The Brvtalist Premieres: PLOVDIV - Beauty Lies In The Corner.

We are currently in the midst of a renaissance of independent labels that are committed to releasing dark, obscure and experimental electronic music. Berlin's Blacksilk Records is a prime example. An imprint started by Marc Ash, the young label is interested in a multi-disciplinary approach and aims to bring hidden and obscure electronic gems out of the shadows. PLOVDIV's Golden is the first release by Blacksilk and an excellent way to kick things off. We are proud to premiere, "Beauty Lies In The Corner, one of our favorite tracks off the record.

Golden is a five track vinyl release that is currently limited to 300 copies. PLOVDIV is perhaps the darkest and most introspective moniker of label-head Marc Ash and that is evident throughout the material on the record. A nice narrative moves through raw, moody electronic rhythms that blend brvtal post-industrial, experimental techno and encapsulating ambient. While maintaining a primitive, deconstructed sound, Golden also excels at conveying a polished sophistication that alludes to shallow decay, materialism and adornment, just some of the themes that run throughout the release. "Beauty Lies In The Corner" is a great track that oozes haunting atmospheres and glamorous excess.

The incredible cover art comes from Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens and the shimmering gold attire is the perfect compliment to the menacing sound that lies within. Golden is out June 27 via Ready Made Distribution and we are very much looking forward to forthcoming releases from this great, new label. For more visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

Amok Tapes Exclusive Mix

AMOK Tapes is the label of Berlin synth manufacturer KOMA Elektronik. The sound they create revolves around “mutated techno and EBM blending together into a mass of flesh."

While the music is definitely on the aggressive and distorted side of the Berlin vibe, what’s essential about the label’s vision is that each artist has the freedom to explore and push the boundaries of electronic music. The stay true to themselves and their sound, and are able to create music that doesn’t sound like anything else.

AMOK promotes new and unknown artists, releasing music on a continuing basis. An important detail is of course their choice of release format - the tape. This allows the label to stay true to the DIY ethos and each release has unique packaging and a download code, but still gives the fan the ability to collect each item as a special, limited release.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the yet unknown world of AMOK Tapes through this exclusive mix put together for The Brvtalist. You’ll be hearing tracks from /ϟ/HUREN/ϟ/, Ontal and Drvg Cvltvre, alongside unreleased material from Raum Zeit and Unhuman, merging all together into a homogeneous blend of harsh, unsettling industrial beats and uncompromising EBM.

-Marie Bungau
@mariebungau

Tracklist:
1. Det Er Nach Hos Gaute - CVK
2. Verdronken - Raum Zeit (forthcoming)
3. II - Bakunin Commando
4. Sequence 1 - Ontal
5. Mimetizar - Huren
6. Dead By Dawn - Drvg Cvltvre
7. Falwell Matchbox - CVK
8. Scope - Ontal
9. Rarebell Changing Face - Huren
10. Untitled - Unhuman (forthcoming)
11. Realties Within Realities - Ontal
12. Wolven - Drvg Cvltvre
13. Ted Goes To Denver - CVK
14. IV - Bakunin Commando
15. Katakomben - Huren
16. Schimp En Spot - Raum Zeit (forthcoming)

0770 - Psycho Killer

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the Fall/Winter 2016 collection by Italian leather accessories brand, 0770 ("zero sette sette zero"). Titled "Psycho Killer", the latest offerings build on previous collections which masterfully blend old world Italian craftsmanship with cutting edge experimentation. 0770's minimal aesthetic immediately resonated with us as we loved the label's delicate, yet powerful balance of classic glamour with forward thinking sensibilities. Italian designers Enzo Pirozzi and Irene De Caprio began collaborating back in 2003 while each was still in school. Pirozzi comes from a background of tailoring, fabrics and details while De Caprio brought aerospace and a love for technology to the duo's creations. 0770's commitment to all of the above is evident with each piece. All made in Italy these are not simply items of clothing, but objects of desire.

"Psycho Killer" draws inspiration from the early punk scene in New York and exudes its sexually charged and cavalier attitude. The designers call it a "perfect tale of seduction for a strong, confident woman." This collection has an enticing, alluring quality which puts the woman front and center. As with previous lines, 0770 continues to experiment with geometries, asymmetries and avant-garde detailing. We especially love the choker with cut-out details, the amazing spine bag and the full torso harness. All of the pieces channel a little bit of deviousness that is inherent in all of us. It just depends on how much you want to embrace.

*click images to enlarge

We would like to thank 0770 for these great campaign images and we look forward to seeing what's in store from the creative duo. For more information please visit 0770, Facebook and Instagram.

-JRS

Campaign Credits:
Brand: 0770
Photographer + Videography: Chris Vongsawat
Model: Jennifer Stevens
Makeup: Ann Puttiwongsasoontorn
Hair Stylist: Jenny Rey
Hair Stylist Assistant: Amy Rudd
Music: John Crities
Art/Projections: Reo

Infrastructure - Facticity

What began as a personal outlet in the late nineties, has now transformed into an important imprint for progressive electronic music. Infrastructure New York is a record label that is the brainchild of Dave Sumner, aka Function. One of the most well respected artists operating today, Sumner continues to release a steady stream of his own material as well as spotlight up and coming electronic producers from around the globe. While the label does maintain allegiance to heavy, driving, dance floor ready techno, it certainly leans toward more progressive releases that crossover into the realms of experimental, ambient and industrial. After a period of dormancy, Infrastructure has returned in a big way and has definitely become a label to always keep up with. We immediately gravitated towards the Post Scriptum release and invited the artist to contribute a New Brvtalism back in February. That more or less brings us to the label's most recent and most grand undertaking, Facticity.

Facticity is a 4 x 12", CD and digital download release that brings together Infrastructure's talented stable of artists, collaborators and colleagues. 15 tracks of well curated material that nicely sums up what the label is all about - pushing the boundaries of techno to otherworldly limits. We appreciated the inclusion of artists like Vatican Shadow, Silent Servant and one of our favorite producers and performance artists, Rrose. We recommend working through it just how it's ordered and taking in some of the musical evolutions that happen throughout. There's also plenty of great warehouse ready hits from the likes of Cassegrain & Tin Man, Blue Hour and the stellar "Acidalia" by Inland. There's really something for everyone here.

All in all this is a real milestone release from an already accomplished label and it's beautifully presented as well. The label also makes it a point to work with emerging visual artists and the cover art of Facticity comes from British fine artist Robert McNally. This is definitely for fans of industrial techno, EBM and post-industrial genres. It is currently out on all three formats and for more information please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

Daniel Gregory Natale

We like to think of The Brvtalist as a place where different disciplines collide but maintain a common thread that weaves throughout. The work of designer Daniel Gregory Natale could not be a more perfect example. Initially inspired by Brutalism and other architectural forms, his creations go beyond traditional boundaries and enter realms of conceptual fashion, performance art and more. His exaggerated silhouettes and striking textures immediately seize both the viewer and wearer. The disproportionate lines seem masterfully plotted and the ensembles' equilibrium is just right. Today we are proud to present the designer's Fall/Winter 2016-2017 collection. Natale continues to build on an already impressive catalog and was also recently chosen to install some of his works inside the famed department store, Selfridges in London. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with the designer and spoke about Brutalism, his thought process and the upcoming installation. Please find our Q&A below:

The Brvtalist: I would love to get a bit of background on the label. Talk briefly about your history as a designer and the inception of Daniel Natale. What is the mission or ethos of the brand?

Daniel Natale: I think that I was just always curious about design. I always wanted to be an architect when I was growing up so I was always interested informs and materials. I remember one day just deciding that I wanted to design garments instead of structures.

The first collection's concept was rooted in the history of Berlin. I was always interested in different parts of the city like the Bauhaus of course, so I started to look at the city as a whole entity. I wanted to create something that would translate Berlin’s history within the clothes. For example I’m looking at the Berlin wall and how it strictly divided the city and exploring how to conceptualize that same stark division of the wall into clothes, which is why the outerwear was made of different wool fabrics fused together, to create this division while still being apart of the same. Brutalism was a beautiful architectural movement that celebrated material purity in these gargantuan almost overpowering forms. Berlin was prominent in the Brutalist movement so exploring the movement made sense, I'm elaborating on the large structural form. There are many more aspects of Berlin that all came together and allowed me to design the clothes that way. It was a merging of different aspects of Berlin's history into ideas of a critical way of design thinking and design process.

TB: Your fashion is very conceptual and exaggerated. We love how you play with proportions and layer many of your looks. Talk a little bit about this practice and what has inspired you to create fashion like this.

DN: This is where my initial interest in architecture takes hold. I love the focus on the garments being on the form and the material rather then very fine details like top stitches or what not. There are entire stories in the layers of each look and how the different textures of the fabrics within each of the looks interact with one another as a whole. I like the complexity of layering and trying to find the right proportions and textures for each layer while being cohesive to the design concept.

TB: Let's talk a little bit about the new collection. I love the grey tones, heavy fabrics and the silhouettes of the outerwear. What is the concept behind the collection and how does it build on and/or differ from past Daniel Natale collections?

DN: The new collection is just a further exploration of the general concepts from the first collection. I was (still am) learning at the time I did the first collection so there were a lot of things I wanted to refine afterwards. There is still a lot within the concept that I would like to explore. I’m not bored of the concept yet so I’m still going to work on it, discover new things and also try and make old things more interesting. And like I said before, the concept is mostly about the way I'm thinking about design and I'm constantly thinking of new ideas that fit the design philosophy. I really love working on the coats. I feel the most freedom working on it. The forms can be so exaggerated and explored because a coat doesn’t have to fit underneath anything else. It’s like the grand finale of layering, and that’s why the coats in the collection can be a little dramatic.

TB: In other exciting news, this collection will also be installed in Selfridges London. Talk about your approach to this project. What did you want to do with the presentation and what we can expect from the installation?

DN: Yes, it is scheduled to be installed on July 11th at the Selfridges Oxford store. I wanted to present something that celebrates the material rawness of the collection. I’m designing a installation that kind of plays with similar ideas of lots of layered textures and materials. It will act as a sort of center piece where the rest of the collection will hang and be displayed. I can’t give to many details away but the collection will be available in its entirety.

TB: What's next for Daniel Natale? Any plans to expand further beyond the fashion medium?

DN: I have lots of things I want to work on. I’m currently working on a fine jewelry collection with a very talented jeweler and craftsman. He’s helping refine the forms of the pieces and conceptualize it so it merges with the clothing. I’ve also been collaborating with an architect on the Selfridges piece. I would love to continue our collaboration with an expansion into a small kitchenware collection. It sounds silly, but it's exciting to have the opportunity.

We would like to thank Daniel Gregory Natale for taking the time to speak with us. His works are both thought provoking and inspiring. If you're in London after July 11th please do visit his installation at Selfridges Oxford. For more information please visit http://danielgregorynatale.com/.

Haraam - Let The Swords Tear Me To Pieces

A new release from Fallow Field, Haraam brings us a cassette with incredibly moody and Arabic-inspired experimental sound aesthetics. Fresh like an assassin's dream and from the driest desert you could imagine, Let The Swords Tear Me To Pieces gets back to atmospheric ambient-dub elements (Empire of Faith from 2014), and mixes it up with more recent industrial and tribalistic harshness (When The Sacred Months Have Passed from 2015). Side A of the tape follows in the more gentle tradition of tribal ambient techno, and side B is a heavy and punishing noise-drone treat.

Still holding the flag, and still delivering whatever Haraam wants, the project remains a MUST listen. For fans of Muslimgauze, Surgeon, Hybryds and Raison D´être. This is the 7th cassette-album release from this great Danish act, and the second tape release on U.S cassette label Fallow Field. For more more information and purchasing visit Bandcamp and Fallow Field.

-Per Najbjerg Odderskov

SHXCXCHCXSH - SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs

WhenSwedish duo SHXCXCHCXSH release a new album, you should lose your assumptions and be open to a new experience. The project never settles for anything usual or expected. Sure, their quirky name is bound to remain seared into your mind, but their sound is just as memorable. Be prepared, a lack of vowels has never sounded better.

Their latest album, SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs, out June 6th on Shifted’s imprint, Avian, plunges into a murky industrial-techno abyss. Like a fall down the rabbit hole, but less surreal and more conceptual. The intensity grows incrementally with each track and every consonant added to the song title. While offering every now and then a moment to pause and catch one’s breath, there’s a certain soothing beauty in the cacophony created. As with their previous releases, the throbbing percussions and relentless noise are actually stimulating and uplifting. They occasionally let you delve in a psychedelic haze for a while, only to pick you up again with repetitive beats and intense synths which throw you back into a swirl of chaos and madness.

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs won’t give you the typical clubby four to the floor tracks which put you in a trance like state for a short while, but you easily forget them the next day. This album invites you to reassess your aesthetic values, and transform intangible distorted realms into harmonious realities.

-Marie Bungau
@mariebungau

New Brvtalism No. 057

Oliver Ho is a man of many hats - producing and releasing music under several monikers like Broken English Club, Raudive and Zov Zov (his duo with Tommy Gillard), thus allowing him to experiment with different kinds of music, going beyond the known post-punk and industrial influences. He consistently explores other sides of his own creative persona, while also drawing inspiration from art, literature or movies.

Being around for quite a while, and having worked with the likes of Silent Servant and Veronika Vasicka, it’s no surprise that Oliver Ho decided to start a label of his own. ‘Death & Leisure’ aims to "push inward and outward to embrace experimental industrial music in different forms". The first record released, ‘Myths Of Steel And Concrete’, by his own alias Broken English Club, is the utmost proof that through this label he stays true to his own aesthetic, and that we should keep an eye out for future releases.

We were lucky enough to get a hold of him, giving us the opportunity to ask a few questions. Read on, while making sure you listen in the background to this amazing mix Oliver put together for the New Brvtalism series.

Marie Bungau: I believe art should provoke and transform, it should invade one’s own comfort zone and make us question it. I don’t think that art is always gratuitous, and music is no exception. When you think about your work, be it just the music or the whole package (concept, creative flow, artwork, live performance), do you see it as a means of catharsis, a platform for expressing your creativity, or just a final product for the mere pleasure of the listener?

Oliver Ho (Broken English Club): My music is very much part of my inner creative process - what I mean by that is that I have certain obsessions and ideas that I want to explore, when they are in their embryonic stage they are collections of ideas inspired by books, film, fine art etc., then they slowly evolve into more concrete forms like music. A lot of things that sit in the cellar of my mind are ideas about emptiness, and derelict space, also extreme forms of human behavior. A lot of this goes into my Broken English Club music. I think over the years this has become a way of me exploring some kind of world, or even creating a world, a collage world that is fragments of myself and other things that I draw into myself from the wider culture. It is certainly a type of catharsis. It’s a way of focusing and framing a certain feeling, a broken and grey soul, something both disgusting and beautiful at the same time.

MB: I’ve noticed that your aesthetic approach has elements of gender dualism (male/female on the ‘Multi’ EP), BDSM imagery (the provocative artwork of the Scars EP), and even spirituality references (Ritual Killing, Jealous God). I’m curious to know what inspires you beyond music, and how do you rely on these elements in your creative process.

OH: As I mentioned before, I see my process as something that draws together things from wider culture, that’s important for me, it allows the music to exist in a context. It allows it to breathe and move through an environment. My music is a place, and people, a type of reality. I am interested in transformation, both physical and energetic. I've been fascinated by Genesis P-Orridge, and what s/he did with their late wife Breyer P-Orridge. They wanted to blur the boundaries between genders, to become artists of their own bodies. This is a very powerful idea, and I love the idea that we are our own works of art, that is very empowering. I also love the imagery of BDSM, it’s also very powerful, and it’s very symbolic. It has a type of religious iconography, like some kind of experimental religion of the body and its relation to pleasure and pain. In places of extreme behavior we see the human soul laid bare.

MB: Tell us a little bit about your latest release, ‘Myths Of Steel And Concrete’, that’s coming up soon on your label ‘Death & Leisure’. We couldn’t help but notice there are some brutalist references in the title of the EP. How did you come up with that? As for the label, what were the motivations behind your decision to start it and how do you envision its future?

OH: The title came the idea that we create cities that are like a mirage, that culture in its physical form is a type of fiction. Like a shopping mall, or a church. These places are physical embodiments of our culture, which in itself is a type of fiction, it’s created by symbolism and human imagination. So we actually live in our own fictions, if we realize that we can make it whatever we want. So the title is about the idea that these huge cities are like a modern mythology, a huge fairytale that we all inhabit.

As for the new label, I wanted to start something that is a reflection of where I’m at creatively. There’s an interzone where club music meets noise and experimental music, but there’s still a density to it all that connects it. There’s an attitude that pervades it. That’s what my label is all about - drawing together different types of electronic stuff, that all has a certain energy and attitude. The first release is Broken English Club, the 2nd is a mini album of my project Zov Zov that I do with Tommy Gillard. The Zov Zov stuff is a mixture of heavy drone sounds, and a lot of instrumental improvised sounds from guitar, percussion and vocals. The 3rd release will be a mini album from Years of Denial, they are an amazing duo who do dark electronic stuff with these haunting female vocals. I am also hoping to work with a band later in the year called Blackmoon 1348 that describe themselves as ‘tibetan doom core’. They have the heaviness of Sunn O))) with throat singing, gongs and synths!

MB: I recently saw you live in Bucharest and was mesmerized by how you play with the dubbed vocals and how you manage to incorporate them in your live show, creating an organic experience. I admit I was expecting a more hardware oriented performance and was pleasantly surprised by the result. What do you usually include in your set up and what role does the public’s reaction play in the way you build up the live experience (as opposed to a dj set)?

OH: For me it’s about using machines that give me what I want, it’s as simple as that. I don't have any type of allegiance to hardware or software. A lot of my music is based around drone and noise, and layering rhythms over that. All of the material I use is processed audio, rather than machines. It’s processed recordings of noise, like guitar drones, or feedback and stuff. The voice is important to the sound too, I do live vocals, because I love the energy it gives to the experience. I also use some synth percussion which I play live. So these things give the performance a more personal looser feeling. That’s what BEC is about, it’s about relentless metronome rhythms and the weird soul of the vocals. I like the way those different aspects sit alongside each other.

MB: Finally, please share some thoughts on the mix you made for the Brvtalist. How did you decide on the tracks and was there a concept behind or you just went with the flow?

OH: There was a concept for sure. I have called it Grind Mix because I wanted to put a lot of stuff I love from the late 80s era of noise and punk, like Napalm Death and Butthole Surfers. I also wanted to put modern stuff in there too like Samuel Kerridge and Pharmakon. I see a real connection with these types of music and techno, especially what I am doing with Broken English Club, it all relates and plays a significance. It’s a pretty heavy mix, but I love the texture of this kind of heavy music, it’s so dense. I think that’s what I am interested in, it’s a kind of pressure or density that noise and techno can achieve. When it comes to techno it’s not about super fast hard techno, I don't really like that, I love techno that has a tone to it, a feeling of tension and pressure and dirt. That’s powerful to me.

-Marie Bungau
@mariebungau

Track list:
1. OUR HISTORY IN BONES - BROKEN ENGLISH CLUB
2. STAY HERE - SWANS
3. USSA - BUTTHOLE SURFERS
4. DUMPING THE FUCKING RUBBISH - WHITEHOUSE
5. INTENT OR INSTINCT - PHARMAKON
6. HYSTERIE - TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS
7. LUCID FAIRYTALE - NAPALM DEATH
8. HEAD DIRT- GODFLESH
9. LEOPARD FLOWERS - DEATH IN JUNE
10. NEW PURPOSE - SANRA ELECTRONICS
11. STRAIGHT TO HELL - SAMUEL KERRIDGE
12. BLOOD IN BLOOD - ZOV ZOV
13. STABBERS CONSPIRACY - CUT HANDS
14. CORONA - PAN SONIC
15. AUTOIMMUNE - PHARMAKON
16. COUNTRY - FLATS
17. PRISON WITHOUT WALLS - NAPALM DEATH

The Feuerle Collection

Berlin's architecture is truly remarkable. The city contains countless magnificent structures from its volatile and glorious past. From the Kingdom of Prussia, to the Weimar Republic, Nazi control, the Soviet east and the current contemporary boom, you can't quite pinpoint any one prevailing style. We love when interesting spaces are reused and repurposed to create something fresh and innovative. The all new Feuerle Collection is just that. A private museum housing the works of collector and former dealer, Desire Feuerle, a WWII telecommunications bunker has been transformed by acclaimed architect John Pawson into something unique and very special.

The collection juxtaposes 7th-13th century Kmer sculptures in stone, bronze, and wood as well as imperial Chinese furniture spanning from the Han to the Qing dynasty (200 BC—18th century) with contemporary works by the likes of Cristina Iglesias, Anish Kapoor, Zeng Fanzhi, and James Lee Byars. Feuerle has become known as a champion of mixing ancient artifacts with contemporary art and design, and his new museum reflects his commitment to furthering this cause. In fact, the aim of the space is to provoke a dialogue between works of different cultures and eras.

Below: Head of Avalokiteshvara Bayon, 12th-13th Century; Cristina Iglesias Detail of "Pozo V (Version 3)," 2013

A preview week of the museum took place earlier this month and from June 4th - September 18th, one room within the space will act as a primary venue for the 9th Berlin Biennale. After this, we can expect an official grand opening of both floors in October 2016. We look forward to seeing the finished product and we urge local residents to check this out. For more information please visit The Feuerle Collection.

-JRS

*Click to enlarge. Photos: Gilbert McCarragher via The Feuerle Collection

Centennial Apt.

Los Angeles is currently experiencing an amazing creative surge that we have not seen in quite some time. There are so many great artists and labels taking up residence in our sun drenched paradise that we didn't think it could get any better. Luckily, that is not the case. Enter- Centennial Apt. A relative newcomer as a label but helmed by one of our favorite multi-dimensional artists, Lee Landey. Centennial Apt. is hard to describe in the best possible way. There are no genre boundaries and the releases so far are completely unpredictable. From experimental techno, to raw primitive punk, the music finds a common thread of experimentation and dark, psychological torment. The label just launched a new webstore and we are thrilled to preview some of the new tapes available.

Teen Acne - Talking Heads Grind

One tape that immediately caught our attention was Teen Acne. A cohabitant at Centennial Apt. headquarters, this is the first tape from Teen Acne and you can immediately hear its mutated technoid sound with hints of Chicago House and Detroit techno. At times, it is ready for Thee Rave Dungeon, and other tracks focus more on experimentation of sound and moods. "Sinefolk2" is a great example of the breadth of the artist, beginning with delirium and tension that gives way to rhythmic enchantment. Tape available now.

<a href="http://centennialapt.bandcamp.com/album/talking-heads-grind">Talking Heads Grind by Teen Acne</a>

Gum Boy - Demo

Female fronted L.A. punk with Centennial Apt. label-head on bass. Demo was recorded in just four days after members toured with other bands. Distorted, spastic, hatred that comes from no particular micro-genre or era. Pure, unadulterated punishment that is a whole lot of fun. Check out Enjoy! and I Ruined A Picture.

<a href="http://centennialapt.bandcamp.com/album/demo">&quot;Demo&quot; by Gum Boy</a>

Also available is E-Saggila's Crawling Chant and broken, synth driven punk by C57BL/6 on EP001. E-Saggila is from the stellar Toronto-based label Summer Isle and we just heard some great material from the artist featured on New Brvtalism No. 056 last week. The producer's work is murky techno from a place of fog and shadows. C57BL/6 is rooted in class L.A. synth-punk but evolved to form a menacing onslaught of dystopian psychosis. "The future is hell".

The Centennial Apt. webstore also contains some dead stock Oil Thief merch and music from the artist. We are thrilled to see the label off to a great start with releases that are interesting, unique and often mystifying. This is definitely a label to watch and we look forward to hearing more. For more information and purchasing please visit Centennial Apt. and Bandcamp.

-JRS