Ascion - "Body Party Shop"

The Brvtalist is proud to premiere a new track from Berlin-based artist, Ascion. "Body Party Shop" comes off the upcoming release, Joy Dexon Club, out September 30th on Repitch recordings. Originally from Naples, IT, Ascion is both a DJ and producer with a visual arts background and a special ability of injecting a wide range of genres to create radical, mind altering music. He is also the owner of Reptich, Cosmo Rhythmatic and 3TH records along with D. Carbone, Shapednoise and Lucindo.

Joy Dexon Club is a 6 track mini-LP that showcases the artist's innovative take on everything from techno, acid, hardstyle and more. We were instantly infected with the hard hitting drums and trance inducing atmospherics on "Body Party Shop" and feel it's a great example of Ascion's wide ranging sonic narrative.

Joy Dexon Club is a 12" and digital release and will be available September 30th via Reptich recordings. For more information, please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

A Conversation with Oake

Since 2013, Berlin-based duo Oake has captivated listeners with their uncanny, ominous atmospheres and post-industrial techno rhythms. Eric Goldstein and Bathesba Zippora compose mystical offerings inspired by the occult, ambient and dystopian sonic landscapes. After four ground breaking releases on the legendary Downwards, Oake returns with Monad XXIV, a four track EP out now on the elite label Stroboscopic Artefacts. While Monad resembles previous material, this EP sees the pair elevate their sound even more. Whether it's the evil, cavernous punishment of "Jardin d'évasion" or the dark romance of "Paysage dépayse", this is a mesmerizing release that showcases the extraordinary talent and technical prowess of one of the most powerful projects today.

We also had the pleasure of witnessing Oake perform as UF (along with Kerrridge) at this year's Berlin Atonal. With a new EP out and just coming off a huge performance we thought it was a great time to talk to the band about creating the new material, their live show and more. Please find our Q&A below.

The Brvtalist: After releasing material on labels like Downwards, Monad XXIV is out on the always impressive Stroboscopic Artefacts. Talk about what it means for this release to be out on SA and has this partnership always been an interest?

Oake (Eric): As with Downwards, we have also been fans of Stroboscopic Artefacts before. I was following the label for years already and when we were approached about doing a release on SA we really wanted to contribute. We spoke to Karl to get his blessing for doing another EP on another label and he was cool with that so we got right on it.

TB: I would love to hear about the approach to this material. How do you think it builds on other works you’ve done and do you think it’s a departure in any way?

Oake: After we released our album, Auferstehung, on Downwards, it was very hard for us to write new music. We just didn’t have the urge to go back to the studio for a while and when we did we mostly played around, which is great and fun but quickly becomes frustrating if you do not end up with something you’d consider to be release-able. It was a weird time in which we started to pressure ourselves to come up with something and this passion, which is music, became a burden somehow. So we tried out new things and new instruments to be inspired again and had a different technological approach to each track of the EP. When we finally finished “Paysage dépayse” things became clearer and it was obvious that the EP either needs to start from there or end at this point.

We also had a clear picture of the label in our heads. Ludovica from SA sent us the complete label discography and after skimming through most of it, it was clear that for this release we wanted to warp our sound towards label’s sound aesthetic, which is why we tried to create songs that are truly sounding like OAKE, but that an adventurous DJ would still play in a club. At the same time we did not want to compromise our live sets so we had to make sure we ‘d have fun playing these tracks in a live performance setting.

TB: I just saw your performance as UF at this year’s Berlin Atonal. While I’ve got you, I would love to hear your thoughts on the performance and what it’s like playing the festival.

Oake: Ohhh, UF. I love this collaboration. The performance was a relief. We did not have a lot of time to prepare. We rehearsed the show for the first time the night before and it did not go that well, since Sam and I both do not possess the most professional rehearsal attitudes. However, the show was brilliant for me personally. All these things were falling off of myself and I became someone else for that moment on stage. I loved the energy that the room bounced back at us, and also the fact to deliver some beats in this cathedral of ambience.

TB: To that point, how do you think the OAKE live performance has changed (if at all) over the years and what you do try to bring to the live show?

Oake: Bathseba and I got much more professional in our approach towards the show during the last few years. We have a good routine and are able to change a whole set on the fly, which we could not do when we started. While I got a bit more relaxed and laid back on stage, Bathseba started to become the star of the show: interacting with the audience, dancing, performing, screaming and singing of course. We also started to incorporate instruments like guitars or certain drums that we can put through our processors to create our sound with classical instruments that the crowd can more easily relate to than to a laptop or drum machine. If we can afford it and have a show that we can easily travel to, we love to bring our friend Franz Bargmann, who will just play with us and his guitar, adding a complete new layer to our music and live show, which we both thoroughly enjoy.

TB: What's coming up next for Oake?

Oake: We have a few remix requests from various labels that we’d like to work on, further we wanted to release another EP on yet another label since the beginning of the year – we are a bit behind, haha, but this still needs to happen. There are a few tracks ready that we’d like to put out on Downwards soon, also Tommy47 is waiting for a track since we will DJ at one of his parties in November and then there are a bunch of interesting collaborations happening: The chances for a future UF release are pretty high, as well as a band project with friends from the UK and some German Krautrockers.

Monad XXIV (Stroboscopic Artefacts, 2016)

Thank you to Eric and Bathseba for these great responses. Monad XXIV is out now on digital formats on Sweden's Stroboscopic Artefacts. For more information please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 069 - ANFS

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Athens-based producer/DJ, ANFS. Creating some of the most earth shattering techno today, the young producer's punk/hardcore background is evident in his aggressive, destructive style. New Brvtalism No. 069 is a brutal journey deep into the outer reaches of the genre and beyond.

His latest EP, The Age of Ephemeral Man, is out now on Inner Surface Music and contains 4 tracks of punishing techno and atmospherics that swallow the mind. From the cracked, modular frequencies of "Blood Trophy" to the dark, ritual drums on "VPA", the EP is a superb example of sinister electronics that is a complete kaleidoscope techno, power electronics, noise, punk and more. The artist is also co-owner of Modal Analysis and runs Vanila, two platforms dedicated to showcasing emerging talent from Athens. For more music visit Soundcloud.

-JRS

The Age of Ephemeral Man (Inner Surface Music 2016)
All tracks written and produced by ANFS. B1. Remixed by Honzo
Mastered by Simon at The Exchange Artwork by Ajna

Elisabeth DIXON - "Intervention" Music Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the music video premiere of "Intervention", the first single off the forthcoming, LP1 (Trait Records/Instruments of Discipline), by Melbourne-based producer Elisabeth DIXON. An emerging name in the techno underground, DIXON crafts hypnotic, trance inducing tracks which transport the listener to an alternate, shadow dimension. The video for "Intervention" is a mind altering trip which is the perfect accompaniment to the track's deep, luscious sound.

LP1 is Elisabeth DIXON's debut LP and is available on 12" and digital formats via Trait Records (Australia) and Instruments of Discipline (Europe). The first pressing will be an edition of 250 with 100 on beautiful "clockwork" orange vinyl. Orders will begin shipping the first week of October. For more information please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

New York Fashion Week S/S 2017

We continue to have a love/hate relationship with New York fashion. For years it was a hot bed for emerging talent and young designers, even putting cities like Paris and Milan to shame. But then, much like the city itself, it became flooded with too much commercialization, corporate interests and unfathomable rents, leaving much of the underground creative class behind. Overall, the past several years have felt bland, unimaginative and most of the excitement has seemed to shift back to Europe. However, like any great metropolis, you can't keep it down for too long. We're not sure if it's "back", but the Spring/Summer 2017 shows have been a nice surprise and there's been more than a few standouts.

One of our favorite presentations is without a doubt Area. This year's finalists of the CFDA/Vogue fashion fun, designers Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk are pure New York glamour. We love their high gloss aesthetic and this season's lucite jewelry and accessories are out of this world. Shiny lamay, tall shoes and pops of all the right colors make for a sophisticated yet sexy rendition of 60's meets 80's in a fresh and modern way. With an e-boutique that just launched, be sure to pick up the brand's current collections now.

*click images to enlarge

Perennial favorite Katie Gallagher also returns with another strong collection. We have been a fan and supporter of Ms. Gallagher for years (see our interview with the designer here) and her 15th collection is the third and final installment of her all-black series. No argument from us here as she uses the color (or lack thereof) to play with beautiful warm weather fabrics that include seductive sheer tops, skirts and beautifully minimal dresses.

On to more exaggerated looks, we move to New York favorite VFiles. This is a downtown collective that showcases some of the best and most progressive emerging young talent from across the globe. Their shows are one of a kind and generally have a sense of anti-fashion which we can always appreciate. This season's look were filled with strong messages, over the top ensembles and bizarre, surrealism that is the perfect backdrop for an acid trip.

Finally on to one of the biggest presentations, DKNY. The iconic New York brand has been on a corporate roller coaster as of late with a new design team and subsequent sale by LVMH to the G-III Apparel Group. All that aside, design duo Maxwell Osbourne and Dao Yi-Chow delivered a strong collection that brings the brand's minimal athleticism into a sleek, techno-driven future. We fell in love with the sharp blue jackets that looked straight out an 80's sci-fi flick. The transparent over coats and awesome cross body bags make this collection utilitarian chic.

For more collections and designers visit New York Fashion Week.

-JRS

HOGG - Solar Phallic Lion

Much like the band's name, title of the EP and musical style, it's difficult to pin down just what is happening on the latest release by Chicago's HOGG. For us at The Brvtalist, this is one of the highest compliments we can give to a record. Solar Phallic Lion is a sonic onslaught of scrap metal, ritual industrial hymns, no wave, noise and much more. It's seething, distorted electronics pulsates through the veins and while it disorients you, it's nearly impossible to stop listening.

Founded in Chicago in 2014, this is the third release by the duo and probably their most wide ranging. Slow guitar strums, drum machines and brutal vocals make up the core of the creations but that certainly does not tell the whole story. The band's nihilist approach and disregard of genre or structure make for beautifully chaotic compositions which inject the body like a much needed antidote. The title track is a doom-infused work of crunchy string distortion, and evil, foreboding vocals that oscillate between a slow hum and sporadic fits that almost let you feel the spit hitting your face. "My House is Nice" moves in to a more horror soundtrack feel with ominous shrieks and a slow-building chant that feels as if you're at the center of on occult ceremony. While only about two minutes, "Electromagnetic Chauvinism" is a percussion focused, rhythmic offering that is one of the catchier tracks on the release, and also probably our favorite title.

The remaining two tracks leave no weak spot in this EP. Expect more punk, D beat and even garage. "Today's World" rolls along and punishes the ears like a dark public service announcement always leaving you slightly off kilter. For us, this EP makes Hogg one of our favorite new projects and one you must keep an eye on. Further, after the Fatal Errors EP by Ariisk (which we covered here), Chicago's Scrapes is currently releasing some of the best and most intriguing material in the underground today. We look forward to more from the band and label. This is a vinyl only release with artwork by ELIJAH BURGHER. To purchase visit the Scrapes e-shop.

-JRS

TRACKLIST:
A1 TODAY’S WORLD (YES YOU HAVE PARASITES)
A2 SOLAR PHALLIC LION
B1 ELECTROMAGNETIC CHAUVINISM
B2 MY HOUSE IS NICE
B3 CONFORM OR DIE

ARTWORK BY: ELIJAH BURGHER

Operant - ZKII

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the new release from Berlin's Operant. ZKII is a vicious offering which exists in the darkest corners of power electronics, harsh noise, dark ambient and techno. Operant produce a crushed, robotic transcendence, where wounds in the body become gateways to other spaces. Voice, synths and field recordings meld into ritualistic, rhythmic schism.

The four track EP wastes no time pulling you in to the duo's decaying world and songs like ZKII_003 build a nice tension between noise and rhythmic beats. The broken, distorted vocals accompany the harshness of the compositions and resemble a mechanical overlord here to enslave you. ZKII_004 journeys the most into bleak techno while the opening track, ZKII_001, is an assaulting post-industrial nightmare. Overall, this is a strong EP which touches on the pair's wide array of influences and keeps the music true to its noise roots.

<a href="http://instrumentsofdiscipline.bandcamp.com/album/zk-ii">ZK-II by OPERANT</a>

ZK-II is out now on digital and limited cassette format on Brvtalist favorite Instruments of Discipline. If you're in Berlin this month, be sure to catch Operant live, first tomorrow (September 11) at Urban Spree with Hive Mind, Regalia, Philipp Strobel and Chondritic Sound DJs and then again on September 30th for Zanias' To The Core album release party. For more information, please visit Facebook and Soundcloud.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 068 - SΛRIN

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Berlin-based artist SΛRIN. One of the most evil projects currently emerging from the electronics underground, SΛRIN combines terrorizing industrial with menacing EBM and black shades of techno, wave and more. His latest 12", Current Conflict (Aufnahme + Wiedergabe), is one of our favorite releases of year and the artist is also one half of Konkurs with an excellent release on Veleno Viola. New Brvtalism No. 068 is a dark, venomous mix of genre-bending tracks and dystopian nightmares.

SΛRIN has a nice run of European dates coming up including a big show for Area Z in Berlin on September 16th. For more information , please visit Facebook, Soundcloud and Bandcamp.

-JRS

Tour dates:
16.9. -> Live at Arena Club for Area-Z
29.9. -> DJ set at Suicide Circus, Berlin for Rituals
08.10. -> Live in Bordeaux, France
18.10. -> DJ set at Tresor, Berlin for New Faces
22.10 -> Live with KONKURS at HØLE Club
29.10. -> Live near Milano
31.10 -> Live with KONKURS at Acud Macht Neu for Herzchlag
11.11 -> DJ set at Kosmonaut, Berlin
26.11 -> Live in Paris, France

Mixed by SΛRIN (Aufnahme + Wiedergabe)
x-img.bandcamp.com

(Sample: Bad Boy Bubby – 1993)
Boy Toy - Touch My Body (KAOS014)
Pelada - No Hay (NEW002)
Phase Fatale - Day Today (EV063)
Front Line Assembly - No Limit (TMCD31)
Fallbeil - Brutal Ignorant (CY002)
Kill Memory Crash - American Automatic (GI-42)
Romance Disaster - Boy (SF)
Khobra - Hhu (Forthcoming on DETH)
Recall IV - Contrast (Boing Mix) (ZYX6392-12)
Longterm+ - Smear (Unreleased / Demo)
Huren - Rarebell -Changing Face (AMOK005)
Human Performance Lab - Venal (Unreleased / Demo)
Unhuman - Cronus (Forthcoming on NEN)
Randolph & Mortimer - Citizens (Schwefelgelb Remix)
Noise Unit - Agitate (AS5029)
Allison Chanic - Inequality (Cides Remix)
Kareem - Meyrink (NTK006)
Bakunin Commando - Schianto Contro Il Tempo (XIMG002)
SΛRIN - Everything Moves (Forthcoming on Veleno Viola)
Konkurs - Body Harder (VV003)
Delerium (feat. Phildel) - Ritual (Blush Response Remix)
Adam X - Second Mission (SG0532)
Plovdiv - Situationist International (BSLK001)

Barbara I Gongini S/S '17

There is something about Nordic designers that just seem to resonate with The Brvtalist. Perhaps it's their conceptual approach to fashion, minimalist tendencies, use of luxury fabrics or just some sort of je ne sais quoi, but whatever it is, Nordic brands continue to be among our favorites. The Spring/Summer collection by Barbara I Gongini is the perfect example why. The Copenhagen-based designer has caught our attention over the past few years and we featured last Fall's collection here on The Brvtalist. When we saw images of Gongini's runway show a couple of weeks ago at Copenhagen Fashion Week, we were once again blown away.

This collection uses blacks, whites, grays and navy to create a cohesive, yet intentionally splintered line which showcases the designer's ability to create works that are both practical and avant-garde. Leathers, flowing, airy fabrics and paratrooper inspired men's pieces carry a militant and macabre energy. The models' hair and makeup no doubt recalls one of Tim Burton's most iconic characters and the deconstructed garments and precisely unfinished seams evoke images of a mad genius in the lab.

*Click images to enlarge

Accessories also stood out for us including the oversized neck pieces which exude a dark, baroque quality. The men's leather jacket with the extended zippered sleeves already has us salivating for the next season and we are just getting into Fall/Winter. While predominantly solid, the designer does infuse a nice dualcolor pattern which feels almost Art Nouveau but fresh and modern.

Overall, this is a striking collection from one of the world's most innovative designers. Very few can take popular techniques like draping, deconstruction and asymmetry and re-contextualize them into something so singular. Barbara I Gongini continues to push fashion boundaries and astonish fans of all aesthetics. For more information and the full collection, please visit the designer's official site.

Ian Hicks - "False Awakenings" Music Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the music video premiere of "False Awakenings" by Portland-based artist Ian Hicks. Many know Hicks from his exceptional work with synth-wave/pop project Soft Metals. He now returns to solo work and his latest release, VIY, is available on Glasgow's Clan Destine Records. This new work represents a nice assortment of equipment, moods and textures to create something that is both pure and ice cold, reminding us of the Cascadian winters of the artist's home base. "False Awakenings" delves into the shadows with surgical precision as Hicks finds heart thumping rhythms that quickly infect the the body's nerves.. The video's retro footage and science-fiction themes hypnotize for all eight minutes.

For more music please visit Soundcloud.

-JRS