One of our favorite labels continues to be Berlin's Instruments of Discipline. Offering an excellent array of underground electronics, the releases range from the 80's revival of Dominatrix to Impulse Controls' earth shattering techno to Operant's new noise. Come now are two new releases from Bead and Erstwhile. These two tapes provide the perfect winter escape with mind bending analog techno and crushing ambient.
Corrode is the first label affiliated album from Australian artist, Bead. The most recent moniker of J.R. (Termfix), Bead crafts dark, analog techno with an insidious agenda. This album Above the drums, the vast majority of sounds are made from oiled up, lubed up, mic'ed up latex rubber sheet (there is a collection of 303 lines and voice samples). Over the course of 24 hours this was manipulated and recorded in an attempt to immortalize a simple object that has so many aspects. Scattered throughout are also a few recordings of machinery from his workshop. He has recently begun to take knife making seriously, so while making a few blades has recorded the output of the grinders and saws. It was another way of adding personality without using his body directly.
"Slip" opens things up with penetrating rhythms and acidic undertones. "Deconstructing" picks up the pace while infusing industrial saws and other metallic soundscapes over the subtle techno beat. "Slipping" is perhaps our favorite track with its infectious bass, punishing atmosphere and amazing vocal samples. This collection of songs also includes two remixes of "Vial" by System Body and Military Position. Each take the already great track in a new direction which includes System Body's otherworldly production and Military Position's brutal electronic mayhem. Bead has quickly become one of our favorite conceptual techno acts and Corrode is stellar album suitable for industrial fans and warehouse dwellers alike.
Erstwhile is one of the monikers under which Kevin Jansen (Svartvit, Clamor, Qualm, Ratteknaeghen) presents his auditory output. This time around the sounds are rooted in tradition, paying homage to the greats of the eighties through minimal power electronics dirges. Thematically the project deals with the fragility embedded in our everyday lives. On this first cassette Erstwhile tries to come to terms with all that is lost over time instead of dwelling in faux nostalgia of 'better' times.
"1990" kicks things off with grinding, post-industrial waste that is dripping with malaise. "Slow Death" continues the sensory onslaught with speaker splitting noise wall and brooding, distorted vocals. "Visionary" showcases the projects proclivity toward electronic destruction while the final track, "Of Love and Light", closes out the EP with a somber, yet crushing pain. Overall Forgotten Youth is a heavy EP which nicely updates the power electronics and post-industrial sound.
Both tapes are available to order now, shipping out on December 19th. For more, visit Facebook and Soundcloud. If in Australia, also be sure to catch Bead live on December 13th in Melbourne and January 2017 in Sydney.
-JRS
