New Brvtalism No. 048

A departure from this world is a welcome change. Gone are the days of old. The unknown begins now.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Vancouver-based duo, Koban. Fusing darkened post-punk, wave and modern electronics, Koban's sound is nostalgic as it is fresh and forward thinking. We are thrilled to bring you a mix just ahead of their new album, Abject Obsessions, out April 21st on Italy's Avant! Records. The new record includes 10 tracks that are cold, caustic and brvtally infectious. As a preview for the upcoming release, we are also thrilled to bring you one of our favorite tracks, "Instinct of Ego".

After releasing material on Broadway to Boundary and Weyrd Son, Koban's sound has continued to evolve while on Avant! Building on the success of their EP, Vide, Abject Obsessions is a complete album showcasing French-speaking female vocals and English-speaking male vocals, along with synths and razor sharp guitars. As for the mix, New Brvtalism No. 048 is a twisted trip into the dark hearts of this drifting duo. With an already impressive catalog, Koban has quickly emerged as one of our favorite acts in the burgeoning renaissance of post-punk style bands. Abject Obsessions will be released on both LP and CD and we look forward to more material and live performances from this "satanic murder couple". For more information please visit Facebook and Avant!

-JRS

*click to enlarge

Track list:

1. Salt- Institute
2. Day of the Rope - Spray Paint
3. 13 Ans Presque 17 - Scorpion Violente
4. After the Fall - Pure Ground
5. A Perfect Body - All Your Sisters
6. Fantastic - Kitchen and the Plastic Spoons
7. Not Enough Violence - Ariel Pink
8. Anyway - Oto
9. On- Borghesia
10. Honeymoon- Minuit Machine
11. In the Headlights - MOTH
12. Here Again - Factory Floor

Craow - S/T Full Album Preview

The Brvtalist is proud to present a full album preview of the upcoming LP by Rhode Island's Craow. Out next week on one of our favorite labels, Nostilevo, Craow's self titled effort is a powerful journey through the depths of post-industrial, wave and rhythmic atmospherics. The haunting vocals are the perfect compliment to the anthemic mood created by these 5 incredible tracks. With future releases and re-issues planned on Deathshadow and Ascetic House, this is Craow's second effort for Nostilevo. Please enjoy Craow - S/T streaming below:

We spoke with Sean Halpin, the artist behind Craow, and he had this to say about the release:

The record is made up of songs written in 2013. My life at the time was very polar. It seemed to be one heavy thing after another, good and bad but it was all happening at once so I was into it in a completely perverted way. The gear set up I was using at the time worked very well together for that era of CRAOW. I was living in Tampa when it was written and I recorded it in my studio in Providence ,except "Game of Fools" which I recorded at Cyborg City where I was living in Tampa. I am a bit apprehensive to get into what each song is about as I'd really be into people listening to the record in a subjective way. I tried to keep the mentality of working on the record as if we're the last recording I did that I would be alright with it.

The LP will see a release of edition 300 on black vinyl and a special edition of 50 on clear. The Brvtalist is also thrilled to be DJing the official LP release show, happening on April 9th at Non Plus Ultra in Los Angeles. Also on the bill that night are Marching Dynamics and Fairlight Empress (members of Hive Mind + Oil Thief). Please join us for a very special evening. For more information please visit Nostilevo.

-JRS

Whitney Hubbs - "Body Double"

Perhaps the most fascinating and endlessly inspirational subject is ourselves. Meaning our personal selves, but also our shapes and forms as humans. The human body in its most pure and raw state is beautiful, confounding, provocative and mysterious. Visual artist Whitney Hubbs explores some of these themes and more in her latest solo exhibition at Los Angeles' M+B Gallery entitled Body Double.

Woman no. 8, 2016signed, dated, titled and numbered versoarchival pigment print32 x 40 inchesedition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs — Woman no. 8, 2016
signed, dated, titled and numbered verso
archival pigment print
32 x 40 inches
edition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs

Hubbs' works appear both refined, yet unpolished. Her subjects are positioned in ways that showcase some of the body's most unique geometries and her use of vibrant color attracts the eye to the interesting textures used, but also highlights the contrast between color and flesh. From the artist:

When I'm in front of the camera, my body is being looked at, is being performed, is being directed and recorded. It is being taken apart and pieced back together.

We repeat and repeat, the same scene, against the same wall, with the same lights. We write the body on a piece of film. Film that's been pushed and prodded, mishandled and flipped. At a certain point I had to accept a bodily experience. It was pleasurable to look at their rough unpolished states, the bodies simply are: flipping, posing, being coy, arms as arrows, feet as poles, the lens as lover and mirror, the lens always looking back and being looked at, not by the face, but by the breasts, buttocks, heels, toes, shins, spines and throats, unhurried and happy to give that which can't be taken.

Woman no. 5, 2016signed, dated and numbered versoarchival pigment print32 x 40 inchesedition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs — Woman no. 5, 2016
signed, dated and numbered verso
archival pigment print
32 x 40 inches
edition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs

Born in Los Angeles in 1977, Hubbs received her MFA from UCLA and BFA from California College of the Arts. Most recently, Hubbs had her first solo museum exhibition at the California Museum of Photography at the University of California, Riverside. Her work is included in the current exhibition, After Effect, at Ballroom Marfa, TX. Other recent shows include Vapegoat Rising at Arturo Bandini, Los Angeles; New Babylon at Roberts and Tilton,

We love the mood and imagery of these works. Hubbs constructs and deconstructs the female form and emphasizes that we are all made up of and many different parts to create a whole. Her use of limbs, torsos and other intricacies create a wonderful perspective of the human body as well as the dichotomies of primitive and evolved to raw and refined. The result is something that is always beautiful.

Woman no. 6, 2016signed, dated, titled and numbered versoarchival pigment print40 x 32 inchesedition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs — Woman no. 6, 2016
signed, dated, titled and numbered verso
archival pigment print
40 x 32 inches
edition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs

Body Double is on view now until May 7th at M+B Gallery, located at 612 N. Altamont Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90069. For more information, please visit the gallery's official page and for more Whitney Hubbs, please visit here.

-JRS

Left:

Woman no. 3, 2016
signed, dated, titled and numbered verso
archival pigment print
40 x 32 inches
edition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs

Right:

Woman no. 2, 2016
signed, dated, titled and numbered verso
archival pigment print
40 x 32 inches
edition of 3 plus 2 artist's proofs

Pure and Raw Jutlandish Doom

The banner of Jutland, staked in a meadow, riddled with cow shit and psychedelic shrooms, appears on the cover of Danish doom-duo BRODER's newest cassette, Under den Jydske Fane. Unlike the first release, this is a full collaboration between brothers Erik and Jesper Bagger Hviid. As stated by the artist, "We grew up in the countryside, on the right side of the stream, between the burial mound, "Bitch Hill", and the mythical "Gallow Mountain".

The opening track, Kællingehøj, is the calm burial hum from a time long forgotten. Galgebjerg is the brutal gut ripping truth at the end of the noose. This cassette is not just an ode to the hill and the mountain, but an ode to historicity as a part of being.

This is really all I know of this new act, shrouded in the mystery of the dark Danish countryside. A few tracks and this piece of information. BRODER is in the vein and style of early drone/doom-metal acts. Think Earth 2 by well.. Earth! As well as Sleep. Also prevalent are minor elements of Dungeon Synth.

The first track, Kællinghøj, has a grim kind of dark medieval, plaque-ridden, witches-and-heretics-on-the-bonfire apocalyptic kind of atmosphere. Like being in a burned down ruin of a village, while smelling the decay in the soil beneath. There is no hope at the end of this tunnel.

The next track, Galgebjerg, has a hammering and punishing sort of heaviness. The kind of which you can only imagine when pleading for your life, and having someone, say a terrifying executioner with a black hood, holding a big sledge hammer over your fuckin' head!

Under den Jydske Fane is out now on Copenhagen-based label It Was Gnarled. This is an excellent release that fans of funeral doom and drone/noise-metal should definitely check out. For more information please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-Per Najbjerg Odderskov
Soundcloud

New Brvtalism No. 047

Submerged in the dark, hope begins to fade. With a fleeting breath, you are pulled beneath.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by New York City-based duo, Winkie. Shattering genre classification, Winkie extracts elements of post-punk, darkwave, shoegaze and pop to create a wonderfully distorted creative vision. Their latest release, Come To My Party, is a stellar full length effort that creates a bleak, desperate environment and takes the listener on a dark, unsettling journey. From their harsh, droning guitar to piercing, distinctive vocals, Winkie offers something both powerful and cerebral. We were lucky enough to catch the duo at last week's Part-Time Punks show in Los Angeles, and their live act is equally as impressive.

New Brvtalism No. 047 is a nice look inside the mind of Winkie and you can see how their sound has development the way it has. Come To My Party has been a go-to record as of late and we look forward to seeing more touring and new material. For more information, please visit: https://winkieband.tumblr.com/

Track list:
The Birthday Party : Dead Joe
Tuxedomoon : Where Interests Lie
Chrome : Mondo Anthem
Xmal Deutschland : Geheimnis
Dead Can Dance : The Trial
Section 25 : Dirty Disco
Public Image Ltd. : Banging The Door
Malaria! - Your Turn To Run (I Will Be Your Only One)
Cabaret Voltaire : Premonition
Joy Division - Exercise One
Throbbing Gristle : Walls of Sound
Winkie : Tasting My Heart For The First Time
Swans : Half Life
Thrush and The Cunts : Diseases
The Associates : Kitchen Person

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia

Milan, Paris, New York. These cities are synonymous with high fashion and their respective fashion week events are among the biggest and most popular in the world. With that being said, the fashion world is constantly changing. New markets are always emerging and designers, journalists and most importantly buyers, no longer necessarily reside in the traditional epicenters. One of the most important new markets in fashion is Russia. The country has undergone immense change and that has brought significant appreciation for the arts as well as a consumer market that has exploded.

We are always interested in *anything* that is emerging and non-traditional and fashion is near the top of the list. Now in its 32nd season, Fashion Week Russia continues to attract more and more attention. Moscow has become a global destination for luxury goods and lifestyle (despite the frigid temperatures), and its fashion week event has been to intriguing to us for quite sometime. This year's festivities took place from March 11th - March 16th and we thought we would take a look at the offerings this season and bring you some of our favorites from the AW 2016/2017 collections:

*click to enlarge

Ksenia Knyazeva

Ksenia Knyazeva is an upstart brand with her first collection debuting in 2010. Hailing from the city of Penza, her fashion is pure Russian elegance. Leaving out embellishment, Knyazeva places her focus on detail, heritage and sexuality. From striking fur coats to floor length gowns, we liked that her pieces are 100% Moscow winter style. Also, bonus points for a bar and cocktails on the runway. For more, please visit: http://kknyazeva.ru/

Viva Vox

Viva Vox was founded in 1997 and has evolved nicely over the years. In 2005, the brand invited Oleg Evseev to become the creative director of the company. A graduate of Ecole de Couture van Rijn in Holland, Evseev brings a fresh European attitude to the fashion house and he has a particular affinity working with furs and leathers, which as we can already see, are big time favorites in Moscow. The oversized wrap coats and beautiful furs are quite impressive and successfully fuse progressive style with practicality. For more information please visit: http://www.dressone.ru/designers/viva-vox/

PIROSMANI BY JENYA MALYGINA

Pirosmani is the creative force of Evgeniya Malygina. Active since 1999, her concept is ANTIPODIUM: "No fashion, no trends, no season". Her works are incredibly versatile and can easily fit in to situations from casual to evening. While there's a lot of Russian and ethnic heritage on display in Moscow, this was one of the most current collections. Monochrome palates with impressive draping and long, sophisticated coats, made this one of the more progressive lines at the event. More for please visit: http://www.pirosmani.info/

Julia Dalakanian

For over 20 years Julia Dalakian has been designing in Moscow for local and international clients alike. For the early part of her career, she presented collections at events in Berlin, Milan and New York. She focuses much of her efforts on collaborations and capsule collections with the intent of increasing production soon. Her A/W '16-17 line showed a nice range of abilities. From contemporary to classic, Dalakian's vast experience shows in her work and we enjoyed the bright reds mixed in with black and one of our favorite colors silver. She's a talented designer with the ability to go in multiple directions and we always appreciate that. For more information, please visit: http://www.dressone.ru/designers/julia-dalakian/

Overall we were impressed by many of the offerings presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. Many of the participating designers pay tribute to the vast and diverse cultural heritage of their country and that was very evident from start to finish. While not always our aesthetic, there were some designers who showed the progressive, avant-garde sensibilities we are mostly drawn to. There's a lot of young talent in this up and coming market and the event does do a nice job of showcasing these artists and helps put them in the international eye. As Russia's importance continues to grow, it will be very interesting to see how this event will change (if at all) in the years to come. For more information and all collections please visit: http://mercedesbenzfashionweek.ru/en/

-JRS

Bestial Mouths - "Heartless"

When I first heard Bestial Mouths, I thought I was listening to a more industrial version of Diamanda Galás. At the same time, the powerful vocals of the lead singer took me to a different place than that of Diamanda’s songs. Slightly darker, savage and filled with anguish and the unknown.

Bestial Mouths is an L.A. based band which clearly doesn’t fit a single music category. Ranging from post-punk, goth to industrial and even power electronics, their music is most of all confrontational and engaging, inviting the listener to question and try to understand it. You can’t really listen to Bestial Mouths passively because there’s too much going on. Like any other art, music is supposed to move you, to make you feel something and even to doubt that feeling, and this is exactly what Bestial Mouths is doing.

Their latest creation, Heartless, is out on famed label Cleopatra Records and comes as a continuation of, and even a progression from, their previous releases. Lynette Cerezo, the main voice of Bestial Mouths, says this about Heartless:

“This album I feel captures the true essence of Bestial Mouths as we were able to rerecord new versions of past songs along with new ones (showing a scope of our progression). The new songs are extremely personal to me which I feel curated the whole LP's concept and feel (the art work and new video for Heartless (soon to be released) put these emotions into visual form).”

For your listening pleasure, we are proud to feature one of our favorite tracks, "White Eyes", exclusively streaming for The Brvtalist:

The album is filled with powerful energy, bringing us a metallic sound, with thick, heavy synths. The opening track “Grayed”, not only sets the mood, but also gives the listener proof that this LP is indeed a complex and provocative creative result. The powerful percussive rhythms of “White Eyes” create a story that’s being backed by ritual-like music, danceable grooves and a strong feral feel. Like on their previous albums, the lyrics follow the stream-of-consciousness format that’s characteristic of their style, and the piercing vocals resemble the sirens’ call - especially on “Small Pray” and “Heartless”, forcing the listener to succumb to the mesmerizing music of the band.

Heartless is a powerful and exciting release that take's the band's work to a whole new level. Head over to their Bandcamp page to buy the album, and if you’re in Europe, you might get the chance to catch them live, as they are in the middle of their EU tour (see dates below).

-Mărie Bungău
Twitter

New Brvtalism No. 046

A sudden force pierces the membrane. Shock is the only sensation. Transmission has begun.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Washington-based artist Raica. A prolific experimental sound composer, Chloe Harris also heads the innovative label Further Records. Operating in genres ranging from techno to experimental to ambient to even classical, Further Records has established itself as one of the most progressive and forward-thinking labels today. As a solo artist, Raica has released a string of superb full lengths, EPs and singles. Her compositions always maintain a sense of sophistication, surrealism and technical precision. Some of our favorite albums, such as Dose and Motorsatz, reveal a dark complexity and a delicate ambiance that resonate loudly.

New Brvtalism No. 046 is a blissful journey into the unknown depths of sound and atmosphere. Included are tracks from forthcoming Further Records releases as well as Harris' own material and more. We would like to thank Raica for this incredible contribution to our series and we look forward to bringing you more from Further Records. For more information please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

Track list:

Monadh - Ria [Further Records] - forthcoming April 2016
Thanet - Venus [Mordant Music]
Human Rays - Condensity [Further Records] - forthcoming June 2016
Strategy - Public Voyeurs [Further Records]
Acronym - Aftermath [Northern Electronics]
Decimus - Untitled [Further Records]
Jonathan Fitoussi - Microscopic [Pan European Recording]
Thanet - Earth [Mordant Music]
Material Object & ISHQ - 30 MHz [No.]
Nuel - Steppin Stone [Further Records]
Thanet - Uranus [Mordant Music]
Raica - Flatus - unreleased
Material Object & ISHQ - 76 MHz [No.]
Jonas Reinhardt - Shattered Remains Of Orr [Further Records]

Object Occult - The Double Dream of Spring

With Spring and Summer months rapidly approaching, it's time to start to focus on the seasons' fashions. Gone are the heavy, bulky fabrics of winter and we can now usher in a new set of materials. That is what we love most about the Spring/Summer 2016 collection by Shanghai's Object Occult. Titled The Double Dream of Spring, the collection is a beautiful and delicate array of looks that are soft, breathable and ready for the heat. Using fabrics like linen, tinsel, and even lightweight wool, the clothes carry a nice subtly with amazing handcrafted qualities and discreet, impressive details.

*click images to enlarge

The sophisticated layered ensembles are among our favorites. Linen jackets with hoods and nice pockets pair well with loose, white collarless shirts for a monochromatic look that is undeniably summer.

The campaign is equally as intriguing as the clothes. With anonymous models and often unisex silhouettes, there is a definitely sense of duality and genderless undertones. The masks and dark, cold setting give it the brand's signature occult feel and we love the mysterious mood of the photographs.

Object Occult has proven to be a seasonal favorite of The Brvtalist. With its spot on imagery and fashion that is subtly renegade, we always identify with the concepts and message of the collections. The brand also maintains a high set of standards with their use of luxury fabrics and much of the collection is handmade in Italy. With Summer seemingly already here in Los Angeles, these pieces are incredibly right NOW. For more information please visit Object Occult and Tumblr.

-JRS

More Ephemerol - "Tomb Shaker" + Q&A

In the modern world, the individual is more powerful than ever before. Today, one person is able to accomplish what used to require many. This is one reason why we admire Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist Chad Fjerstad. With hands in everything from solo projects to directing to video-editing, Fjerstad has created a very impressive artistic portfolio. A member of several different music projects from The Primals, Children and Ass Life, he has also directed a video for Bustié, penned a novel and runs a multimedia production house called Ephemerol Night Terrors.

Today we feature his music project, More Ephemerol. A synth-based offering, More Ephemerol has a debut LP entitled Fractal Bath and just released a new video directed and edited by Fjerstad himself. We are pleased to debut the video as well as present an insightful Q&A with the artist ahead of his live show this coming Friday, March 11th, at Basic Flowers in Los Angeles. Please find the video and Q&A below:

More Ephemerol "Tomb Shaker" from the FRACTAL BATH LP Directed & Edited by Chad Fjerstad Graphics by @jmckeehen Photography/Camera Operation by Londry Produced by Chad Fjerstad & Londry

The Brvtalist: You are involved with multiple different projects. Tell us a little bit about More Ephemerol. Where does it fit in and what is the idea behind the project?

Chad Fjerstad: More Ephemerol is my open-ended synth baby. I have an affinity for so many different sub-genres of synth-based music, I didn't want to be tied down to just one - so M.E. started as an expansive exercise for me. If you listen through the debut LP, "Fractal Bath", you will hear that every single track could be categorized in an entirely different genre. While this could be seen as either a flaw or a quality in the context of an album, I was happy to allow this versatile approach for the first release. "Fractal Bath" is more so a collection of my earliest works and experiments, rather than a traditionally focused album. When I created the initial 4 or 5 tracks, I had no idea I would be turning it into an LP, but it just ended up feeling right. Through this release, I've learned a lot about which approaches work best for me, and I look forward to doing a more honed-in release perhaps later this year.

TB: I have to ask if the name is a Scanners reference.

CF: It is absolutely a Scanners reference. Scanners is one of my favorite films and Cronenberg is one of my favorite film directors - his work has always been a huge inspiration to me, no matter what format I'm working with. In the film, Ephemerol is a suppressive drug used to disable scanners of their psychic abilities. There are intense moments where they are testing doses on the scanners and it never seems to be enough. I was just pulling from that moment, from that feeling, of something never being enough. As a metaphor, I generally think of stimulation first. I'm always looking for more stimulation.

TB: Tell us about the concept for the "Tomb Shaker" video.

CF: I wanted to do a very straightforward video for "Tomb Shaker", so that's what I did. I've been producing a fair amount of music videos the last 6 months or so, a lot of them with my friend Londry, who works at a very impressive video production studio just outside of Hollywood. We shot the performance footage there. I've been doing visual manipulations myself for years now but decided that for this video I'd like to collaborate with a visual artist whose work really floors me, instead of doing it myself for once. At first I was talking to Andrew Means (drummer of 3TEETH) who is an all around amazing musician, producer, an artist - he is an absolute madman with the software VDMX. But, then they landed their huge Tool/Primus tour and a ton of other crucial projects fell into his lap - he wouldn't have the time. Then, I discovered Jeremy McKeehen (@jmckeehen) whose style of impressive CGI visual art really went swimmingly with the aesthetic I had in mind through the entire process of creating the "Fractal Bath" album. He was the right man for this collaboration - I'm very happy with it.

TB: You have a live show coming up this Friday, March 11th, with a few other great local acts, including one of our favorites, Kanga. Talk about your approach to the More Ephemerol live show and what you want to do with it.

CF: More Ephemerol has generally only performed 2 or 3 times a year since it's fruition. For the first year and a half, I performed as a solo act. Recently, I've brought a rhythm section to the live show in the form of the talented John Kyle on drums and Josh Beck on bass. We played our first show as a three-piece at my ridiculously self-indulgent birthday party in January, and it felt fan-fucking-tastic. When I composed a lot of these songs, I was most inspired by groups like Goblin and Zombi - two groups which are primarily about rhythm and groove. There will always be an edge of prog in my compositions, and in my blood, and I think the rhythm section is exactly what this project needed to function as an effective live show. I am excited to move forward with that in mind and I'm looking very forward to the Basic Flowers show on Friday, with a lineup full of brilliant L.A. up-and-comers.

TB: What's next for Chad Fjerstad?

CF: I'm always working on a few things at once. It's the only way I can function. I have a few things in the works, 1. I'm operating a multimedia production house called Ephemerol Night Terrors. So far, I'm putting out literature and music cassettes. I am honored to be putting out the new album, "Technophelia", by one of my favorite artists in L.A., Geneva Jacuzzi. It's my favorite album of 2016 thus far, easily. Tapes are arriving this week. 2. I am producing hard electro tracks under the moniker Fiercedad. I have been working on the debut music video for my track, "Portland Fuckboys". If it turns out the way I want, it may very well turn some heads. It might gross a few people out. I need to shoot a couple more things. I'm looking forward to wrapping that up soon, 3. I'm currently slaving away at my second fictional novel, which in summary is about touring in a death metal band, working in the porn industry, general ignorance, dependence, and the generally vile nature of human beings. It's going to be called Warship Satan. I put out my first novel, Popping Cherries, in 2014, under the pen name Cetus Revok (another Scanners reference). If you're in the mood for something a little juvenile but very perverse and very surreal, check the book out. I've always thought of it as a Goosebumps book for adults. 4. I want to start one more music project this year! I have a vision for something extravagant. I can't say much as I haven't even begun writing the songs yet, but I want a full ensemble - probably a seven-piece. The idea is to not be able to categorize the band by genre. But some of the biggest influences coming into writing from the beginning are going to be: Human League, Scott Walker, Uriah Heep, YMO, and Queen.

We would like to thank Chad Fjerstad for these great responses and excellent video. The Brvtalist is always a fan of artists who are not confined to any particular medium and Fjerstad is a great example of this. We encourage you to check out all of his other great projects. For more information please visit Facebook.

-JRS