New Brvtalism No. 064

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Baltimore-based artist C10. Part of the city's Vague Output collective, the artist has been involved with some of the best new experimental, industrial and techno parties currently going on the East Coast. From the artist:

With Baltimore as a source of inspiration for nearly a decade, C10 (Jacob Samuel Seaton) has traveled between genres and played their music all across the country. They use music as a platform to create dialog and promote the social movements that are desperately crying out for change. This collection of sounds is a statement within the conversation that is taking place loudly across Baltimore and the rest of the country over the immediate reform of our police departments and justice system. After the acquittal of the six officers charged in the murder of Freddie Carlos Grey, Jr. along with many other cases around the country, it has become abundantly clear that the systems meant to protect us are failing us.

We need total reform. We no longer want our communities occupied by militarized gangs that are above the law. We can no longer stand for the inhumane treatment of our loved ones, family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow humans. Black Lives Matter. We demand change NOW!

For more information and music, please visit C10, Vague Output and Soundcloud.

-JRS

From left: Photos by Rob Brulinski and Megan E. Lloyd.

1. Violet Poison - Psychonight
2. Striborg - A Sour Pale Ghostly Dawn
3. Xasthur - The Prison Of Mirrors
4. Vincent Hole - Careless
5. Myler - Broken Up
6. Sur+ - T2 (Johan Platt Remix)
7. Empyrean - Cold Turkey
8. Dentis - OG Bobby Johnson
9. Henge - Damascus
10. Henge - Cobalamin (Original)
11. Keepsakes - But This Is My House
12. 1.125.X1 - KAFKAFKAF (Johan Platt Remix)
13. C10 Hardware Hybrid Section I
14. EMDMX - Frozen Stomp
15. Henge - Cobalamin (Mael Remixl)
16. Psychic TV - Alien Be-In (Silent Servant Remix)
17. Go Hiyama - Philosopher (NX1 Remix)
18. Planetary Assault Systems - Dungeon (Ø [Phase] Remix)
19. JoeFarr - Rampart
20. C10 Hardware Hybrid Section II
21. 138 - 38 Dead Skunks
22. Rrose - Omertà (Version)
23. Keepsakes - Get Off My Lawn (Interferon Remix)
24. JoeFarr - Sentry
25. Detroit Grand Pubahs - Riot 66 (3-1 Remix)
26. Broken English Club - Godless
27. An-I - Convo
28. Orphx - Cracktest Edit
29. Bintus - Lightnin
30. Swarm Intelligence - Klang (Rory St. John Remix)
31. Mall Prowler - Caged
32. Anklepants - Y.H.I.Y.P. (Bintus Remix)
33. Nitzer Ebb - Let Your Body Learn
34. Pfirter - Fractales
35. Live Bleep Edit - Paul Mac
36. Architectural - Sex On Klepper
37. Ø [Phase] - Insectoid
38. Trus'me - In The Red (DVS1 Remix)
39. C10 Hardware Section III
40. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Sleep
41. Young Thug - Gangsta Shit
42. Psychic TV - Hookah Chalice
43. Cccandy - Teacher of Lust

Sophia Al-Maria: Black Friday

On view through October 31, 2016, The Whitney Museum of American Art presents the first U.S. solo exhibition of Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria. Titled Black Friday, the exhibition places particular focus on the extreme proliferation of shopping malls throughout the Middle East. For nearly a decade, Al-Maria has been finding ways to describe twenty-first-century life in the Gulf Arab nations through art, writing, and filmmaking. She coined the term "Gulf Futurism" to explain the stunning urban and economic development in the region over the last decades, as well as the environmental damage, religious conservatism, and historical amnesia that have accompanied it. Black Friday is a roughly 16:00 minute video which explores the capitalist takeover and ruminates on its effect on the region.

Al-Maria's subject matter strikes a particular chord with The Brvtalist. We have long been fascinated by the shocking over-development, aesthetic movement(s) and social and cultural impact of the shopping mall here in the United States, particularly along the Sun Belt region. As many of those structures now represent a forgotten and even failed period in American economic development, it is of particular interest that other artists from around the globe are noticing similar patterns in development of shopping malls and how they track different political and economic patterns.

courtesy of the artist and Whitney Museum of American Art.

Also included in the exhibition is the installation The Litany (2016), which consists of flickering electronic devices displaying short, glitchy loops—a heap of old screens that acts as a coded history of consumption, conflict, and desire. Al-Maria's "techno-pessism" is at once a criticism of the social media and consumerist overload that is taking place in the Middle East region which much of the time is in direct conflict with the traditional religious values that are still very much a part of the local culture. Her works create a powerful juxtaposition of the Western obsession with material goods and perhaps the infection of those values on Middle East countries who have seen enormous wealth in the past few decades. This exhibition is an important one, not only from a global perspective but also positions a black mirror on our society here in the U.S.

still from The Litany (Sophia Al-Maria, 2016) courtesy of the artist and Whitney Museum of American Art.

Sophia Al-Maria: Black Friday is organized by Christopher Y. Lew, Associate Curator. The exhibition will be on view through October 31, 2016 in the John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Gallery, on the Museum's first floor, which is accessible to the public free-of-charge. For more information, please visit T he Whitney Museum of American Art.

-JRS

*above - still from The Litany (Sophia Al-Maria, 2016) and photo of the artist.

New Brvtalism No. 063

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Barcelona-based artists Morgan Hammer + Lokier. Collectively known as She Made Monster, the two are some of the most exciting producer/DJs in the current wave of genre bending electronic music. Originally from France, Morgan Hammer is inspired by everything from techno to acid house and post punk. With releases on standout labels like Relish and Optimo Tracks, she is a stellar emerging talent who is already taking the world by storm. Lokier is a Mexico-city born artist who is inspired by the dark underside of techno, soundtrack and left field disco. With a unique vision and subversive style, Lokier masterfully crosses over between different genres and realms. With releases on labels like La Dame Noir she has already built a reputation across Europe as one of the most exciting young producers to watch. In September she will come back to the Americas for a month long tour of her home country of Mexico.

Mixing everything from techno, house, wave and electro, New Brvtalism No. 063 is a left of center exploration of new, old and anything in between. The mix includes tracks from artists such as Schwefelgelb, Umberto and Junq. She Made Monster is currently working on new original material and be sure to catch them at shows all across Europe. For more information, please visit Morgan Hammer, Lokier and She Made Monster.

-JRS

Left Hand of God - Castigo

In a crowded field of noise wall, ambient and drone, it is always refreshing to hear a release with a concise conceptual narrative and the execution to carry out the theme. Left Hand of God is just that - a religious and esoteric inspired endeavor, Per Najbjerg Odderskov's project is a soundtrack to a medieval realm of worship and chaos. Mainly working within the ideas of Heaven and Hell, the sound is inspired by early Non, Ain Soph and later noise wall acts like Anonymous Masturbaudioum, Dosis Letalis and Dogs of Yama. Castigo is a two track release with long form compositions that delve deep into the hearts of good and evil.

<a href="http://lefthandofgod.bandcamp.com/album/castigo">Castigo by Left Hand Of God</a>

Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisicion feels like a score to a brvtal trial where wrongdoers are being sentenced to death. If track one is the trial, then track two is the sentencing where the atmosphere shifts to an apocalyptic end to all of our suffering. We can look forward to a split cassette with Serbia's Dosis Letalis out soon on Craneal Fracture records. Per Najbejerg Odderskov is also a frequent contributor to The Brvtalist and has other great projects such as Lidane Livering and Destruktionsanstalt. For more, visit Soundcloud.

-JRS

Infinity Stage: Light Axis and the Human Mirror

The Brvtalist is proud to present the full video stream of Suzy Poling's latest performance work for Experimental Half-Hour. Titled Light Axis and the Human Mirror, this piece is part of Infinity Stage, Poling's two month residency at Coaxial Arts in Los Angeles. Broadcasting since 2010, Experimental Half-Hour is a television series which serves as a platform to showcase local and international artists practicing in mediums across sound, visual and performance art. The program has become a vital record of contemporary art culture and has hosted some of the best emerging and established talent from across the world.

Suzy Poling is a multi-media artist working with sound, sculpture, painting, video and more. One of our favorite artists, her pieces often explore optics, mirrors, sonic resonance, identity and geological anomalies. Her unique vision is a fully immersive experience where sound, visuals, technology and nature simultaneously collide. Poling is also a successful experimental electronic musician and contributed to our New Brvtalism series late last year. The pairing of these two important forces has resulted in an astonishing video which blurs the lines between reality, fantasy and explores our multi-dimensional existence. Filmed live at Coaxial on July 16th, 2016, the performance also features artists Sairah Huff and Anthony Ramon Maldonado.

Light Axis makes perfect use of Poling's artistic arsenal and we are treated to incredible costumes, sculpture, backdrops and visual effects, which are provided by Experimental Half-Hour. The objective of the collaboration is to explore what the mirror’s refractive abilities are relation to the live video synthesis and human form. The idea is for the human to be covered in a mirror sculptural body suit that is of an architectural design. The human performer can play the roll of a lighthouse or structure for light phenomenon and transmissions to occur.

*click images to enlarge

We would like to thank Suzy Poling, Coaxial Arts and Experimental Half-Hour for allowing us to host such an amazing work. Infinity Stage is made possible by the Mike Kelley Foundation of the Arts and the Light Axis and the Human Mirror event was made possible by a grant from mediaThe Foundation. Be sure to experience Poling's other works/events through the month of August including Time Dilation Geometry, which will feature performances from Pod Blotz, Cube and more. For more information please visit Coaxial Arts and the Facebook event page.

-JRS

Credits:

Experimental ½ Hour - Episode LXXI:
Suzy Poling's Infinity Stage: Light Axis and the Human Mirror

Soundtrack by Christopher Reid Martin and Suzy Poling

Cameras by Adam Bellhouse and Jesus Rivera

Visual effects by Experimental Half-Hour

Filmed on location at
Coaxial
1815 S Main St Los Angeles, California
July 16, 2016

Produced by
Eva Aguila & Brock Fansler

New Brvtalism No. 062 - The Exaltics

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Berlin-based project The Exaltics. Founded in 2006 by electronic music veteran Robert Witschakowski, it quickly became renown for its unique mixture of acid and dark techno fused with experimental electro and other left field cosmic influences. Since its inception the project has released a ton of stellar 12"s on labels such as Clone, Creme Organization, Bunker and Solar One, which is also label Witschakowski founded 10 years ago. It was recently announced The Exaltics will release a collaborative record with Heinrich Mueller entitled, Project STS-31- Spiralgalaxie, marking Solar One's 40th release and tenth anniversary.

The artist has titled this mix, You Don't Know Who Comes On Earth Tonight, and it is a cinematic journey through the project's signature sound and alien-centric mythos. It includes all original material and a punishing remix. This mix comes just ahead of next week's Krake Festival in Berlin where The Exaltics are one of the incredible headlining acts performing live on Saturday, July 30th at Grießmühle in Neukölln. We also had the pleasure of interviewing the artist and you can find our Q&A below:

The Brvtalist: With over two decades of playing electronic music, what inspired you to create The Exaltics and what is the mission of the project?

The Exaltics: In the old days, I was mostly a DJ and not so much into producing music but that changed. I had so many influences and I wanted to do something. Collecting records was always a big passion for me but I knew I must do my own thing someday. Today, I couldn't breathe without releasing music. Deep, dark, soundtrack-ish electro and acid music - thats the mission for me in the musical landscape.

TB: Talk a little bit about the mix you contributed to The Brvtalist. We love that it's all original material and infuses many different genres.

TE: It's all material I recorded in the last few years. I did this mix before I decided to play "live" and it's a good overview over my work.

TB: What do you like to bring to The Exaltics live performance and what can people expect at this year's Krake Festival?!

TE: Electro and Acid all the way and maybe some live vocals from the great Emika.

TB: What's coming up next for you?

TE: In September there will be a split LP with Gerald Donald/Heinrich Mueller and myself on our own Solar One music label. It's a long planned project we are very proud of!!!

We would like to thank The Exaltics for this incredible mix and interview. As a two-man live act, The Exaltics have already become known for high energy, mythological live experiences and this is definitely not to be missed. For more information please visit The Exaltics, Facebook and Soundcloud. For more Krake, visit the festival's official site.

-JRS

You Don't Know Who Comes On Earth Tonight
-Intro
-Second Phases
-Warships over jena city
-The Crash
-The Truth
-Discussion Chamber
-The Conscience Shift
-The new beginning
-Ten Days
-Coroded
-The Lost Planet
-Why
-The Sign
-K1 & Gab Gato - Global Surveyor (Crotaphytus Moloch Horridus Mix)

Rejecter - "Shadow" Video Premiere

Video Week continues on The Brvtalist with the music video premiere of "Shadow", by emerging Los Angeles-based artist Rejecter. Filmed and edited by Chad Fjerstad and Londry, "Shadow" is the second video offering from the solo project of Dustin Hollenbeck. Influenced by industrial, drum and bass and techno, Rejecter crafts tracks that are rooted in the dark arts but carry a subversive pop sensibility. This video explores the artist's aggressive, nocturnal nature and brings us into a world of sheer madness.

Filmed/edited by Chad Fjerstad and Londry www.rejecter.fail

Rejecter will be performing live at this year's Manufactured in Los Angeles Festival on September 4th, plus we can expect a remix for Collapsing Scenery, an audio single featuring Tearist (with a concept shoot) and the next video, "The Outs" is due out in September. We also look forward to the artist's first full length release which is currently in progress. For more, please visit www.rejecter.fail, Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

Côme - Fear (Kerri LeBon Remix) Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the music video premiere of Fear (Kerri LeBon Remix), one of the latest offerings from French producer Côme. This comes off the release, Between Generations, the third EP, and first of this year from Renne-based label Ritual Process. In keeping with the label's previous output, Côme explores the colder side of 80's influenced techno and forward thinking industrial. Between Generations is a shadowy EP and a razor sharp example of the producer and label's commitment to the dark and romantic side of experimental electronic music. This remix is one of our favorite tracks on the EP and a stellar contribution from the multi-talented Kerri LeBon. The video is directed by British-Nigerian artist Tony Sebastian Ukpo, and we asked the artist for a few words about the clip:

The video was inspired by suspense films from the 60s, primarily Roman Polanski's Repulsion - because of the title and sense of dread and mystery that the track inspired. It is shot in real time in London with actresses Ellen O'Connor and Vera Chok. More work can be viewed on website www.vertigoheights-film.co.uk.

Between Generations is limited to 300 copies and distributed by 712 Distribution. For more information please visit Ritual Process, Soundcloud and RA.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 061 + Krake Festival Preview

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Codex Empire. Titled Excursions (One), this is an incredible hybrid live/DJ mix originally performed on 11th June 2016 at the Noiztank night in Vienna. The concept was to use atmospheric drone, dark ambient sounds and spoken word passages played from vinyl combined with live electronics for rhythmic content.

Codex Empire is the project of British born, Vienna-based producer Mahk Rumbae He has been creating challenging experimental electronic music for 25 years working as one half of industrial/ experimental band Konstruktivists as well as a raft of varied solo and side-projects. His two recent EP's on Brvtalist favorite Aufnahme + Wiedergabe firmly cemented his place as one of the most innovative acts in the contemporary techno scene today.

Codex Empire will be performing a full live set at this year's Krake Festival in Berlin. Krake is an annual event hosted and curated by the Berlin based label Killekill. In a city that can’t stop partying, this festival comes as a breath of fresh air, combining an eclectic line-up with documentary screenings, creative workshops and even a label boutique.

With Krake, the focus is not made on growing with each edition, but rather on creating and nurturing a community of like-minded people, while staying true to the DIY ethos. This is a festival created by passionate people for passionate people, and it gives everyone the chance to get involved and educate themselves. Across four days and three separate venues, Krake (meaning “octopus” in German) spreads its musical tentacles and starts by luring people to the opening night at Urban Spree on Wednesday for lectures, live acts and performances from X-Ray Audio, WSR, Vinyl, Terror & Horror, Anno Stamm & Transforma.

On Friday, we move to Suicide Circus where you’ll be able to enjoy performances from Alec Empire, Samuel Kerridge, Codex Empire or Vertical67, just to name a few, accompanied by visuals from the29nov films. For Saturday and Sunday, the rough, loud and dirty Griessmühle in Neukölln will host a label boutique where you’ll have the chance to dig for some of the best independent music fitting the flavor of the festival (including Brvtalist favorite Instruments of Discipline) , a performance from Max Durante's Turntable Noise Orchestra, and a DIY Synthesizer workshop. Don’t forget to catch the screening of “I Dream of Wires”, the legendary documentary about the history, demise and resurgence of the modular synthesizer, performances and much more.

For the complete program, head over here and start making plans. For more Codex Empire visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-Marie Bungau

Instrumentation Used

ELECTRONICS
Elektron Analog Four
Roland TR707
Coron DS-8 drum synth
Moog Minitaur
MFB Nanozwerg
Ableton Live

VINYL
Atavist/Nadja - 12012291920/1414101
Herbert Brün – Klänge Unterwegs Und Anepigraphie
Peter Michael Hamel - Aura
Espen Jensen/Kjetil D Brandsdal - Org
Kitchens of Distinction - Spacedolphins
James Machin/Steve Pittis - Potential Transitions Jan/Feb 96
Maleficia - Maleficia
Narwal - The Album
Dirk Serries - Microphonics I-V
Tangerine Dream - Zeit
Tesendalo / Doc Wör Mirran / ANA Orchester – Sewing Me, Sewing You
Ken Thomas - Beat the Light
Throbbing Gristle - Heathen Earth
Toemass - The Hydro-Triad
C.W. Vrtacek - Learning To Be Silent

Haute Couture Fall 2016

One of the most exciting, innovative and awe inspiring times on the fashion calendar is the Haute Couture event in Paris. Only open to specially selected designers, the Haute Couture shows are unlike anything else. Extravagant productions, extreme luxury and avant garde collections fill the runways as the designers are not inhibited by the usual constraints of ready to wear. This year had exceptional offerings and we have selected pieces from some of our favorite shows.

J. Mendel

Contemporary luxury meets old world glamour in designer Gilles Mendel's first Haute Couture show in Paris. The French designer has done quite well for himself in New York but this homecoming event certainly made a big splash. Taking influences from both of his homes, the pieces carried a downtown edge that mixed well with extravagant details of the dresses.

*click images to enlarge

Iris Van Herpen

At this point, I'm not sure there's a more exciting designer in fashion than Iris van Herpen. Year after year, the Dutch designer jumps into the future and creates clothes that are as technologically advanced as they are tasteful. This year's Haute Couture line was no exception. Inspired by the study of cymatics, which is a model vibrational phenomena, different waveforms were definitely front and center. Also included were amazing handblown glass beads and silicon tentacle dresses that HP Lovecraft would adore.

Maison Margiela

Perhaps the most Brvtalist of the collections is John Galliano for Maison Margiela. After a near career ending scandal a few years ago. the designer has done well for himself keeping quiet and designing solid collections for the iconic French house. As always, his shows carried a militant, almost anti-establishment sensibility and his long standing love for French Revolution themes is evident. We love the oversized proportions and pops of color and great accessories.

Valentino

We've been kind of re-obsessing over the Elizabethan age recently so we were thrilled to see a well executed collection that was inspired by the controversial Queen. While McQueen and other British designers have mined this look before we didn't mind at all as the Italian take on it was refreshing and managed to stay true to the era while updating the looks to be modern and surprisingly sexy.

Atelier Versace

We instantly admired Donatella's collection which has less emphasis on traditional Versace embellishment and sexiness and featured a more refined, almost professional look at times. The asymmetrical curves and drapery were exquisitely handled and the color tones perfectly complimented the collection.