Abney Park - Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll

[MeesterFluffball]

The chords are marvelous. <3

[The5thMarines]

I went to go see "The Nutcracker Ballet" and this song was stuck in my head the minute I saw Herr Drosselmeyer.

[karatetigy]

Chills.

[simonimyours]

This reminds me a lot of Olympia from 'Der Sandmann'. Any of you guys read it, or seen Tales of Hoffman?

[FantasyAdventuress]

@simonimyours YES! All this time I thought I was the only one who thought of "The Sandman" upon hearing this song!

[simonimyours]

@FantasyAdventuress YAY!!! ^-^ We read!

[jerome96114]

@simonimyours :

Hoffmann was a great writer for sure. I really liked "Der goldene Topf".

It's kinda the cornerstone for the fantasy-literature-genere.

[GloryZombie]

Great song but do they even know who Lilith was? I'm not sure how the mother of all demons glorifies her...

[RottenKnight]

@GloryZombie

She was made to be Adam's wife, she's probably pretty hot. Either that, or God is a dick.

[GloryZombie]

@RottenKnight Yeah but no matter how hot someone is they can still be a nasty bitch, and that Lilith was to an extreme degree.

[RottenKnight]

@GloryZombie

Men of all nations made up stories about hot demonic(angelic/undead/whateve­r) women who TOTALLY WANT TO BONE THEM during all of human history. Comparing the doll to Lilith is a pretty good way of making people interested. It's not like they're going to start a relationship with the damn thing anyways.

[DanniiYoung656]

@GloryZombie She refused to bend down to Adam. I don;t see how that makes her a bitch.

[GloryZombie]

@DanniiYoung656 Lilith felt that the hand that she had been dealt by biology was unfair and wanted dominance over Adam. As a show of rebellion against god, Lilith left Adam and instead procreated with a different assortment of demons and angels, and swore an oath of hatred against all mortal males. She became the mother of all demons, instead of the wife of Adam.

[DanniiYoung656]

@GloryZombie Again. I fail to see how her rebelling made her a bitch.

[kalphitekin]

@GloryZombie how could she screw a bunch of demons and continue on to be the mother of all demons? Wut?

[ratholin]

@kalphitekin it's religion it's not supposed to make sense. Just money.

[PyroGothNerd]

@GloryZombie Actually, that wasn't originally in the Bible. Lillith was originally a Pagan Goddess of (I think spring) but early Christians were very discriminative towards Pagan religions, and so Lillith became one of many of the Pagan Deities who were rewritten as a demon to make Pagans look demonic. As someone who loves mythology, stuff like this frustrates me because it makes it harder to find truth.

[JaiNobesIsARat]

@PyroGothNerd Power, not truth.

[TBAWriter]

@GloryZombie She's part of a Kabbalistic legend that God made a woman before Eve, out of mud, I think. She refused Adam's authority and was cast out of Eden where she slept with fallen angels and gave birth to millions of demons.

[GloryZombie]

@TBAWriter I'm aware. I know who Lilith was, I was wondering if they did.

[TBAWriter]

@TBAWriter Oh, I see. I misread your post.

[Darthweezer]

I'm pretty sure Herr Drosselmeyer made a mechanical prostitute. "she can be yours and yours again, for her flesh is the incorruptible pale to be excused from the wages of sin."

Also: "Step right up, boys, tuppence for a spin!" Tuppence is slang for two pence by the way.

[OmegaViper]

Orianna :3

[narutoancillus]

patience patience bumblebee

[HostClubOtaku94]

Makes me think of Drocell on Black Butler. :3

[TheVendela97]

Pure awesomeness...

[Trepangor]

Heechy Keechy

[NekoRowan]

It may have been mentioned.... but Herr Drosselmeyer is a minor character 0 the dollmaking uncle - in the Nutcracker. Recall hisclockworkballerina dolls? I believe this is a nod to that as well.

[TagaSeguchi]

@NekoRowan There is also a character in the Japanese anime Kuroshitsuji named Dorcel who kidnaps young women and make them into dolls that are controlled by an grind organ.

[finalconsecration]

The doll is a mechanical prostitute. Take a close look at the lyrics. "She can be yours and yours again, for her flesh is the incorruptible pale excused from the wages of sin"

[MyOwnNameWasTaken]

@finalconsecration I think that's only part of the Coppelia/Pygmalion class of stories. It's about the "perfect" woman, flawless, imperishable, always available (Heaven forbid she'd have a life of her own) -- to the point where she just can't be human anymore. She'd have to be built-to-order.... A parallel to prostitution/sex toy becomes pretty obvious.

But it's also about longing for an ideal and missing the real, or treating a person as an object, as something that can be owned.

[PinkuNamida]

This song totally turns me on XD

[culturalrebel]

One person out there is trying to dismantle Herr Drosselmeyer's doll. She'll respond by throwing them off the airship mid-flight.

[ArchangelAzrael13]

@culturalrebel

Yes! He has a beautiful voice!

[UrrTheWise]

There is an opera about a nobleman falling in love with a robot-woman right?

[ceruleanvoyager1847]

@UrrTheWise Close, In Les contes d'Hoffmann of Offenbach you have Olympia, a doll that sings. And in ballet you have Coppélia by Delibes, though that one is comedy, a real girl disguises herself as the doll and fools her lover who has become enamored of the contraption... There are several, but this one refers to Councilor Drosselmeyer of the Nutcracker. Seems a lot of men prefer their girls mechanical, at least in the "higher" arts.

[UrrTheWise]

@ceruleanvoyager1847 Yes that's the one I saw Les contes d'Hoffmann, thank you!

I will most definitely look up the others too Coppélia and the Nutcracker. And yes, I think for men with power it's easier to endulge in their 'alternative' fantasies at times... And then what better place to allow this habit to shine through than the higher arts. Yes ^^

[OnyxIdol]

Reminds me of the movie metropolis.

[Tirilance]

I could play this at a low volume to help me sleep xD

[FrisianDude]

@Tirilance I wish I could. My sound-thingie is on an unreasonably high volume.

[Soundbox4]

I love Robert's voice. Rawr.

[AspergirlSithstress]

@Soundbox4 Hear, hear!

[jajaleigh]

makes me think of the book lolita

[libertinesis2angel]

This songs makes me enter into a different world of robotic but beautiful ballarinas

[Itamidesu]

I love the band's sound but not the vocals.

Aw.

[beautifuljoe1313]

@Itamidesu Try them live - he has a completely different sound live, and I think it's far better live.

[lunovere]

Every time I hear this song I feel alive. It's strange but I just want to shout at the top of my lungs as if I am full of energy!

[NEKROBAT666]

This is an awesome song, I love the beat and Cpt. Roberts voice sounds real good in this song.

[ShadowDwellerXXX]

his voice is mad hot ;) and i cant get over the unique sound this band has! its perfect!

[Thespiriticlan]

@ShadowDwellerXXX lol for some reason when I read your comment I thought of bananas...XD

[ShadowDwellerXXX]

@Thespiriticlan maybe cuz i said "band" and "has" XD

[Thespiriticlan]

@ShadowDwellerXXX that makes sense...I'm glad you're not as perverted as my friends! :P

[AspergirlSithstress]

Am I the only one who thinks this song has a sad, piteous feel about it in its eeriness?

[MadMissAlice]

Actually, "Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll" is a Nutcracker reference. Drosselmeyer brought dancing mechanical dolls to the Christmas party. . .

[nightwishwolf999]

The beautiful young woman near the ladder in the picture reminds me of the beautiful model Aprella and looks a lot like her.

[sAINTMalice9]

This song is completely addictive.

[EbMbEr]

Number of likes 142

Number of dislikes 1

who didn't like this...?

[TimmyTheNerd]

@EbMbEr

Maybe it was a missclick and they never noticed? O_O This song is bloody brilliant.

[cameraguy38]

@EbMbEr Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and they usually stink. Amazingly, there's always someone who doesn't share the same likes and dislikes as yourself. Why people actually go as far as creating a post to question this obvious fact, is beyond me. Personally, I'd say it's only kinda okay. If I'm honest, I'd say it's a little bit boring. Coin-operated Boy by the Dresden Dolls is a much more memorable and catchier song. Well, there's my opinion. Didn't promise you'd like it.

[gypsyprince1989]

@cameraguy38 i love this band absolutely, but i do think you have a point with the dresden dolls. i do agree with you somewhat, although i like the instrumentals her better. but good point, and incredibly well said.

[DerOrk]

@EbMbEr Herr Drosselmeyer?

[EbMbEr]

@DerOrk  X)))

[NoraRamsay]

This just makes me think of the ballet Coppellia.

[haksiel]

Toradrow, that is the same as Coin-operated boy by The Dresden Dolls, or like that part on Babe's In Toyland (I think) where the lady is pretending to be one in front of a crowd 'o people.

[ImJango]

@haksiel You're thinking of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" I think. That's the one where the female lead pretends to be a wind-up clockwork doll.

[haksiel]

@ImJango That's the one; thank you.

[Blackjack185]

Love this SFM.

[ItaniaJustrivger]

I'm making a sculpture based off of this, and my film fest costume. it'll be sweet.

[MandyInk]

I read that this song is about the grandfather in the Nut Cracker, named Herr Drosselmeyer, and speculations as to what he actually did with the dolls/ballerinas he created.

[SakuraYojimbo]

My gf says this song is secretly about dude's dead wife, and he keeps her in a fridge or some shit, hence the part: "sour flesh"...  And because the skin is partly fallen off in some places he uses the cloth to cover it with. Interesting. I know someone else who also thinks something similar.

[alexwars2]

I respectfully disagree, though I believe you are halfway correct.

My interpretation of this (beautiful) song, is that the good doctors wife or daughter was once a ballerina, who died, for reasons fair or foul. Using clockwork, Drosslemeyer resurrects her, and yet she comes back wrong. Her memory has been purged of naught but the mournful ballet. The sorrow of losing his "bumblebee" twice, the doctor puts the hollow husk on show.

[Totalidiocy]

I really want to like Abney Park, I do. I love steampunk. But...I just don't. They sound sorta odd. 60s techno? I don't know.

[wrylie188]

@Totalidiocy listen to airship pirates. you will love it. ASSIMILATE!! ASSIMILATE!!

[Totalidiocy]

@wrylie188 Already did. Abney Park used Airship Pirate! It wasn't very effective...

[jthmfam]

Definitley a musical to enjoy. The clockwork doll representing the perfect blend of illusion and reality. her inability of free will showing the sorrow lying in the soul of a doll, without ever feeling the pain and torment of human emotions. Most definitley, a PERFECT being.

[artemishecate]

this reminds me of Chobits to no end ....i love it XD

[1ShogunRua1]

@artemishecate i love chobits!! i need to buy it again!

[happyorks]

@1ShogunRua1 lol dude i want one too

[EllethwenElar]

This reminds me a LOT of the anime Princess Tutu. The story of PT is the man Drosselmeyer writes a story where a prince shatters his heart to seal away the Raven. The Prince has a love interested, Princess Tutu. They "escape" from the story into a town Drosselmeyer controls. There's a lot more to it, but the similarities between this song and that are amazing. Puppets and gears and clockwork are all associated with Drosselmeyer too.

[TheAlmighyShia]

I adore this song! Its just amazing.

[RagnaBlutengel]

I dunno but it makes me think about Pygmalion (wutever it's spelled :P)

[chywigley]

god i just love this song.

[ShibaguchisoOukeOo]

Great song♥ realy...i´m sorry for the doll....pushed around little fallen angel without a chance to say or do sommething against this...

Abney Park roxx♥

[thesmallestinsanity]

Olympia~!

eta hoffman, anyone?

[ZeroExperiment]

@thesmallestinsanity Olympia? OH! The Sandman story, right!? This kinda reminded me of it, too

[EEBurfield]

@ShannonStactic That's exactly the song I was thinking of. This song just reminds me of that because of the circus-esque backround music

[EEBurfield]

This song reminds me of the Beatles... the song about the circus. Can't remember the name. It was in Across the Universe and it was done by Eddy Izard I think...

[ShannonStatic]

Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite

[rikuziyi]

These guys remind me of the sky pirates from Studio Ghibli's Laputa

[TheJamasia]

In what way?

[YourThinkingBrain]

@rikuziyi They aren't pirates.

[DanniiYoung]

Dr.Strangeman. The new female singer is Jody Ellen.

[drstrangeman]

any one know why finn left?

[Shinkada]

@drstrangeman He's been with the band for ages, maybe he didn't like the departure from darkwave?

[drstrangeman]

he? finnwas the hot chick who did the back up vocals and the danceing. in the video (not this one but the one labled herr drosselmyer's doll live) she would be the one in the tutu. no robert, kristina, nate, and the gutaurist are all there but finn von clarrett left...i just want to know why and who replaced her.

[Shinkada]

@drstrangeman Ohhh. I'm bad with names, I was just going off the wiki. I'm pretty sure there was an interview with Robert regarding the dancer's leave. I don't reemember if it gave a reason why she left, but he said that the new girl is just as great a singer as she is a dancer.

I'm pretty picky about vocalists, especially female ones, so let's hope she's actually good.

[drstrangeman]

oh it's cool i'm crap with names too. but with beautifull women i actualy try to remember names. i'll check out the interview. thanks.)

[EvilDoctorMeow]

come on how is mentioning an anime a bad thing? besides these guys have a very addictive style of music

[MissMalaise]

This is such a beautiful song...Everytime I hear it I think of Zidane and Garnet from Final Fantasy wandering all the wonderful steampunk cities :)

[Shinkada]

@MissMalaise Final Fantasy, Steampunk?

2/10.

[Shinkada]

@MissMalaise It's widely regarded as 'very steampunk' by people who are weeaboos and have very little to do with steampunk. The buildings aren't Victorian by any stretch of the word, nor is the clothing. There's an airship, but that's not steampunk either.

[fiernocht]

now chrono cross had a little bit of steampunk flair to it.

[OMGhappiness]

that game was amazing

[FenrirLupei]

Actually FF7 is not nearly steampunk. It's more post-apocalyptic.

FF6 (3 in the US) was considered very steam punk, castles, steam powered everything, gears and cogs, airships that are literally ships attached to blimps.

[MissMalaise]

I agree with you on the FF7, I meant 9 O.o that was a tiny mistake on my part.

FF9 was just pure awesome :)

[TestaXDizzy]

I'd say 12 was steampunk-ish too, and the random british voices just added to that.

[OMGhappiness]

oh yeah totaly

[Jackd91]

What's Captain got slung on his shoulder in the picture? I can't tell

[SharinganJutsuu]

A barrel of something...who knows what.

[666necromonger]

probly rum

[HarveyDuality]

I think it is his drum

[Jackd91]

Nah, too big and the heads on his drum are white =/ I think it might be a large bullet.

[HarveyDuality]

I found a high res picture and blew it up to find out. You are looking at a black Doumbek with a grey head. It is not the doumbek that he normally plays, since this would be much deeper. I dont know if he owns it though so i cant say it isnt "his"

[HarveyDuality]

In further detail... it is a cast aluminum bolt-tuned drum with a synthetic head... I have a slightly smaller version i play when im not playing my wood versions.

[Jackd91]

aha, well there we go, mystery solved :D

[EvilDoctorMeow]

this song reminds me of princess tutu i mean drosselmyer is the storyteller ya know

[666necromonger]

herr droselmeyer is a character from the nutcracker play who brings three clockwork dolls to the christmass party before presenting the main lil girl with the actual nutcracker

[bensteed123]

Fantastic song, my favourite on the album. I'd love to know what he's on about in the bridge. "This fallen angel is the illegitimate daughter of art and science." An airship?

[melancholymistress89]

He is talking about a steam powered clockwork doll. Whenever they perform this live a woman dances, as though she is propelled by a clockwork mechanism, to this song. It sort of sounds like a salesman's spiel for a clockwork sex toy, hehe.

[bensteed123]

Oh right cool hehe. It's kinda obvious to me now given the name, and lyrics in the verse fits the name well, with Herr Drosselmeyer being from The Nutcracker =P

[OperativeD]

I believe he's on about a mechanical clockwork ballerina from the sound of things.

[anna1104]

im not sure either, i think it may be about the 'woman' or doll in the song- instead of being the child of a person she was born from art and science..shes not human.

[bensteed123]

Yeah. Well, I know that the rest of the song is actually about Herr Drosselmeyer (The Nutcracker) and his magical doll, so he may just be talking about that, I'm not sure though...

[OMNOMMOUSE]

A clockwork doll.

[toradrow777]

I don't think it's just a clockwork doll, but an almost perfect mechanical representation of the female form; a doll whose inner workings are based on a human's inner workings. If it weren't for the fact that she needs to be wound up, and for the fact that she has no free will, one could almost call the doll human. Such things are an inspiration for countless stories of love, adventure, heartbreak, humanity, drama, humor, dreams, and wishes.

[zippomage]

@toradrow777 and horror

[sunaookami]

I love Finn's dance. . .

They were great at Metrocon too!

[OMGhappiness]

omg i saw them live at metrocon, ther are like... my new favorite band

[Shinkada]

Love.

[FallaciousGee]

Hauntingly beautiful. A real treat.

[iromotowild]

such a sexy voice... yey captain robert! I love these guys. Its all good, but my fave bit is after 2:02 xx

[Yukkirrah]

I quite agree. Oh, I do wish that I could dance as Finn dose.

[drstrangeman]

i wish i could dance in the first place. then in second dance with finn...she is so beautiful...simply beautiful.

[lifelessxlies]

O.O patient petient bumble bee was magdalena high =/ lol

[PeripheralBounderies]

'Patient, patient, bumblebee,

Soon your audience admire'

Yes.

[LaFemmeArmand]

Huzzah! *loves*

Thank you for actually posting the songs and not live performances.