The Brvtalist Premieres: Unhuman & Surit - "Surrender"

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Unhuman & Surit. “Surrender” comes off the EP, Impact Bashing, (Black Sun Records), a recent collaboration between two of the most exciting producers today. The Greek born, Berlin-based Unhuman has become known for his uncompromising mix of power electronics, EBM, techno and more while Surit has made major waves as 1/2 of Barcelona’s NX1 as well as solo work on the duo’s Nexe imprint and beyond. Impact Bashing is just as the same implies, 4 tracks of relentless rhythmic electronics and hard techno which slips between genres and creates a sonic assault. Today’s premiere of “Surrender” is the perfect example of the EP’s power.

Impact Bashing is out now on 12” and digital via Black Sun Records. Pick up your copy at Ready Made. Also, don’t forget to catch Unhuman (DJ set) at our upcoming event with Instruments of Discipline on November 22nd in Berlin. RSVP + info here.

-JRS

The Brvtalist Premiers: Marc Ash - "Kein Schmerz"

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Marc Ash. The Berlin-based, Italian artist is set to release his new EP, Litanies For The Self (BlackSilk) and “Kein Schmerz” is one of our favorite offerings from the record. With previous releases on Clan Destine and Helena Hauff’s Return to Disorder, Ash has built a reputation for his varied styles and rejection of conventional genres and boundaries. Exploring elements of electro, techno, wave and beyond, his music fits no category and each track on Litanies For The Self is meant to be interpreted a different way by the listener. From the artist:

It took me quite some time to pick a selection of pieces that could be part of the ambitious project I had in my mind as a sequel of the Plovdiv EP that came out more than two years ago. I came up with five tracks quite spacing the electronic musical spectrum, played in an obscure key that reflects my multifaceted personality. This work brings on my creative fight against strict genre-thinking. I dislike these empty black boxes where artists or people in general feel comfortable in and conform in any possible way to fit in. I don’t feel at ease in any of these, I reject them artistically as much as socially. I do music my very own way, not to please any particular niche, perhaps caring a bit too little about my surroundings. It’s a solitary work, painfully slow and cathartic, that constantly helps me healing from wounds of different nature.

Litanies For The Self is out November 26th on 12” and digital formats. For more visit: https://blacksilkrecs.bandcamp.com/

-JRS

Hvnter Gvtherer - Iron Age

Primitive becomes modern in the new collection from Hvnter Gvther. The independent Chicago brand, run by designer/artist/metalworker Laura Prieto-Velasco, is renown for its incredible handmade jewelry and accessories which transform precious (and non-precious) metals into wearable works of art. Since its inception in 2012, the brand has expanded beyond jewelry into accessories, objects for the home and now garments. While always evolving the brand’s focus, Hvnter Gvtherer maintains an ethos of pairing ancient technologies with contemporary minimalism.

Enter Iron Age: the latest offering from the brand and perhaps the most complete presentation of the work to date. The collection sees garments which defy proportion, category or gender and brilliantly channels the mood and feel of its namesake epoch. Long, elegant pieces meet abstract, deconstructed works which spellbind both the wearer and watcher. Accessories and jewelry are also a prominent element and fit in perfectly with the attitude of the clothes.

In addition to these striking images, Hvnter Gvther has also released an audible narrative titled Iron Age - The Origins (written and read by Leslie Gray), which represents the collection and its powerful statement. Listen:

We’ve loved watching the evolution of Hvnter Gvther and Iron Age is a spectacular step in a bold new direction for the brand. For more information and webshop visit: http://hvntergvtherer.com/iron-age

-JRS

Credits:
Photography by Dawn Howard (@creature_five_fingered)
Modeled by Benjamin Morino (@girlboifriend)

Iron Age - The Origins (Audio)
Written and Read by Leslie Gray as Leanna
Bryan Christian Dahl as The Man
Sound/editing by Jeff Milam aka MT Coast
Recorded at HDDNVLLY STUDIOS in Chicago, IL
Created in collaboration with Laura Prieto-Velasco for HVNTER GVTHERER'S IRON AGE COLLECTION

Lookbook Collage Artwork + Design created by Eileen Tjan (@ileensan) of Other Studio (@_otherstudio). Words by Leslie Gray. photography by Mateo Stephens / @fotodemateo"

*Behind the scenes photos (below) by Joe Naranjo on 35 mm

New Brvtalism No. 161 - German Army

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from German Army. The enigmatic California producer delivers a mix of both new and unreleased original material. With releases on Discrepant, Yerevan Tapes, BFE and more, German Army crafts powerful works of experimental, ambient, industrial and cinematic soundscapes.

-JRS

Instruments of Discipline x Söderberg

Music and fashion often go hand in hand. One inspiring the other and sometimes the two collide perfectly, as they do with the new offering from Berlin-based fashion brand Söderberg and record label Instruments of Discipline. Coinciding with the launch of Swedish designer Richard Söderberg’s namesake line, the two offer a wearable USB necklace which contains a brand new compilation, Eating From The Orchard Of The Heart. From the label:

To celebrate our 4 years of existence we bring you this 24 track collaboration from artists we have released, artists soon to be released, friends, colleagues and those that we admire.

Laser engraved logos on an aluminum USB attached to a stainless steel chain fed with the comp make for an amazing accessory. The compilation contains the following tracks:

Verset Zero - Nergal / Töria - Fragments / Schacke - Obscure Alterations / Ciarra Black - Existence Grid / Blush Response - MERCHANT_OF_FEAR_ / Operant - 3D Printed Genitals / War Scenes - 420247 / Melania - Orden / BR1002- The Shadows Die Twice / Unconscious - Ghosting / Erstwhile - Bathos / Unhuman - Comfort feeling of isolation / Mai Mai Mai - kúanos (κῠ́ᾰνος) / Homoagent- TRUE GLOBAL DIRTY FLAG / Huren - DEVOCKIA / Last Days of Sex - Disrupt / Eexxppoann - 會者定離 (feat. 安允妃) / Ryuji Takeuchi - Moan / Espectra Negra - Voices of Horror / Hakai - Where Common knowledge is Distorted and Strange / Marc Ash- Velcro / Triames -Serpent / Monya - Politically Incorrect / VPR - Anger/ Ayarcana - Eargasm

The USB necklace is available in very limited quantities from the Söderberg webshop and the compilation you can pick up via Instruments of Discipline.

-JRS

Gruth & Ikola - "Exhumed Black" Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new video from Gruth & Ikola. “Exhumed Black” is a crushing work off the new Befallen EP, out now on Sao Paolo’s Tormenta Electrica. Befallen is the sister piece to Gruth’s vinyl debut, Futile Demise, which came out earlier in the year. The new EP sees Gruth paired with a variety of artists for a versatile record that destroys all genres. From this collaboration with Finnish artist Ikola to other frigid tracks with Kamikaze Space Programme and KuJo. The video clip by Pekka Kokkonen pairs haunting visuals with the track’s heavy electronics.

Befallen is out now via Tormenta Electrica.

-JRS

The Brvtalist Premieres: Sept - "Sin Area"

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Sept. The Polish artist returns to Berlin’s Voxnox Records for a new 4 track EP titled Chaos Collider. As the name implies, this is weaponized techno equipped for the dance floor or heavy listening. In addition to two original works, the EP also features two smash remixes from Setoac Mass and Stroboscopic Artefact’s Pfirter. The record is out October 26th. Visit Voxnox for more info.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 160 - SDX

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from SDX. The Berlin-based artist has been active for over 20 years, developing a unique sound with a focus on techno and electro spiced up with house and hip hop. New Brvtalism No. 160 is 90 minutes of industrial infused techno, infectious grooves and left field electronics.

In addition, SDX recently released the Nocturnal LP, a 12 track offering which also features remixes by 138 and SC-164 on New York’s Dusk and Haze. To coincide with the release, the label has also released new merch which elevates the basic offerings with striking accessories and more. Order the record here and visit Dusk and Haze for more.

-JRS

The Brvtalist Premieres: 51717 - "Guide For The Perplexed" + Q&A

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from 51717. The New York-based artist has long been a fixture in the city’s DIY electronic music scene and has built a name for herself as one half of the duo, Shadowlust (L.I.E.S), as well as through 51717 releases on Jealous God and Total Black. The artist now returns to the L.I.E.S. imprint with her debut solo LP, Paranoia Star. The record is a collection of works composed at various times between 2013-2018 and inspired by travels and trauma. Her signature raw, minimal electronics and chilling vocals examine various states which are often disturbed, erotic and unnerving. Today we premiere the lead track, “Guide For The Perplexed” and also speak with the artist herself about her history, the record and more. (see below)

The Brvtalist: For those who don't know, tell us about the inception of 51717. What is meaning behind the name?

51717: The project began around 2005, in Washington, DC. I was studying koto and using a laptop to experiment with the instrument. Then, I finished school and moved across the country and on to Japan, then to New York. Along the way, the project became a personal diary. Shedding my possessions with each move, I shifted towards compact, electronic equipment. Coinciding with these events were regular, paralyzing panic attacks. Thus a consummation of my prisoner 51717 status.

TB: You've been active in NY for some time (with projects like Shadowlust, etc). How is 51717 a different outlet or evolution of your sound?

51717: 51717 is my world. The collaborations are sometimes conceptual and fantasy-driven, more playful, more gear-oriented.

TB: Tell us about Paranoia Star. What was your approach and any concepts or inspiration behind it.

51717: A meditation on trauma, alienation, and self-hatred, lust and memory. During the making of this record, I spent a lot of time with a book called “Shivitti: A Vision”. It is a memoir by Ka-Tzetnik 135633 about the LSD therapy he underwent in an attempt to recover from his time at Auschwitz. While he hallucinates, he goes into great detail about experiences he had there which were since repressed. It is a beautiful and terrifying book and it inspired a psychedelic trip to Sachsenhausen in summer 2016. That experience laid the groundwork for my live set at Berlin Atonal which opened up the gates of intent for this album. I revisited certain traditional Jewish songs and melodies to feel the sense memories wash over me. I wanted to encrypt the experience of my feelings.

The title Paranoia Star comes from the manga by Maruo Suehiro. It encapsulates the nebulous cloud of trauma, alienation and self-hatred, lust and memory..

TB: Love your use of ancient themes, whether it be Jewish mysticism, biblical elements or otherwise. Talk about the effect these things have on your output as an artist.

51717: I am trying to create a moment in which time does not exist.

TB: What's coming up next?

I will be performing live at the Hospital Productions Festival on December 8 in New York. Otherwise, internal martial arts and audio forensics!

Paranoia Star is out on November 1st. You can pre-order the album here.

-JRS

A Playlist from REKA

One of the best traits of any producer or DJ is their knowledge of multiple genres and how to fuse them together. Few are as good at doing this as REKA. The Spanish-born, Berlin-based artist has been active since 2004, building a name for herself through her vast and unique sets all over Europe and with a residency at the legendary Tresor. Now she comes forth with her debut EP, Diving the Innermost, out October 26th on BITE. The EP is an immense work, showcasing her varied tastes and ability to create the perfect atmosphere. Ahead of the release we asked REKA to select some influential tracks that have inspired her as a DJ and on this record. You can find her selections below.

From the artist:

One of the (many) reasons it took me so long finishing an EP is the fact that I wanted to create something that didn’t sound like anyone else. I highly appreciate originality in all fields (although it's becoming more and more difficult for obvious reasons) and I never sat in the studio with the intention of sounding like a certain artist or a certain track. I would just put together whatever would came to my mind at that right moment. So when I was asked to select 10 influential tracks which could be reflected in this first record it was not an easy task. I had to do the opposite process and try to identify some of these influences while listening to the record. Needles to say that aside from inspiring the sound showcased by these 4 tracks, these artists/labels have had a heavy presence in my DJ career and that I have plenty of other influences not mentioned here.

In chronological order of appearance in my life:

1. Underground Resistance - The Final Frontier (UR). This must be my favourite UR track. It is so deep and emotional that gives me goosebumps every time, and in a weird way it even makes me wanna cry. I just wanna close my eyes and swing to those excruciatingly beautiful pads while feeling the acid in my guts and savouring that snare (one of my favourite percussion elements since ever). Masterpiece.

2. Ryuichi Sakamoto- Grief (Andrea Parker dmx) [Ninja Tune] - I absolutely love the gloomy atmosphere here, the very slow tempo, the chelo, the industrial noises in the background. Another master piece, and again, goosebumps…

3. Hadamard - A Cold Start [Bunker] - Continuing with electro, my first love as a DJ - this track represents one of the few styles of electro that I still enjoy playing nowadays. It’s dark, gloomy but beautiful and emotional. I love the distorted percussions and the sinister pad.

4. Byetone -Plastic Star [Raster Noton] - As a rock/punk/new metal head during my teenage years and early 20´s I automatically fell in love with the distorted guitar layered with noises and more distortion!

5. Surgeon - Bad Hands (Monolake Remix) [Dynamic Tension] - Well, I just love this bag of rhythmic noise. I love the omnipresent grit and the industrial vibe which never becomes too extreme (I don´t like when is too harsh). Powerful, dark and fierce piece of techno.

6. Traversable Wormhole - Traversing the Asteroid Belt - One of my favorite baselines ever. Very serious track.

7. Claudio PRC - Clear Depths (Silent Servant dmx) [Prolog] - Again the dark, deep and even dreamy atmosphere, strong but slow pace, slightly industrial but contained. It just sends me to an unknown planet.

8. Vatican Shadow - USS Carl Vinson Night Tide Funeral [Hospital Productions] - This track is also very emotional. The melody lures you in that high reverb epic sounding landscape and then disappears leaving you in a trance driven by few sustained distorted sounds and an unusual percussive rhythm without kick. Sublime……

9. Traversable Wormhole - Worldline (Orphx Remix) - Two of my favorite acts together, what can I say …. By now you should know I gravitate towards dark and or trippy atmospheres, slightly industrial sounds and a bit of distortion here and there.

10. SHXCXCHCXSH- Elocution - The melody, the intensity, wrapping sound, and of course, more distortion…

Thank you to REKA for the great playlist. You can pre-order the EP here.

-JRS