VRV 007 - Raíz Remixes

For over a decade, Raíz has been one of the most important projects in West Coast techno. Spreading their unique sound throughout the world on labels like Historia y Violencia, Electric Deluxe, Construct Reform and more recently on their own imprint, VRV. Their Droid Behavior collective is responsible for some of the best events and has become renown for cultivating a stable of talent that has influenced dance music from L.A. to Amsterdam. For the seventh release on VRV, the duo enlisted some of the best local talent to leave their own impressions on Raíz material. The result is a warehouse crushing 12" that offers a vast array of underground sounds.

"Cored 3" finds us caught deep inside an industrial echo chamber with Silent Servant's unique take on EBM-infused techno and heart racing rhythms. Truncate and Drumcell's lauded Cell Injection project takes on "Cored 2" and the result is a futuristic take on pads and dark, dystopian soundscapes. Rounding out the release is Subversive's remix of "Cored 4" which finds rich, soothing melodies and metallic percussion which quickly infects your veins.

As always, all releases include artwork by Raiz / VRV family member and collage artist Vanessa Vargas who's visual interpretations capture the sentiments of the music chosen for this label. VRV continues to do an excellent job elevating the Los Angeles techno sound and we look forward to more releases from the label. If you're in the City of Angels this coming weekend, be sure to check out Raíz open for one of our favorite artists, Rrose at Blk Stk Srs on Saturday, December 10th. VRV 007 is available now on 12" and digital formats.

-JRS

Zosima - "Synchronicity" Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere the music video for "Synchronicity" by Spainish artist Zosima. Directed by the29nov Films, the track comes off the upcoming cassette release, The Brighter The Light, The Darker The Shadow, out on one our favorite labels, Noiztank. "Synchronicity" is grinding post-industrial electronics, fused with rhythmic noise and exotic percussions. The visual accompaniment captures the track's dystopian feel and menacing urban atmospheres.

The Brighter The Light, The Darker The Shadow is the eighth release in Noiztank's already impressive catalog. Following up some of 2016's best releases like Zanias' To the Core and Kareem and Huren's le 17 Janvier Los Angeles, USA, The Brighter The Light... focuses more on experimental electronics with six tracks of dark, crushing soundscapes and cerebral compositions which are both infectious and meditative. This is a recommended release for fans of industrial, noise and even experimental techno. For more information, visit Noiztank.

-JRS

Alvar - Guilt Kollektion

Swedish duo Alvar is comprised of married couple Jonas and Johanna making music inspired deserted places, forgotten houses and old legends from Öland. Their music is a clash between techno, old school Cold Meat Industry records and hard beating electronic body music. Previously known as Alvarets Fyra Ryttare, for the past year the renamed project has quietly released some stellar underground EPs including Resurrection of the Sinner and Gold Ritual II. We heard their tracks pop up on some of our favorite mixes this year including the amazing New Brvtalism No. 059 - Zanias, and it immediately caught our attention. Earlier this month, the duo released its first full length album, Guilt Kollektion, on Dirk Ivens' Daft Records.

"Nordsee" starts things off with a slow burning, tension building sound with ominous vocals that nicely sets the tone for the tracks to come. The Cold Meat inspiration burns brightly through "Walk Among Friends" and the blackened vocals with EBM rhythms on "Ascends the Feelings" immediately infected our speakers. "Diffuse Tomorrow" picks up with the pace with a dance floor ready track that incorporates more techno into the fold and "Gated" continues the pattern with industrial beats that you can't help but move to. One of our favorite tracks on the release is the anthemic, "If This is You," and that bleeds perfectly into the Klinik-inspired "Blodpumparmuskeln".

The tail end of the release features the aggressively charged, EBM smash, "Execute a Man" before winding back down to the dark ambient infused, CMI atmospheres of "Terminal 5" and "Sweden (Red Vote Version)". Overall, Guilt Kollektion is an incredibly impressive array of tracks that shatter genre constraints and take us on fascinating journey through dark electronics. Pick up the CD now via Sleepless Berlin.

-JRS

Alvar. Photo by photo by Katri Heinämäki

Guilt Kollektion tracklist:

1. Nordsee
2. Walk Among Friends
3. Ascends the Feelings
4. Knuckle Duster
5. Diffuse Tomorrow
6. Gated
7. If This is You
8. Blodpumparmuskeln
9. To Give in
10. Wunde
11. Execute a Man
12. Terminal 5
13. Sweden (Red Vote Version)

The Brvtalist Premieres: Alex Barnett - Lattitudes (ft. Haley Fohr)

The Brvtalist is proud to premiere a new track from Chicago-based artist Alex Barnett. With stellar releases on Jealous God (as Champagne Mirrors) and Blackest Ever Black (as Barnett & Coloccia), Barnett returns with a solo effort (with the vocal accompaniment from Haley Fohr) for the upcoming DKA Tape Programme.

Being released on December 15th, this is a huge compilation from one of the most important labels in the American underground. With contributions from Nick Klein (LIES Records), Rusell E.L. Butler (Opal Tapes/CGI), Prostitutes (Diagonal/CGI), Grey People (CGI), DKA's own TWINS, and many others from the Southeast/Northeast and Midwest, this tape is a tour de force through heavy industrial techno, warped wave, and unhinged experimentation. "Lattitudes" is a great lead track filled with frigid, minimal electronics and ominous atmospheres.

For fans of underground electronics, this compilation is not to be missed. For more information and purchasing, please visit DKA's Bandcamp page.

-JRS

Bouncy Castle

Between the holidays and the state of the world, it's pure madness right now. To help cope, The Brvtalist is proud to feature a new mix from Los Angeles-based artist Friend X. Bouncy Castle Mix is a rave approved selection of hardcore, gabber, trap and original edits for 30 minutes of pure bliss. The mix comes in support of the event of the same name, presented by Blk Rainbow and happening tomorrow, November 26th at The Lash.

This will be the first of a monthly event series aimed at capturing the nostalgia and purity of the old LA rave scene while updating it for the future. It will also be the first local party to feature virtual reality (by Jonathan Sims) as well as a photo booth and a whole host of great DJs. Get ready with the mix now:

For more information, visit the event page and we will see you at The Lash tomorrow.

-JRS

Blue Hour - "Unearthed"

British producer/DJ Blue Hour continues his onslaught on the techno community with a new two track 12" titled Unearthed. Luke Standing's project has quickly developed a name for itself with stellar releases on labels like Osgut Ton and Function's Infrastructure New York. Unearthed continues continues the artist's exploration of techno, electronica and estoterica with high energy offerings that are sure to punish the dance floor.

"Lip Plate" starts things off with a tension filled, percussive hammering of future rhythms and hypnotic atmospheres. The title track has a 90's infused feel of a late night anthem that is just waiting to be unleashed.

This 12" proves why Blue Hour remains one of our favorite emerging artists who successfully mixes sound and art with a live experience that moves beyond the traditional club parameters. Unearthed is out now on digital and vinyl formats.

-JRS

Salò Mentale - SM ULTRA (1988-1992)

A new release is out now from Dutch label the тide øf тhe εnd. This time it´s with Salò Mentale, an older project lead by Anthony Blokdijk. This act started back in the late 80s, and put out several releases mostly on Cunker Records. Now it's time for a tape compilation of sorts, collecting recorded material from 1988 to 1992.

I hadn't heard about this act before, and was surprised by the originality and rawness of the recording. Minor harsh psychedelics meeting the early sound of industrial post-punk? Think a bit of Chrome, Factrix, Tuxedomoon, SPK, early Click Click and later Hunting Lodge, It's hard to describe, but good for those hardcore fans of early post punk and industrial.

  
    <a href="http://thetideoftheend.bandcamp.com/album/pp001-sm-ultra">[PP001] SM ULTRA by Salò Mentale</a>
  

I'm sure this tape will be one of the more interesting releases from 2016. Collecting all the lost and raw material on a well stocked cassette-tape, that is 80 minutes long! A great post-punk obscurity, which should be have more well known. I myself will sure have a copy of this Go it a listen!

New Brvtalism No. 076

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from Greh Holger. One of the most revered artists in electronics today, Holger's output ranges from the crushing atmospherics of Hive Mind, to the nihilist, minimal industrial of Pure Ground. Active since 2002, Holger's label, Chondritic Sound, is responsible for some of the most important releases in the genres of noise, post-industrial and synth-wave in recent memory. Aptly titled "Garden of Futility", New Brvtalism No. 076 is an incredibly meditative, escapist journey.

This mix coincides perfectly with four new releases on Chondritic. They include a killer Enema Syringe, which contains two tracks from 1986 as well as the latest album by Brvtalist favorite Pure Ground. The most infectious of the bunch is the left field, obtuse synth pop project Alone. Born out of Belgrade, Serbia, Unyou immediately infected us and we haven't put it down since.

Rounding out the batch is the conceptual, cinematic narrative of Animi Sub Volpe Latentes. This week of New Brvtalism is the perfect mental trip through obscure sounds and frightening depths. Please find the track list below.

-JRS

Track list:
Arv & Miljö - Öppna Vattendrag
Robert Turman - Subterra
D.A.R.F.D.H.S. - Slave Merchants in Aldeigjubdorg
Etat Brut - J. Michaux
Les Temps Barbares - Tus Ojos Serán Dos Túneles
Proiekt Hat - Birthright
Freddy Ruppert - Krait 7
Hive Mind - Ornamentation of Eternity
Gaze Campaign - Arch for Dead End
Esplendor Geometrico - Blanco de Fuerza II
Moon Lay Hidden - A New Soldier Follows the Path of a New King VII
Ferial Confine - Fires Through Opaque Fog
Sessjonijiet H-R - D-1200 Kmandant
Viodre - One Ending / Garden of Futility
Premature Ejaculation - Transillumination
ICK - Spirit of the Wolf
Lille Roger - Undead
Dual Action - Tire Prick
EG Oblique Graph - Merge
Pessary - Absit Omen
Eric Lunde - Don't Fear the Reaper
Ex. Order - Distinctive Morality
Iron Youth - Deadness
Ich Wollte Ich Könnte - IWIK

Material Lust in L.A.

Our favorite pair of artists masquerading as designers make their Los Angeles debut TONIGHT, November 17th, at the incredible JF Chen Gallery. We've tracked the designers output for the better part of two years and around this time last year we spoke with Christian Lopez Swafford and Lauren Larson about their philosophy, approach and the future of the brand. They also contributed a memorable New Brvtalism mix that fit the tone of their studio sounds at the time. Over the past year, the two have launched the Material Lust Annex, a conceptual design space in New York, and have branched out into furniture like sofas and chairs. We thought it would be a great time to catch up with Swafford and Larsen ahead of their L.A. show and find out what we can expect and what's coming next.

Christian and Lauren inside the Material Lust Annex (NYC)

The Brvtalist: We last spoke a year ago and at that time you were still in the process of setting up the Annex so let's pick up there. Talk about the new space and reflect a little on the last year.

Material Lust (Christian): We opened the space in May and just wrapped up the first room installation. Designing and executing the first room really opened up our eyes to what our process will evolve towards in the future. I think we described our selves as artists designing furniture in the past but now we are more environmental artists. A "Total work of Art" is what we are striving for and the Annex is quickly become a space we have grown comfortable experimenting with. So far we have done a full furniture collection, lighting collection, upholstery, textiles, a custom scent and a video installation with music scored by Xavier Swafford from 3TEETH. It's been a pretty busy year.

TB: I've been loving the "Peak" collection. The Twin Peaks Lips sofa and chair are departures from earlier work. They are more surreal and even fantastical. Talk about what inspired this and how did you like working with upholstery?

ML: When designing any soft upholstered pieces like a sofa or club chair it is important to pay attention to the curvature and proportions of the body. We then took that a step further and created curvatures that are heavily inspired from body parts and how they lay. Its funny that you mention the Surreal because we had been looking at surrealist paintings for inspiration for the collection. The goal was to introduce some unexpected shapes while still using classical design elements and construction.

TB: November 17th will see the Los Angeles debut of Material Lust at JF Chen Gallery. How did this show come about and what can we expect from the L.A. premiere?

ML: Bianca Chen is a taste maker in the world of Interiors. Along with her father, they curate one of the greatest collections of antique and vintage furniture in the world at JF Chen. They want to make serious push into the contemporary market by carrying young designers, and to us it is a privilege to be among them. We will be installing some vignettes that feature our work along side curated antique items to show people how to use our work in their own homes. We knew from early on that we wanted to be shown at JF Chen so this opportunity is a dream come true.

TB: Now that we are wrapping up 2016, what's ahead for 2017?

ML: We have a new collection coming that will be heavily inspired by Surrealist and Renaissance paintings. It will feature some cast metal and more carved wood. We want to celebrate the craft that goes into making the work so there will be elements of seeing the actual hand of the person that is working the piece. We also have some paintings that we have been quietly working on. Next year will be busier than this year.

Thank you once again to Christian and Lauren for taking the time out to speak with us. We could not be more thrilled to welcome Material Lust to L.A. and be sure to RSVP (rsvp@jfchen.com) for tonight! For more information, visit Material Lust.

-JRS

Rrose - Arc Unknown

As I press play, pronouns, genres and gender all lose any meaning and purpose. And for some reason I know what to expect, without actually losing that feeling of excitement whenever I listen to a new release. It’s like pieces of an old puzzle I played with before, that get rearranged in a whole new way, and everything still makes sense.

Sounds bend and lights melt, and the perception of the surroundings is changed. We are in a constant dialogue with each other through music, since music is perceived differently by different pairs of ears and as each listener gets lost in its flow, rediscovering his or her own identity being changed. And then you enter the world of Rrose Sélavy.

Rrose - Arc Unknown (2016) — Rrose - *Arc Unknown* (2016)

Rrose doesn’t offer your regular dancefloor oriented music, but rather a more trance inducing composition, with a highly aestheticized and conceptual framework, which builds a drone-y, almost soporific atmosphere, dragging you into a space of introspection, where music is strongly connected to every part of the body, not just the ears.

This EP is an invitation to experience music at its fullest. Dark tinged sounds pull you from reality and then throw you in a meditation space. You can feel its texture, its roughness around the edges of sounds which materialize into objects. Multi textured music which fills in the spaces between the dancers, keeping the crowd in constant motion, allowing each individual to dwell in geometric sounds.

Arc Unknown makes you think of galaxies, planets orbiting around a source of sonic vibration, with multiple layers unfolding as the track progresses, so that in the end you get lost in a kaleidoscope of rhythms and echoes.

Specimen 2 feels like a pulsating heart spiraling down into a subconscious recollection of dreams and fears. As the percussions create an ominous feeling, distorted moaning voices resembling chants come to haunt the listener.

Finally, Specimen 3 creates a sonic collage, with elements that bind together in a coherent flow of percussions and droney beats, while fluctuating waves of intense angst seem to embrace the listener like quicksand.

Rrose’s solo debut is an immersive experience where every dissonance and chaotic association of sounds starts to make sense once we stop trying to put it in a box. It is like a waterfall of emotions poured over the listener.

Arc Unknown exemplifies Rrose’s hypnotic abstract approach and will be out on vinyl and digital November 18th, on Function’s Infrastructure label.

Infrastructure would also like to announce a series of upcoming label showcases, which includes an Rrose live set November 18th at Berghain alongside Function (live), Vatican Shadow (live), Inland (live), Campbell Irvine (live), BMG (live), and Karl Meier (event info: http://berghain.de/event/1820)

Infrastructure Label Nights:

18.11.2016 INF @ Berghain

25.11 2016 INF @ Goa, Rome, IT

26.11.2016 INF @ Dude, Milan, IT

03.12.2016 INF @ MMA, Munich, DE

30.12.2016 INF @ Concrete, Paris

11.03.2016 INF @ Hinterhof, Basel, CH

-Marie Bungau