Ground Tactics - ENERGY CULTURE

For most of us, sound is used in very limited ways. Whether it be to make us dance or used as a background while we’re doing something else, perhaps we are not harnessing its full potential. Enter - ENERGY CULTURE, the new release from Ground Tactics. With his latest album, the French-born, Berlin-based artist Colin Tobelem explores how sound might be used for healing purposes and even to program our own reality. Tobelem focuses on decoding emotions by exploring depth of sound, a quest to unveil interconnections that create and transfers our sense of reality. Through this exploration, Tobelem has unlocked forgotten currents and discoveries of the self.

Besides producing music, Tobelem practices “Sound Alchemy” (sound transmutation). He offers “Sound Treatments” to individuals who are looking for a profound experience where sound can uncover repressed and hidden emotions and even help them heal. Each treatment offers a unique experience for the individual as Tobelem uses ancient sound and healing techniques to treat the subject in various ways. He acknowledges that all that matter and emotions are frequencies and everyone can be harmonized and tuned (like an instrument), which then facilitates transformation. He believes that by creating a network of bodies carrying universal codes of harmony, peace can be embedded in the culture we design for the next generations. He calls this operation “Transmission”, covered by a team of artists and performers.

Focusing on this practice, Ground Tactics now presents ENERGY CULTURE Saison 1. Composed as a movie soundtrack, the album contains 11 episodes, all serving a unique purpose. It tells the legend of a movement which cultivates sound frequencies that allow healing and programming of reality. These sounds connect the mind to currents of organic data used for self enhancement, inter-dimensional traveling and energy culture. This journey into transcendence spelled, Transmission, provides ground tactics, who use allow life to rebalance and regenerate.

  
    <a href="http://groundtactics.bandcamp.com/album/energy-culture-season-i">Energy Culture - Season I by Ground Tactics</a>
  

Listening to ENERGY CULTURE is certainly a transcendent experience, as the album does recall a soundtrack to epic film but at the same time you can feels its powerful ethos and ideology throughout the compositions. Both modern and ancient production techniques are masterfully fused together to craft works that you can truly feel through your whole body. From beautiful ambient works to slow burning rhythmic pieces, each song is meticulously created with different emotions and feeling in mind. Beyond just a commercial album, this is sound engineered for a greater purpose, one that seeks to harmonize our life and rebalance the chaos of the present day to create a better world for the future.

ENERGY CULTURE Saison 1 is available now via Ground Tactics’ Bandcamp.

-JRS

New Brvtalism No. 162 - YYYY

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from YYYY. Not much is known about the Buenos Aires-based duo, but their sound is a hypnotic blend of rich textures, industrial and haunting voices. New Brvtalism No. 162 is a powerful journey through the duo’s sound.

HØRD - "Silence" Video Premiere

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new video from HØRD. “Silence” is a track off the new full length LP, Parallels, out on Italy’s AVANT! Records. The clip, made by Unn, half of the Berlin-based A/V project Furor, is a striking work - fusing the beauty of architecture with the track’s infectious sounds. Parallels contains 8 tracks and sees the French artist in top form, showcasing his luscious synths and haunting vocals to create music that falls somewhere between dark wave, post-punk and beyond.

Parallels is out now on digital and vinyl formats and you can pick yours up on AVANT! Records’ Bandcamp.

-JRS

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