The Brvtal List

Whether Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Pagan or Aetheist, people like to give and receive gifts. There is perhaps no better time of year for such acts of kindness than the month of December. While we're all in the giving spirit, we are pleased to present this year's edition of The Brvtal List. Past versions of the list were limited to the selections of Jeremy and Taylor. This year, we've invited some of our favorite artists, musicians, designers and friends to contribute to the list and we are excited to bring you their holiday gift guide selections.

Katie Gallagher

Fashion Designer, NYC (www.katiegallagher.com)

La Perla Bodysuit. I would wear this everywhere I go, on it's own of course, but also as a layer with skirts (like the high slit wool skirt in my shop). http://www.laperla.com

Katie Gallagher Slip Dress. I wear it all the time in all the colors. It can be dressed up or down and the red color is perfect for the season! http://katiegallagher.tictail.com

Comme des Garçons fragrance. I love almost all the comme scents, but this hits one of my tops. And the bottle is festive. www.aedes.com

Gucci padlock bag. It's the current version of a vintage Gucci bag I have from the 1970s and I need it! At Gucci.

Laura Prieto-Velasco

metalworks/designer, Chicago (Hvnter Gvtherer)

I could not be more excited to introduce the FAROUCHE collection by CHELSEA WOLFE X HVNTER GVTHERER. Limited edition "Pricks" available for preorder through 2015. Ships early 2016. www.hvntergvtherer.com/cwxhg *styled, modeled & photographed by Chelsea Wolfe.

Heather Gabel prints. I have known Heather's work for some time now and have grown to love it more as I get to know the artist behind the work. Her work creates a visceral response for me as I am equally seduced by beauty and tangled in metaphor and meaning. www.heathergabel.bigcartel.com

Leah Ball Ceramics. Specifically the day/night mug, which is my personal coffee drinking staple. I often drop some Bitter Tears in my morning mug to give it an extra little kick. http://www.leah-ball.com/homegoods/daynight-mug

LVNEA Black Sea botanical perfume is one of my personal favorites. It is earthy, musky and fresh -- and smells differently on everyone depending on their individual chemistry. I often give this as a gift because I want to bask in this scent everywhere I go! http://www.lvnea.com/products/black-sea

The Brvtalist (Taylor)

www.thebrvtalist.com

You're home for the holidays and have discovered your high school sweetheart is now dating your ex-best friend who happens to have a nasty cocaine habit and is in serious debt with James Spader. This plush queen size Nagel graphic throw is the perfect gift to keep her warm after the party has ended. HUF X NAGEL Queen Size Blanket, $80 Available at Newbury Comics.

Future Blondes is a collaborative experimental project which includes music and visual art. Available at Society 6, find their striking collages available in a variety of prints and home goods including throw pillows, duvet covers, shower curtains and more! I'm obsessed! Find multiple sizes at Society 6.

It seems like every year Chromat makes it on to the list. I'm always impressed by their ever evolving brand...and I am a sucker for a latex trench. Black Lucite Latex Tranch, $1293. At Chromat

Finding a good bag is hard. I'm digging the shape of this clean and classic black leather backpack from Maison Margiela. Mm6 Maison Margiela Black Rope Backpack, $695 on Ssense.

I've been following IDEA Books on Instagram for a while now and every day I threaten to unfollow them because they continuously find the best, most obscure art, fashion and design publications on the planet. I want them all. This collection has been my favorite so far - Gunnar International. As described by IDEA: "Late eighties. Nothing ever before or since. Being the oversized supersized magazine of Gunnar Larsen. Photographer creative director visionary. Fashion meets science fiction fantasy." Gunnar International. Available through Idea Books.

When I die, spray my casket with "A Portrait of a Lady." This perfume is the most magnetizing scent I have ever smelled. Do not wear if you are anti-social. The ultimate in BRVTL-LUX. Portrait of a Lady Perfume by Dominique Ropion, Frederic Malle. $365 Barneys New York.

UY Studio

fashion designers/art collective, Berlin (www.uy-studio.com)

We decided to go with unknown Berlin artists, who are working hard and have so much talent. We feel proud to know them and they inspire us everyday! The are definitely the perfect holiday gifts!

Print by the photographer "Evelyn Bencicova". Super chic, emotional art photography, for deep and creative minds. Can get it at Gallery Tryffelgrisen.

Sexy Alternative dreamy music - Kodama is currently working on his visual outputs and more music is about to be released shortly. Can be downloaded here: https://kodamaproject.bandcamp.com/releases

Trendy gym bag "CRUZ". Bags made out of Vegan leather & Neoprene. Available at https://www.facebook.com/CRUZ.Bags.Bags

Handmade interior design objects by Emre Demirtas. Unique and limited pieces made in Berlin. Available at https://www.facebook.com/koncreetdesign/info?tab=page_info

Fast Fashion: Latest Unisex collection by UY.
Cozy sexy soft Kimono "Snake"
Oversized Long loos Tank top "Must Tank"
Double layered Hoodie with Scarf "Hoodie"

Sarah Toon

musician/designer/promoter, Los Angeles (Blk Rainbow/ Xultur)

Perfect for a night at Thee Rave Dungeon - make sure to order it in XXL so you can wear it like a dress. Available at Nvr Mnd.

I'm not really into super girly perfume but this rides the line and the bottle looks super cool on my bathroom shelf. Available at Barney's New York.

Dudes - you can't really fuck up with this one unless you are dating a Zale's kind of girl and if that's the case GET OUT NOW. At Melody Ehsani.

Thank you to all of our contributors so far. More Brvtal List coming this week!

Portals Editions

The Brvtalist is pleased to feature two new releases from Berlin-based label Portals Editions. Releasing material ranging from experimental, techno, ambient and more, the label's roster continues to produce compelling works that are mysterious, complex and thought-provoking. Combining dark aesthetics with heavily textured musical elements, we have admired their output for some time. We were immediately drawn to the latest releases from Consulate and Circular Ruins and are very excited to present their newest material.

First is a composition from experimental artist Alex Campbell's project Consulate. The latest record, "Black Narcissus", is an exercise in bleak, urban malaise, filled with brvtal drum machines and haunting soundscapes. "Panzer" is a rhythmic exploration in dark pounding techno and ambient noise. We asked the artist to say a few words about the release and received the following:

Black Narcissus had a fragmented recording process - the majority of tracks were recorded in the space of about two weeks, while I was housebound with a burst eardrum and wasn’t able to submit myself to loud volumes. The remaining two were recorded roughly a year later, building on the ideas and moods I felt I’d created with the first side - attempting to add other elements, both sonically and aesthetically. The end result is something that I hope to be as pure a distillation of my overarching influences as I could have mustered at the time of recording.

The initial tracks were heavily influenced by an aesthetic that, in my mind, was a specific combination of media both sonic and visual. European football culture; World War 2 history; the 1984 film Threads; Cold War dread; Come & See; Jorge Luis Borges; the Croatian War of Independence & related Balkan conflicts, and a broad and highly generalized sense of ‘futurism’. Trying to capture the feeling of something ancient, worn-in but at the same time out of reach, unfamiliar and completely foreign.

It should be quite obvious what music or musical style I’ve referenced in any way during any of these tracks, but to simplify it – jungle, EBM, 90s techno, psychedelic music.

Panzer was an attempt to convey a sense of dread and unfamiliarity. It is probably the only track on the release for which I had a clear idea of the mood I needed to convey, which was directly influenced by Elem Klimov’s 1985 masterpiece Come and See. Being an instrumental, the main cue is in the title of the track, along with martial drum patterns and a sound palette that existed in my head as green, brown and grey. I didn’t intend for it to a club track, or a track that could realistically be played to a dancefloor – its structure exists mainly as a framework in which I could paint on and erase sounds as I saw fit.

Circular Ruins crafts soaring melodies, marching synthesizer sequences and lush phasing drones that wander through the still void. "North of the Sun" is a complete EP that puts ritual hymns through a paradigm of a dystopian future that echoes a ruinous past. We were immediately drawn to the track "Intuitive Knowledge", as it evokes feelings of a cherished ceremony of a long lost civilization. From artist Marijn Degenaar:

Circular Ruins started about two years ago when I was left with a synthesiser and no band when two members of my previous band, ILL WINDS, returned back home to Australia. Most of the tracks on North of the Sun are recorded about half a year ago, while some are a bit older. The current Circular Ruins sounds is still similar, but perhaps moved into a bit more droney, textural and rhythmic direction.

North of the Sun is an exploration into the past and future. Into ancient, timeless worlds. It came about over the course of a stretch of time. Recorded in various locations, whilst traveling or at home. Often reflecting what was happening around, or born out of need to escape what was happening around me. Mostly the recording process was quite intuitive, without much prior intention. Often using my Korg MS-20 or Yamaha CS-5 running through various delays and loopers. The aim has always been to create a sort of rusty, weathered, ancient sound. It wanted to transport the listener to a different place

Intuitive Knowledge was the first track to have been recorded on this tape. Sound wise, it draws a lot from old Berlin masters like Cluster and Harmonia but also from Chris Carter’s early dreamy soundscapes.

Both releases are available on December 4th on cassette and digital formats. For more information and purchasing please visit Portals Editions.

-JRS

Art Basel Miami Beach 2015

Ocean views, palm trees, sun and world class art. These are a few of the niceties of Art Basel Miami. Each year the U.S. edition of the European art fair seems to build enormous momentum and garner more and more hype and attention. The namesake fair is just one of many of the events taking place throughout the week and it has become increasingly more difficult to sift through all of the goings on. That's why The Brvtalist is proud to bring you our guide to some of the best art events happening during this first week of December. We've also enlisted our friend and curator WOAH to help us out. Below please find our selections:

The Night Lands, installation by Sri Prabha. At 100+ Degrees In The Shade. — *The Night Lands,* installation by Sri Prabha. At 100+ Degrees In The Shade.

100+ Degrees In The Shade - A Survey of South Florida Artists*

It's nice to see a show that celebrates home town talent. With so many global powerhouse galleries showing and big name artists flooding the city, local artists can get lost in the mix sometimes. It's important to recognize those who live and work in the great city of Miami (a former home of The Brvtalist) and this is the first show that does that since 2001. Curated by Jane Hart, here's a few words about the event:

There has not been a definitive survey exhibition of South Florida Art presented since 2001.
Organized by independent curator Jane Hart, this expansive show will include an array of works in all media, by a selection of some of the finest artists of South Florida. Sculpture and installation works, painting, photography, mixed media and works on paper, as well as video and performance are included. The breadth of this exhibit will be both inclusive and discerning, with an emphasis on innovation, impact, and inspiration, in ways which are integral to the lush, tropical-urban environment that exemplifies South Florida. There will be a total of over 170 participants, encompassing internationally and nationally known established, mid-career and emerging artists included. A full color, hardcover 220 page book will be released by [NAME] Publications, designed by Misael Soto with texts by Erica Ando and Sandra Schulman.

ADDRESS: 3900 North Miami Ave., Miami Design District
For more details please call +1 3057901797 100DegreesInTheShadeMiami@gmail.com
Website:100DegreesInTheShade.com

Dorothy Iannone, Look at Me, 1970-1971. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Peres Projects

Dorothy Iannone, Art Basel Miami - Booth S11

Berlin-based gallery Peres Projects presents one of our all time favorite artists, American Dorothy Iannone. Known for her unique portrayals of love, lust and our most primal desires, the 81-year old painter has continued to amaze for decades. This is a survey of her works spanning multiple decades and is not to be missed.

Louise Nevelson - Untitled, 1964. Wood painted black. Courtesy of Pace Gallery.

Louise Nevelson - Pace Gallery. Art Basel Booth A10

Born in Kiev in 1899 (and died New York, 1988), Nevelson's work has aged ever so gracefully. Her monochromatic wood-based sculptures are now objects of legend and the gallery will also feature her collage works from the 60's and 70's as well as her contemporary assemblages. A very special occasion to see so many different types of Nevelson's works.

Anny Wang - Archival Print. Courtesy of Iridescence

Iridescence - Friday, Dec. 4, Shore Club Miami

One of our most anticipated events, Iridescence is a concept centered around showcasing some of the top international talents working in the ‘New Futurism’ genre, an art movement that merges advancements in new media with traditional practice. From 12/2-12/6 The Shore Club South Beach will host the exhibition ‘IRIDESCENCE’ in the 3rd Floor Galleries, including sculptural, projected, 2D, 3D and neon works on display and for sale from artists across the globe. The roster includes Esther Ruiz, Justin Lovato, Anny Wang, Adam Friedman, Lala Abaddon, Francesco Locastro, Anne Vieux, Gustavo Torres (KidMoGraph), Vince Mckelvie, Ultramajic, Clara Luzian (Render_Fruit), Giacomo Carmagnola, David M Cook (Bonethrower), Jose Di Gregorio, Jonny Alexander, Hilary White, and John Foster. Limited edition archival prints from each artist will be available at the event, through STATIC MEDIUM and online at http://www.artofiridescence.com/

Spectrum Miami - Dec. 2 - 6, Artspot Miami*

Each December, thousands of international art collectors, gallery owners, dealers, curators and artists descend upon Miami for Art Week. In the heart of Midtown Miami—alongside powerhouse art shows like Art Basel, Art Miami, Scope and Miami Project—Spectrum Miami showcases innovative new art in an elegant, gallery-style exhibition space. SPECTRUM is where contemporary meets extraordinary! Join us for a 5-day art experience that will feature live music, entertainment, special events and so much more. For tickets, please visit http://spectrum-miami.com/get-tickets/

NEW PERMANENT PROJECT SPACE IN MIAMI BEACH - Dec. 3, Nautilus Hotel*

The new space will open in December 2015 with the presentation of WONDERWHEEL, curated by Italian curatorial and editorial platform CURA., as the first in a series of annual guest-curated exhibitions. The project space located within Nautilus, the newly-opened 250-room South Beach oceanfront property, has been established in partnership with Depart Foundation advisory board member and owner and co-founder of SIXTY Hotels, Jason Pomeranc to further the ongoing efforts of the Foundation to foster an active, international dialogue and engagement with contemporary art, and adds to the Foundation’s itinerant program and existing presence in Rome and Los Angeles. Depart Foundation’s WONDERWHEEL curated by CURA. will be on view from December 3, 2015–September 30, 2016 at Nautilus, 1825 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

"Pore", installation + performance at Locust Projects Miami

Pore - Locust Projects. Dec. 1-6

The installation and performance piece of Brooklyn artist Martha Friedman, "Pore" is part of Locust Gallery's "on the move series". 1000 pounds of rubber will be hanging from the ceiling and then utilized by dancers guided by the choreography of dancer Silas Reiner. Performance times vary throughout the week and will be on permanent display until January 9. Locust Projects, 3852 North Miami Avenue, Miami FL. http://www.locustprojects.org/exhibitions/

Cult Pop Up - Dec. 4, RSVP

San Francisco's Cult Exhibitions has put together some great shows over the past few years. Expect nothing less from curator Aimee Friberg as she takes her show on the road and celebrates in Miami with a pop-up party featuring the work of some stellar artists, including Brvtalist contributor Suzy Poling. The CULT pop up party is Friday 5:30-7:30 in South Beach. For more information email info@cultexhibitions.com.

*WOAH selections

-JRS

Advance Beyond Human

The Brvtalist is proud to premiere the new video from Detroit techno producer Marshall Applewhite. "Advance Beyond Human" comes off the latest 12" on the always compelling Clan Destine Records. Applewhite has released some stellar material via YoSucka!, HTK, and Detroit Underground as well as a number of releases under the name OktoRed. He recently contributed to Clan Destine's monumental "Dark Acid V" and this is his first solo release on the label. Other tracks on the EP include the ghettotech homage "Hey Girl", the harsh industrial sounds of "Bull Head" and the Detroit techno banger "Shevari".

The title track "Advance Beyond Human'", is a noisy IDM/Acid track weird enough for even the darkest basement rave. The video captures the mood of the track perfectly, taking the viewer on a bizarre journey through a strange, distorted future, or perhaps a glimpse into a demented present. "Advance Beyond Human" is available now. For more information please visit Clan Destine Records and Facebook.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 037

As the smoke rises you suddenly lose your way. Lost in a maze of darkness and brvtality, there is no glimmer of light. Consumed by fear, your body must submit.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Chicago-based duo HIDE. The project of Heather Gabel and Seth Sher, their music immediately resonated with us, as they craft punishing tracks accompanied by haunting visuals and occult symbolism. Their live shows are an equally unique experience, immersing the audience in a hazy cloud of brvtality. Hide is a great mix of various genres, created by two fine artists with a complex and sophisticated point of view. Their three EPs invoke so many of our favorite elements that we were curious to find out more about the duo. We reached out to the band and they provided us with some great insight. Please find our Q&A below:

The Brvtalist: HIDE is a great blend of industrial, dark/synth wave, goth and experimental electronics with occult visuals and undertones. Talk a little bit about your and Seth's musical background and what you wanted to do with Hide.

Seth: I grew up listening mostly to metal as an angry teenager and my taste leaned more towards aggressive and violent metal with "something to say" rather than silly horror influenced stuff. Having played drums in most of my previous bands, I grew more and more tired of the typical band scenario and my desire to create something completely immersive overtook me. Something that literally resonated within the listener, hypnotizing them into a kind of trance state with huge, powerful, and unorthodox sounds.

Heather: I have never been in a band/made music before so I don't have much of a personal musical background. I toured for around 12 years working for a band though so I have more logistic experience than actual creative or performative experience. We started off wanting to do something really immersive, repetitive, meditative. I wanted to make something that I would want to see/hear that wasn't out there already. I have really specific tastes and strong aversions to certain sounds and was primarily interested in extending my hyper controlled visual art practice in another more messy medium. Basically looking for another means to express myself, to hear what it would sound like since I already know what it looks like.

TB: The live show kinda takes it to the next level. You and Seth are an electronic duo but it can feel like you have the force and presence of a full band. Would love to hear your approach to your live shows and performing.

Seth: I aim to create a huge and powerful wall of sound using the least amount of sounds possible. My history as a lover of all things aggressive and heavy makes our production style, which favors distortion, huge gut-punching kicks, and a loving embrace of all the dissonance/dirt you feel from a live band has a different approach to electronic music. We create songs that are centered around one evolving, pulsing mass that breathes and builds organically using live mixing and effects to tune into the resonant frequency of our surroundings.

Heather: Thank you! I had never been on stage before this band so that we are able to impart that force and presence is fucking awesome to hear. I attribute it to a few things, but our live stage setup is a huge part of it. We play in the dark with fog and three separately triggered strobes, only. We opened a bunch of shows for Marilyn Manson and we were playing these huge places with crazy lights and we would tell the confused house lighting person to turn everything off. We were able to transform these cavernous venues into intimate environments with a very specific area of visual interest. It fits our sound. We are as much about what isn't there as much as by what is. It's not a revolutionary set up or anything but the power to transform a space visually like that, to only allow glimpses into what's going on, is something we rely on. As far as performing, I am full on exorcising demons. I can barely see. I'm about to fall over the whole time. It's a completely visceral experience for me.

TB: Both of you are also great visual artists operating in mediums like collage, painting, graphics and photography. What is the relationship between your work as a fine artist and your work in Hide? Are they totally separate worlds for your or do you see them tied together?

Seth: Everything I do and think and create in every aspect of existence is working within and emitting from the whole of my being. Every piece of work I have created or will create revolves around seeing all dimensions of everything at once, never seeing only the surface of its meaning.

Heather: They are definitely not separate worlds for me. I said, when we started this band I was interested in it as another medium, but through this form of expression I've been able to get closer to the core of that part of myself that I am trying to get out. Like a direct channel has been carved out through the process of making and performing these songs. I used to feel informed about myself, post creation process, when I made visual art, whereas now, as a result of this "direct route" I have discovered/accessed with HIDE, it's like a veil has been lifted and there is more transparency, immediacy and I feel a stronger connection to my visual art, it feels like a much more accurate expression of the way I feel than it ever has before.

TB: Tell us about your mix and talk about how you chose the tracks. Also feel free to talk about some of your own influences in music and beyond.

Hide: We both selected songs that have been tracks we always go back to despite our more passing fancies - that have been a sort of mainstay in each of our different paths musically throughout the years. With regards to the newer tracks we've chosen, they embody the ethos of what we have always been moved by. It's maybe a little more schizophrenic (Seth is essentially a metalhead who likes techno and I grew up on death rock, d-beat, peace punk bands) than some other mixes on The Brvtalist but hopefully the commonality of the aggressively unapologetic spirit in these tracks comes across to the listener. I would say that spirit, abstractly, is much more an influence on what we're doing than any band or genre in particular.

TB: What's next for HIDE?

Hide: We are taking a break from playing shows currently, we were playing a few times a month to save money to record a proper record. Aside from writing new material for a full length we are working on a video piece for The Palace Film Festival in Chicago this January. We are coming to LA to do a record with Joe Cardamone at Valley Recording Co in Burbank. I've (Heather) been friends with Joe since the late 90's. He gets it.

We've got similarly passionate loves and hates when it comes to music and I've always dug and respected what he was doing with his band The Icarus Line. I was really excited when he asked about doing a re-mix for a HIDE track, which was initially how we got to talking recording. He did end up doing a re-mix, it's on an upcoming EP we did for Midwich Records (Jim Magas's label), and it's so good. We are really excited about it, it's our first vinyl release. Seth's been in the studio before but I haven't. We recorded everything we've put out ourselves so far, (three tapes, 2 songs each) as well as the tracks for the upcoming EP, in our practice space ourselves, so this will be my first time making a record. Really can't wait to get out there and start working on it, hungry for the new experience and thrilled to be working with Joe.

We would like to thank Heather and Seth for their great responses and for contributing an incredible mix. We look forward to forthcoming Hide material and can't wait to see them again live. For more information please visit Hide, Facebook and Youtube.

-JRS

Tracklist:

The Imperial House Band - Isé No Umi
Church of the Universal and Triumphan - Decree Remix
Marital Vows - Trauma
Einstürzende Neubauten - Krieg in den Städten(live)
Test Dept - Shockwork
Spk - A Heart that Breaks in No time or Place
PIL - Four Enclosed Walls
Swans - Coward
Jesus Lizard - Boilermaker
Rudimentary Peni - Inside
Christian Death - Spiritual Cramp
Sadist - Minotaur's Maze
Discharge - The Nightmare Continues
Ministry - Breathe
Dystopia - Stress Builds Character
Crass - Shaved Women
The Creatures - Festival of Colours
Adult - Kick in the Shin
Sisters of Mercy - Valentine
Brett Naucke - Harp of the Evening Garden
Perc - My Head is Slowly Exploding (Original mix)
Meshuggah - Concatenation
Pantera - Altered State
NON - Total War

DL: http://bit.ly/1NxyPs3

Subversive - "Domestique"

Now listening at Brvtalist Headquarters is the latest release from VRV techno artist Subversive. "Domestique" follows up last season's "Chainbreaker" with powerful atmospheric movements that leave the listener in a pitch black hypnosis. Subversive utilizes strong rhythmic elements and synthesize a variety of patterns to create dramatic environments that are perfect for extended warehouse rituals. Also included on the EP is the Raíz remix of "Corosync", which dives deep into the thick beat construction the duo have become known for.

This release is timed perfectly as we approach the 13 year anniversary of Interface in Los Angeles. The 53rd(!) installment of the Droid Behavior event is a true testament to the creators and supporters of the Droid collective and its commitment to bringing their unique brand of techno to Los Angeles and beyond. Since its creation, Interface has taken place in such cities as New York, Detroit, Amsterdam, San Francisco and Denver. Residents Raíz, Truncate and Drumcell continue to share with the world their unique perspective on techno, production and performance. We were fortunate enough to speak with Vidal Vargas (Raíz, Droid co-founder) and we asked him to say a few words about the event:

Droid Behavior residents have been busier then ever with Droid Behavior Showcases and Interface events worldwide happening with increasing frequency, but it is only right we bring it back to the place where it all began... Los Angeles. Celebrating 13 years of collective existence, we present the 53rd installment of Interface series on Saturday November 28th.

We would like to thank Vidal for his assistance with this feature and we congratulate Droid Behavior on a truly incredible run and we look forward to seeing more releases and events from them for years to come. "Domestique" is out now and please visit Droid Behavior and Interface 53 for more information.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 036

Night falls and your judgment awaits. Kneel before your master as the seconds tick away. You embrace the end but it's only the beginning.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a live mix by prolific electronic music artist Rich Oddie. Known for his work with seminal techno duo Orphx and experimental project O/H among others, Oddie has been a key player in the global electronic music community for over two decades. We are excited to release this special live mix recorded on September 10, 2015 at Urban Spree in Berlin. This was for a party called Fleisch and other DJs that night included Tzusing, Phase Fatale, Zoe Zanias, Lghtwght and Primary. This is an incredible odyssey that connects the dots between EBM, industrial, techno and experimental.

2016 will be another stellar year for Oddie as we can expect new releases from Orphx, Eschaton, O/H and Oureboros, as well as new solo material. The next European tour for Orphx will be in April / May 2016, with other live dates for all projects throughout the year. We could not be more pleased to present this special mix from an artist we have always admired and we look forward to hearing more from Oddie in the coming year.

-JRS

*Cover photograph by Deane Madsen. Live photograph by Michelle White.

Tracklist:

SPK - Metal Field
Hard Corps - Dirty
Liasons Dangereuses - Los Ninos del Parque
Ministry - We Believe
Klinik - Burning Inside
Lassigue Bendthaus - Automotive
PTP - Rubber Glove Seduction
Skinny Puppy - Deadlines
Acid Horse - No Name, No Slogan
Beau Wanzer - Fuk U Klaxons
Front 242 - U-Men
A Split Second - Flesh
Legowelt - Total Pussy Control
Click Click - Sweet Stuff
Chris and Cosey - Love Cuts
Cute Heels - Silence Complot
DAF - El Que
Nitzer Ebb - Control I'm Here
Cyberaktif - Temper
Front 242 - Moldavia
Klinik - Memories
The Hacker - Village of the Damned
Nitzer Ebb - Let Your Body Learn
Sarin - Interceptor
Terence Fixmer - Electrostatic
Solvent - Burn The Tables (Orphx remix)
Download - Glassblower
Powell - Club Music (Ancient Methods Körpersäure 91 mix)
Silent Servant - Cut Unconscious
Polar Inertia - Floating Away Fire
Blush Response - Fenix
Orphx - Outcast
Rich Oddie - Bloodstream
British Murder Boys - Anti-Inferno
Smell The Flesh - Hail Kongo
Female - Backlash
Rumenige - Kylie (Regis BHX mix)
P.E.A.R.L. - All Gods of Men (Oscar Mulero remix)
Monolith - The Inner Core

Nick Zinner's 601 Photographs: Interview by Aaron Montaigne

The Brvtalist is proud to present the first collaborative feature with infamous Los Angeles gallery Lethal Amounts and Aaron Montaigne. One of the events that caught our eye was famed guitar player Nick Zinner's (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Headwound City) upcoming photography show. Titled "601 Photographs", the show features photos that Zinner captured from years of touring the world. Artist and musician Aaron Montaigne (Dangerous Boys Club, Antioch Arrow) is both a friend and collaborator of Zinner and we thought it best to put them together and the result is a very candid and insightful interview. See the Q&A below:

Los Angeles 1500 hrs, November 4, 2015.

Aaron Montaigne: I am here at Chateau Zinner, Studio City here with Nick Zinner, legendary guitarist of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and prolific photographer. The first thing I am curious about before we get into talking about your show is to ask about the first thing that inspired you to want to take pictures.

Nick Zinner: I think, as with many things in my life, it started with a girl. I had a girlfriend who I was in high school with and she introduced me to photography. So I took a class and liked the aspect of taking things from normal life, which is always a struggle in high school, and transforming it into something else and crystalizing that time. I remember the summer after meeting her between my junior and senior year of high school I traveled around Europe and took a lot of photos, a few of which I still really like. At the time I was very shy and weird and taking pictures gave me a sort of purpose. It gave me a sense of in any given situation a way to interact and experience what was happening around me instead of just being a shy kid in the corner.

AM: At what age did you start taking photos, what was your format and what was your first camera?

NZ: I was 16 shooting black and white. I didn’t shoot color until I was in college at Bard. When in college I bought a Nikon F2, it was a camera that fell off of a cliff and survived. It became my camera of choice for the time being. I always shot black and white and I always developed my own film and got pretty good at printing. I went to college to study photography, it was my major so when I moved to New York City printing was the only real skill I had and did that for a few years.

AM: Cool.

AM: I met you after College wandering z streets of Williamsburg and we would spy each other across train platforms recognizing each others taste in black clothes. Upon meeting you I soon discovered that locals considered you the “Mayor” of Williamsburg.

NZ: (Laughs), At the time I was.

AM: Then, like now you always had a camera with you and I always thought that was really cool and I was always curious if that was a tool for you to break z ice in any situation.

NZ: Yeah, its still the same and will never go away. But also it was a way for me to capture a moment. Even if its a shitty photo, it still a moment in time captured forever.

AM: At that time in z late 90’s early 2000’s you were playing in a band called Challenge of the Future, pre-Yeah Yeah Yeahs

NZ: Yeah

AM: At that point of time was music becoming more important to you, or was photography?

NZ: I think at that time it was probably music. I moved down to New York with the Challenge of the Future guys, we all went to Bard together. At that time it was like ’98, ’99. We really wanted to be a successful band, you know make records and play shows and that just didn’t happen. All of our lives and jobs got in the way, same story of any band, you start fighting and things don’t go how you want them to. It was hard, move to New York with a dream and failed (laughs).

AM: Ultimately no…

NZ: But in that band, as a band we failed but it was a great experience, we’re still friends.

AM: but at that time music was taking over your passion?

NZ: I tried working as a photographer, I didn’t learn any technical skills because I studied under art photographers. I never learned to “light” anything or be employed as a photographer, I took band photos, I shot your band The Witches

AM: The bloodbath show?

NZ: Yeah

AM: Nice! I would love to see that.

AM: Cool, well obviously your style of photography is “shooting in z moment” candid style, but who has been your greatest muse?

NZ: Definitely Karen O

NZ: A lot of photos I take are while I’m on tour. I always shoot Karen and Brian. A lot of my favorite pictures are of them.

AM: I realized early on that art and music go hand and hand. I discovered this when it came time to actualize making record covers for my bands. Did any record cover or band photos ever influence you? For me it was always pop art or Roxy Music. Did any inspire you?

NZ: I never really thought about that….. I like Anton Corbin’s stuff, classic work. When Robert Frank followed the Rolling Stones around, when he made Cocksucker Blues which is more film but he is one of my favorite photographers. His stills from the film made it to the cover of Exile on Main Street, I like the gritty candidness and starkness. As for record art, a lot of photos are posed and I never really knew how to do that.

AM: Tell me about the show your doing at Lethal Amounts on November 20th. The Brvtalist himself is wondering if this was a conceived exhibition or did you realize you were sitting on an archive of really killer pictures and decided to share?

NZ: Its something I've been wanting to do in LA for a long time. Its based on some shows I've done in the last three or four years. I've done two shows where I had 1,000 photos and for the Photoville festival in New York around 2 years ago we brought it down to 500 images. Danny from Lethal Amounts approached me to do a show, so I am showing 601 Photographs which is the title of the show. Basically its a bigger space than my last show and i wanted to show some newer photos too. This show I am trying to re-emphasize the music aspect of my work where as in the New York show it was more of my documentary and traveling work. There is also another section of the show where I exhibit “Slept in Beds” which is something that I do. Everywhere I sleep, when I wake up I take a picture of where I've slept.

AM: (showing me z bed photos) Wow some are glamorous, some not so much.

NZ: I feel like its such a big overlooked part of traveling or touring, or just living. Obviously you spend, in my case as much time as possible sleeping (laughs), and when you’re on tour or traveling its just not something you think about and when you put the photos together there is an interesting, potentially lost narrative.

AM: So anyone that knows you or has ever visited z Zinner maison in z past 25 years has known that you are sitting on like 9 million photos.

NZ: (laughs)

AM: So what I am curious is how did you decide which 601 to use out of 9 million for this show?

NZ: Its not easy to be totally objective, what is a great photograph and what is not. I was working with a curator for my last show, there would be images that I thought were great. It would be a photo of someone who I was close to or a time or moment that triggered some significant emotion, and the curator would be like that photograph is not interesting at all. For me choosing the images to present, I’m looking for something special that maybe inspires a reaction, An image that suggests more than it actually is. Or sometimes just something sort of funny , or creepy. There are no dates or titles on any of my photos so I want each picture to be specific and also vague so you can imagine half a dozen before and after or during scenarios, like a film still.

AM: To me looking at your photos is like looking into a microcosm of your life.

NZ: Yeah, I actually don’t think about that as much as I should. Thats always at the end when everything is up on a wall and I think Shit, this is actually my life.

AM: Well and you are a fairly private person.

NZ: Yeah, and so if its really personal, I wont show it.

AM: (Looking at one of Nicks photos of Justin Pearson) Does JP really have “punk” tattooed in his lip?

NZ: Yeah.

AM: Nice.

AM: I am curious about the photo of z ladies with the masks thats the header shot for your show.

NZ: I take pictures of every crowd I play to. I like Robert Frank and William Klein from the 1960’s and 1970’s. They have photographs I like where there will be a street shot but there will be 25 faces or heads in one frame and I love the way crowds look, so many faces and the idea of all of those faces in formation for one time and one time only is inspiring. So that particular image was from a Yeah Yeah Yeahs video shoot for the 2007 EP Is is. So we shot the video with Lance Bangs who is in the photo. This video was shot at Glasslands in Brooklyn in the dark. We had two shows, one which was only girls and the second was co-ed. We filmed them in the dark, had the audience wear glasses and shot it in night vision.

AM: Cool.

AM: Do you think Lady GaGa is hot?

NZ: Umm occasionally, occasionally.

We would like to thank Nick Zinner, Aaron Montaigne and Lethal Amounts for this great interview. 601 Photographs opens this Friday, November 20th, at Lethal Amounts Gallery. Sponsored by Amoeba Hollywood. For more information please visit their official website.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 035

Flesh covered steel is all that remains. The stench of dread cuts the air. As you work under darkness, you finally feel at home.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by New York City-based artist duo Material Lust. Christian Lopez Swafford and Lauren Larson are responsible for some of our favorite furniture, object and interior designs over the past few years. The duo infuses alchemical symbolism and sacred geometry into what can only be described as "functional sculpture".

Their "Geometry is God" series are captivating works that utilize paganism and ancient ideologies to create furniture and objects that convey a powerful presence, transcending the medium and existing in a space in between art and philosophy. We were immediately drawn not only to their design aesthetic, but the duo's dedication to working within different disciplines, maintaining a unique ideology throughout. The pair calls this ideology "Oppressionism", and it is defined as the combination of heavy-handed theatrics with high design and its exploitation of uncomfortable and often pornographic imagery. We reached out to the artists to learn more about their work and we are excited the share the Q&A below:

The Brvtalist: This is kind of the ultimate New Brvtalism for me because you guys are artists who are now well known as furniture and interior designers and you also made a mixtape for us. Talk about the importance of multi-disciplinary practice and how you have found your way into all these different things.

Material Lust: We explore as many mediums as possible. Our studio has music on all day and night so a mix tape would be a natural extension of our design/art process. That being said with this mix we chose to do something that was more direct in presentation. I was tired of listening to cerebral mixes of drones that proliferate soundcloud (although I love drone). We are combating that with a tribute to our guilty pleasures.

We practice interior design, furniture design, lighting design, graphic design, textile design and set design. With so many different types of projects happening at once we really have to keep a watch on our brand and vision. Every project has to fit in our overall vision for our practice or else we don't take it on. Since we are both artists at heart we want our body of work in the end to read like the life and work of an artist.

TB: I have to talk about the "Geometry is God" line. Striking furniture and home accessories like the Pagan Chair and Candelabra that are infused with sacred geometry and alchemical symbolism. These are true works of art. Do you find that you often look to pagan symbolism and alchemy for inspiration in your work? Are you interested in their meaning for purposes beyond design and aesthetic and how does your philosophy of "Oppressionism" play into this?

ML: That line is heavily influenced by the geometry's of alchemy, hieroglyphics and cave paintings. It was our introduction as a brand and we wanted to create something primal and striking. We like to constantly reinvent ourselves and what often changes is our reference source material. For our work coming out in 2016 we will be referencing surrealist, folk and religious/anti-religious themes with our work. It will still very much look like Material Lust but will have more hand carved and hand illustrated pieces. It would be easy for us to just keep doing the Geometry is God collection over and over, and we will be adding a couple new pieces to that collection, but for 2016 we are declaring "Geometry is Dead".

Oppressionism is a term we coined to vocalize our frustration at the trend following and low quality driven nature of the Art and Design world. Giant companies sell poorly made, under designed, disposable furniture, lighting and art. There has been a backlash against this with many designers making things in the US and out of higher quality materials but even then what is the point of making something high quality if it is also devoid of any voice or perspective? In order for us to survive we have to always feel like we are fighting against something. Admittedly, what we are fighting against changes every time you ask us.

TB: I also love that Material Lust is a duo. Talk about the interplay between you guys and the artistic process. You both have slightly different backgrounds so how do you think you've come together to create something so cohesive?

ML: We are both very different people and designers but when we come together we don't become a mixture of those ideas. We become a third separate identity with its own ideas and vision. Material Lust is its own organism and we are just trying to use our experiences and skills to pull out the best work possible from it. We do battle it out when it comes to details on a design but instead of getting super frustrated we try and embrace the process. All our work has been drawn and criticized and redrawn and prototyped and criticized and re-prototyped a million times over before it is ready to be shown.

TB: The surrealist children's line, "Fictional Furniture", is amazing (the Ibis is also one of my favorite birds). Talk about how this came about and did you ever envision creating a kids line?!

ML: While we where heavily into Egyptian Hieroglyphics a gallery named Kinder Modern approached us about doing a kids collection and we instantly said yes. It all happened pretty organically. Our idea was to create heirloom quality gender neutral kids furniture that does not look juvenile and in turn subconsciously introduces the child to a world of hand crafted art and design. Through the process of designing that collection we started to integrate some surrealist influences and that opened up a whole new world and direction for us. The Crawl Chair in carved walnut with its primitive hands and feet is our first extension of those influences.

TB: What is next for Material Lust and is there anything you haven't done that you would like to get into?

ML: We are busy designing the 2016 collection as well as introducing a line of textiles named Derma. Derma is a collaboration with textile artists To Dødsfall based in Brooklyn. We are kindred spirits and when they approached us about doing a collaboration it was an instant creative shot to the arm. We released the first piece and we have already gained a ton of attention (which never happens, its usually a slow burn, especially with our work). We are also opening up a small gallery in Manhattan. It will be a super small space that is a curated collection of our work mixed with antiques and art. We are planning on changing the installation out every 3-4 months and having a new fully realized and meticulously designed space.

We would like to thank Christian and Laura for their insightful responses and for their great mix. New Brvtalism No. 035 contains industrial metal, folk, goth and more and we love that it was named "Guilty Pleasures". The Brvtalist is always interested in artists who are not bound by any discipline and who continue to evolve while carrying a philosophy through all of their work. Material Lust has fast become one of the most innovate and unpredictable artists working today and we couldn't be more honored to feature them on our site. For more information please visit Material-Lust.com.

-JRS

Track list:
Nine Inch Nails - Last
Clock DVA - Buried Dreams
Zombi - Spirit Animal
Revolting Cocks - Stainless Steel Providers
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Monitor
L7 - Wargasm
Rammstein - Das Modell
Type O Negative - Drunk in Paris
Chemlab - I still Bleed
KMFDM - Terror
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Mideast Vacation
Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
Brujeria - Seis Seis Seis
3TEETH - Nihil

Daniel Menche and Mamiffer - "Crater"

The Brvtalist is proud to feature the latest release by Washington-based, experimental project Mamiffer and abstract sound artist Daniel Menche. Crater is an album four years in the making and documents the intimate friendship between the Pacific Northwest inhabitants. Comprised of Aaron Turner (Isis) and Faith Coloccia (Barnett + Coloccia), Mamiffer has shown through several releases that their music exists in a very unique space - somewhere in between drone, doom, ambient and noise. Known for their powerful and transformational works, it was no surprise that a partnership with illustrious sound artist Daniel Menche would produce such a prodigious album.

Crater is both effectual and evocative, perfectly summarizing the landform for which it is named. Mamiffer's combination of haunting electronics and sorrowing hymns is the perfect compliment to Menche's cerebral abstractions. The record puts the listener into the room with the trio and one can slowly envision the environment and atmosphere that inspired the music. Truly cinematic in proportion, Crater unveils an excellent new chapter in the progression of Turner and Coloccia, and is another impressive entry in the Daniel Menche catalog. We asked the artists to say a few words about the release and Turner and Menche contributed the following:

Never underestimate the power of a good hike with good friends to inspire sounds and noise that runs deep with our friendship and in turn this collaboration recording "Crater".
- Daniel Menche

Working with people where there's an underlying foundation of friendship, has in our experience, always produced the most meaningful results. There's a greater human depth to the experience of making the music, as well as listening back to it because of the personal bonds between the creators. I believe this is something that can be felt by listeners as well.
-Aaron Turner

For your listening pleasure we have also included the track "Husk", which is a great example of the album's force and scope. Crater is out November 13th on the always impressive Sige Records and will be available on CD, cassette and digital formats.

-JRS