
Einstürzende Neubauten bandmate
Hacke, as well scoring for film and theater. In 2013, he cut the electro-acoustic offering Terre Haute with
En Esch (formerly of
KMFDM) and
Mona Mur.
Einheit joined forces with experimental Italian guitarist, electro-producer, and sound designer
Eraldo Bernocchi and London-based cellist
Jo Quail on
Rosebud, issued by RareNoise, delivering a compelling mix of ambient and industrial music. ~ John Bush