The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Yanset. "Black Roses" comes off the new 9 track album, Yousha, which is out soon on Moscow's great Routine imprint. Hailing from the Russian hinterlands, Yanset expertly crafts a fusion of body, wave, experimental and techno sounds to form a vicious blend of dark, haunting tracks. We are thrilled to host this slow burning, menacing piece today.
Out soon on Routine. Visit BANDCAMP for more.
-JRS
Krake, one of Berlin’s most celebrated festival returns for another excellent edition this November! Following up last year’s all virtual fest, this year the team is back with a hybrid format featuring a huge club night + digital streaming events for a totally unique festival experience.
This year’s edition kicks off on Thursday 11th November with a 6-hours showcase on HöR. The lineup comprised of residents, friends, and family demonstrates the diverse spectrum within the field of electronic music.
On Friday, 12th November, the main event begins with a big bang at midnight. Einstürzenden Neubauten founder FM Einheit opens the stage with an extremely rare concert, in which he uses steel springs, gravel and all kinds of other material making noise, together with experimental guitarist Caspar Brötzmann. Two exceptional musicians, who reject any traditional musical guidelines to focus entirely on the exploration of sound.
Over 3 floors and the course of the night as well as the following day Krake Festival presents a variety of live acts and DJs, who cross boundaries: From electro legend Umwelt’s debut Berlin live show to the ambient house feel of techno crooner Kahn with his Super-8 project. Dis Fig, who recently released an album with The Bug, showcases her mix of experimental noise to her outstanding voice, Soda Kids bring electro-jacking funk and Leibniz comes forward with his unique take on future bass music.
That’s not to mention the DJs: Neither Helena Hauff nor CJ Bolland need any further introduction to electronic music fans: Two of the most electrifying DJs on the planet, whose outputs defy conventional pigeonholing. With talents such as Solid Blake, Luz1e, S. Ruston, Hanno Hinkelbein, Wes Baggaley, Bad Boy Electric and Mister Willis & Sparkling Water Dreams the Krake Festival’s line-up encompasses electro, acid, jungle, ghetto, techno and all the spaces in between. DJ Locati & Bläck Dävil (Live), recent graduates from the Ickmachwelle project, start-off Room 2 by presenting their musical visions for the first time ever. Warning and Strictly Strictly, two Berlin-based party crews and labels that continuously bring good vibes, take over Room 3 for the night. The final line-up still being confidential, be sure to expect surprise acts next to wild b2b actions between residents.
Helena Hauff - Day 2
Last but not least, get ready for a solid stream of silliness and side events to kill your boredom! A famous DJ autograph session that may or may not be what it sounds like, a swap kiosk where you can bring anything you would like to get rid off, be it a carpet or a chewing gum… plus more to be conjured in the weird minds of the Krake team.
As a continuation of our Multi-Stream Rave concept from last year, Krake will host live-streams from a number of our partner floors in different venues via our website next to the main live event. FOLD, one of London’s coolest clubs, the infamous and iconic Berlin venue SAMEHEADS, and a crazy boat party in France organised by the people behind Urban Spree are getting ready for your viewing pleasure. On top of this, the legendary Transistors of Mercy join forces with the visual artist Pixelflowers to present “Colourful Blackout”, a one-off, never to be repeated streamed event which, in their own words, will be “a temporary network of integrated sound-producing elements - circuits, capacitors, oscillators, filters and human intentions”.
Sunday 14th November is an opportunity to exhale and decompress with a full day program of ambient and experimental live acts and DJs streamed directly into your living room. It starts with a rare performance by Moon Armada, a live act performing on self-built puppet synthesizer, followed by a DJ set of Baby Vulture, who likes to take her audience on dark trips through her very own universe. Vinyl, Terror and Horror build sound collages with broken records on damaged record players, while An-I’s multi-dimensional sets bloom in multicolor. Masma Dream World is a multi-disciplinary artist and sound therapist, known for her otherworldly and haunting exploration of the shadow side. The expected intensity of her performance is soothed out by a set of Berlin nightlife’s spirit animal Wunderwaffel.
Krake TV returns presenting artist features, music videos, our annual Krake Tombola Raffle and “Wes Works It Out”. This time around, instead of guiding you through a fitness techno workout in drag, Dr. Wes is ready to hear and respond to all your life problems on our first Krake TV call-in talk show.
For tickets and more visit: https://krake-festival.de/
Baby Vulture - Day 4
The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a track from the Moscow-based electronic musician, DJ and resident of System 108 - Kovyazin D.
Founded in Moscow in 2015, System 108 is a record label, booking agency and event promoter, focusing on merging multidisciplinary arts and launching local and international electronic dance events, defining itself by the sounds of post-industrial, techno, electro, dark disco and house. Kovyazin D. is one of the most recognizable Russian artists on the modern EBM and electro scene. His name has appeared alongside such artists as Phase Fatale, Cardopusher, Black Merlin and many more.
“Dark Shades of Moscow” is the first track off of his forthcoming 4-track EP of the same name. Available in vinyl and digital formats, the EP includes a remix by French EBM producer, David Carretta as well as a feature by Moscow-based artist Vortex Abrax. As the producer describes - the EP is dedicated to Moscow’s winter and isolation. Forced by the pandemic, this led to solitude and strong feelings of loneliness which also made a significant impact on the artists’ creativity, his self-exploration and as a result - a new way of self-expression.
With the track “Dark Shades of Moscow”, Dmitriy takes us on a night walk through the cold, lonely and dark Moscow, discovering the most hidden and secret places of the city and of our inner selves. The artist dips us into a utopian journey of slow hypnotic, dark analogue synths and EBM-rhythms, added with distant whispering phrased vocals “Dark Shades of Moscow” and acid elements, which in combination with claps create a will to dance. Every following track on the EP is a unique narrative of both conflict and coexistence between an emotional hurricane and calmed intuition, which serves as an inner compass to provide us through the darkest and coldest nights. Each track has its own mood and message. This is a great EP which fuses old school body and electro with a modern touch. It’s the perfect companion to heat up those icy Moscow nights and dark warehouse dance floors.
Out November 5th on vinyl and digital formats. Get yours on BANDCAMP.
-Alisa Chepel
The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere the new music video from Liquid Soap. Brooklyn's (NY) label & event series Tropical Goth, now based in Berlin, drops a new V.A. featuring 15 tracks of electro, EBM, techno, breaks & beyond from Artificiero (Spain), Alexis Phase (Cyprus), Baz Reznik (Netherlands), Cybereign (U.K.), D'Marc Cantu (USA), Dez Williams (U.K.), Hellboii (Netherlands), 4Cantons (Spain), EdgeRunner (USA), Enter Password (USA), Liquid Soap (USA), Makadam (Luxembourg), Nullstrahler (Deutschland), Pantser Fabriek (Netherlands), and Sivil (USA).
Digital & limited edition 90 minute cassette tape out now on Bandcamp.
-Melanie Havens
The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere the new music video from Mickey Dagger. He returns to New York's Samo Records with the exceptional EP "I Want to Be A Cowboy". For his cover of the ‘80s kitsch track "I Wanna Be A Cowboy,” featuring Athena, he adds his signature dark and slightly sarcastic spin. On the remix side, Antoni Maiovvi delivers a big room mix, Thomas Von Party a breaky one, Ortrotasce with an old-school industrial/EBM version and label head Facets, who was convinced by Mickey to provide his own take.
Out October 1st on Bandcamp. All the proceeds will be going to ISKWEU Project an indigenous women's shelter in Canada: https://samorecords.bandcamp.com/
-JRS
Mickey Dagger - I Want To Be A Cowboy feat. Athena
Directed - Phil Osborne Shot - Phil Osborne & Ted Steinmann
Visual Effects - Willie Stevenson Cowboys - Tom Doherty & Phil Osborne
Music credits: Jeffrey Seopardie, Nick Richards, Nicholas Ramsden, and Brian Chatton Copyright Microhits Music Corporation and Brat Chat Music and Songs of Peer, Ltd. o/b/o Gull Songs.
In today’s increasingly digital culture, music and art continue to evolve into new spaces and formats. Berlin’s MILK ME has done a great job recently fusing these things together in their episode series - an investigative performance series based around the Berlin music scene, specifically longterm artists of the Milk Me / Urban Spree scene over the last 6 years. From MILK ME:
Using the modern day singularity of the digital platform, the Milk Me episode series incorporates mediums of sound, portrait photography, and interview based journalism in an attempt to rediscover the full scope of an artists creative world, a world which in many ways is lost due to the increasing streamed based output of artists. It aims to uncover the aesthetic, mindset and reason for the artists output, the how and why of the records and music made. Each episode is divided into three parts, a live performance video, an in-depth interview, and portrait photography.
Today we are pleased to feature EPISODE II, with Berlin-based DJ/promoter and founder of the renown Aufnahme + Wiedergabe record label. Below you will find links to the interview, DJ set and portraits by Clara Sokol.
-JRS
Photo by Clara Sokol
photo by Clara Sokol
The Brvtalist is proud to present two tracks from the second volume of the massive new compilation from Berlin's Gegen celebrating 10 years. Separated into three volumes, the comp brings together some of the best across the techno, industrial and experimental spectrums. Over the last decade, Gegen has become a bastion of freedom and diversity and their label celebrates this sonically as well. Today we present a crushing, rhythmic piece from Mar/US ft. Especta Negra and a great pulse pounder from OCD.
Gegen Decade II is out October 1st and you can get yours at: gegenberlin.bandcamp.com/album/gegen-decade-ii
-JRS
The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new video from Strange Futures. The Bristol-based duo of Alastair Power and Alice Sheridan returns with a great exists in a space between dark wave and melancholic synthpop. As the band's name implies, the duo explores our cruel, uncertain times while still bringing a seductive, almost pop sensibility. Today we are thrilled to host their new video for "Visitor". From the artists:
The main lyrical theme of this song addresses the feeling of clinging onto what we have when everything feels like it's falling away - bleakness melts into fantastical landscapes as a form of escapism. We wanted the listener to be transported into a parallel world where even the mundane and the ordinary has an otherworldly allure to it.
This is our first Strange Futures video, and we shot and edited ourselves. We wanted it to capture these juxtapositions using the raw, isolated beauty of the coast, versus the synthetic, human-made beauty of the city at night.
The track is out September 29th and you can pick it up at: https://strangefutures.bandcamp.com/
-JRS
The Brvtalist is proud to announce his return to Lunchmeat Festival. Located in the magical city of Prague, Lunchmeat has become one of Europe’s most innovative festivals for music, art and new media. With a focus on electronic sounds and performances, the event takes place at some of the city’s most iconic venues ranging from museums, night clubs and theaters. This will be The Brvtalist’s third straight year in attendance and you can revisit our review from last year HERE. This year’s edition is no different as the fest welcomes iconic names from across the global electronic spectrums.
The first announcement of artist names includes acclaimed singer-songwriter Lyra Pramuk, and worldfamous DJ Helena Hauff. Seminal collective for experimental electronic music and legendary German label Raster will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at Lunchmeat. Pramuk, whose futuristic folk albu ‘Fountain’ was one of the greatest breakthrough releases of 2020, arriving after years of experimentation with using her voice as lead instrument. Prague´s underground dance scene is eager to welcome Helena Hauff, celebrated for returning today´s club music to the raw aesthetic of the acid house scene of the late 80’s and early 90’s.
“This year’s line-up features many artists that were supposed to play last year, but had to cancel because of the pandemic. They have used their time during the lockdown to upgrade these shows,” says Jakub Pešek, founder of Lunchmeat festival. As is the spirit of every other year, the festival will see world premiere performances of distinctive contemporary artists, along with a carefully curated selection of live audiovisual shows that are currently stirring the international scene, represented by both timeless legends and the local scene. “Several artists are set to present the world premiere of their projects at Lunchmeat this year,” Pešek adds.
Between September 27th and October 2nd, four of Pragues´s venues will be hosting Lunchmeat Festival. One of the traditional places to host Lunchmeat events is the concrete underground of the National Gallery’s functionalist Trade Fair Palace built in the 1930s, alongside the other venues, the Archa Theatre, Ankali, and CAMP, which will host the festival’s launch with the 25th anniversary showcase of cult German label Raster. Here, legendary pioneers of experimental electronic music Frank Bretschneider, and Byetone will present their latest audio-visual projects.
There’s lots more in store and you get get tickets and more info at: https://lunchmeatfestival.cz/2021/
-JRS
The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere “Metamorphosis”, the new track from Melbourne based artist Brixx in collaboration with Black Dahlia. As the track name suggests, Brixx’s new release Conversion Therapy is about transformation, inspired by the gamut of emotions and subsequent journey leading up to and following the coming out process. Rather than a narrative about repression or a forced change in sexual orientation, this release celebrates queer identity and disassociating from what it means to be heteronormative.
The EP draws on the artist's love of David Lynch, cult queer cinema classics and film composers such as Heathers’ David Newman. It’s a mental trip encompassing repressed desire, frivolity, transformation and ultimately acceptance – a late night soundtrack which drops you into a world tinged with darkness that encompasses techno, new beat, EBM and breaks.
“You tried to bury me but I’m a seed,” sings Black Dahlia in “Metamorphosis,” the final track on the EP. Growth, despite tribulations, is inevitable: there is a hope, a new dawn on the horizon. “The track is about transformation and about overcoming adversity to live a life that is not bound by the expectations of others,” explains Brixx. Its demanding, true-to-EBM bassline underneath Black Dahlia’s vocals recall the work of Sarah McLachlan during her industrial Nettwerk Records days—a ravenous and complex elegance that lubricates the track’s aggressive sounds. There’s an inherent submersive darkness woven within “Metamorphosis” but, when compounded with the lushness of the track’s vocals, creates an energy that emits unwavering optimism.”
Brixx collaborated with the artist BOOTLEG COMICS to create the artwork, which was hand drawn and closely represents the EP’s themes. “I wanted something which reflects what it feels like to be stuck between two states of being: who we’re expected to be vs who we really are. The robot represents societal programming, an expectation to live a heteronormative life.”
The release is out September 20th on digital format + vinyl. Pre-order here now.
-MH
