Ton Steine Scherben - Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten... (1975)

"Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten…" ("When the night is at its darkest…") is the third album released by Ton Steine Scherben, and is the last one released before their six-year break from recording. It shows the first signs of a change in genre: moving away from "Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht" ("Destroy what destroys you") towards "Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest" ("Hang on to your love").

From 1973-1974, the band's interest steadily declined in being the "political musicbox" of the leftist scene. This was compounded by the problem that one could at most request an entrance fee as "contribution of solidarity" from the audience, which was difficult to live on. As such, the band slowly distanced itself from the slogans of the leftist squatting scene, even if they remained faithful to the ideology. Financial problems led to a breakup of the band in 1973. The band soon reunited, but without the bassist Kai Sichtermann. He was replaced by Gino Götz, who had already collaborated with the band on the children's radio play Teufel hast du Wind. Aside from that, the band still lacked a steady percussionist. (On the album Keine Macht für Niemand, the percussion was primarily played by Olaf Lietzau. He would have been suitable, but was still underaged and could not go on tour with the band.) The drummer that the band decided on - Funky K. Götzner - remained with the group from that point onwards. With this lineup, the decision was made to produce a new LP.

Tracklist:

First LP:

Heut Nacht (Ralph Möbius, R.P.S. Lanrue) - 6:15
Samstag Nachmittag (Möbius, Lanrue) - 5:01
Guten Morgen (Nikel Pallat, Möbius) - 4:16
Durch die Wüste (Möbius, Lanrue) - 4:59
Nimm den Hammer (Möbius, Lanrue) - 5:22
Ich geh weg (Möbius, Lanrue) - 3:23
Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest (Möbius, Lanrue) - 6:58
Wir sind im Licht (Pallat, Lanrue) - 5:31

Second LP:

Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten… (Möbius, Lanrue) - 3:31
Land in Sicht (Möbius, Lanrue) - 7:11
Komm an Bord (Möbius, Lanrue) - 9:14
Steig ein (Möbius, Lanrue) - 20:50


Ton Steine Scherben - Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten... (1975)
(192 kbps, cover art included)