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Astrid & Dietmar talked to Jan L. (Noisuf-X / X-FUSION) about the new Noisuf-X album "Excessive Exposure" and how bad the situation is in the music scene today. A very interesting interview about samples, dirty words and future projections... Hi Jan, thank you for your willingness to answer a few questions about your projects and the new Noisuf-X album "Excessive Exposure". Jan: With pleasure... Barely a year has passed since the last Noisuf-X album and presently a new X-Fusion Album is to be released. Have you got all the songs ready in a drawer or how do you manage that? Jan: You know how it is with electronic music - press 3 buttons, and everything is ready :-) The new album is entitled "Excessive Exposure". Exposure can mean different things. What is your interpretation of the title? Jan: My free translation is "excessive demands" which is the aim of what should happen on the dance floors. "Excessive Exposure" is a pure club album, which bangs permanently from the beginning to the end and therefore skips on any quiet moments. Those who need these will have to use the pause button. There are some instrumental pieces such as "Hans Dampf" or "White Noise" next to the vocal samples on the album. How do you make the link between the song and its title? Jan: Well, on "White Noise" it is quite easy because the idea behind the song is related to the so-called "white noise", which is probably better known as "snow" you get on your TV-screen when broadcasts are suspended. And since I have used precisely this noise in the song, the song title was obvious. Speaking of voice samples: What's comes to your head first, the samples or the song? Jan: It varies. Sometimes the song is finished and then I see what I can find, but I usually have already at least a rough sketch in my head of what the song is going to be like. Most of the samples are made by me and not just from films or TV. How do you get the ideas for the speech samples? Jan: Well, how can you explain being creative? I think that does not work. It is always a combination of phantasy and external factors or personal experiences. If you look long enough into a theme, you come up with something - then you have to make your choices. The important thing is simply that you already have a rough idea in which direction to go. For example the song "Fucking Infective"; I've noticed that more and more swear words and abusive language are to find in the music, even in our scene, not just in hip hop, where it is most startling of course. So I wanted to take the whole to extremes, and randomly throw in words of this category - and with this "stuttering" effect reduce it all back again. Moreover, to make the pun clear that excessive use of such words takes the spice out of them, I translated it literally: "fucking swear words". The funniest song in our ears on the album is "Deutschland Braucht Bewegung" (Germany Needs Movement). Are we right in thinking you can interpret this title also ambiguous? Jan: "Deutschland Braucht Bewegung" is already a very clear statement and calls for clearly for maximum motion in club and at concerts. As for ambiguity, I can say: If you are looking for something, you will find it :-) Where are the voice samples at the end of the song taken from? Jan: I don’t want to give references, of course, for some little, dirty secrets should surely be left to me to keep. It is only important that you have fun - and the end of "Deutschland Braucht Bewegung" has so far contributed for amusement at every live show. The track "Fire" bears the subtitle "C64 Tribute". Do you enjoy thinking about the beginnings of X-Fusion back in the days of C64? Jan: Absolutely. The C64 was just a cool box and I still like the sound of the SID chip (which was responsible for the music). You got to learn something very important with this box, namely: to extract as much as possible from the minimum. Somebody who has just started producing music a couple of years ago cannot comprehend it. Nowadays you can download hundreds of sound modules, samples and effects for free or for little money and immediately have unlimited possibilities available, however, often your own creativity falls behind. Therefore, the experiences I've had with C64 and Amiga are priceless to me. What made you to make music? Jan: Wow, that's really hard to say. Music has always fascinated me, and while my peers were still listening to radio plays, I have already created mix tapes and experimented with 2 record players etc. In an interview late last year, you expressed your regret that there was not much response to the last X-Fusion album. Does it look better for Noisuf-X this time around? Jan: No, I cannot confirm that, unfortunately. I just checked for it on purpose. The album has been for 2-3 weeks on the market now, and there is just a single entry in my guestbook on my website about the album and a handful of comments in my forum. Of course there are also comments on Myspace, etc., but these are very well hidden among all the spam, so that you spare yourself the reading. I, unfortunately, see a very serious development; while on the one hand, the audience, which illegally downloads an album increase continuously, on the other hand the number of real fans who support the project by purchasing CDs & merchandise and even with feedback decreased. Where that will ultimately lead, I think, need no explanation. In the same interview you mentioned that you do not know for how long you can keep X-Fusion going. Noisuf-X is, in your own words, more like a fun project. Is Noisuf-X still "at risk"? Jan: Both projects are clearly at risk, and if the development does not change, it is only a matter of time. Of course, I would like to do more and so on.... to release music - but it is very time-consuming and expensive and it is becoming a luxury for me. I cannot keep going for much longer. I never wanted to become rich with my music – in that case I would not have ended up in this scene – but I have to think economically and I think about how and where to invest my time and my money. On your website you run a forum. How important is the contact to your fans? Jan: To tell you the truth, I have little time for it. And with the knowledge that the majority of my listeners "stole" my music I lose the interest in that. Because you never know with whom you talk. Friend or foe. In addition to your own projects you have, together with Johan van Roy, the project "Kombat Unit" and you play live keyboards for Suicide Commando. How did the contact with Johan come about? Jan: Oh, we've known each other for very long. I think he asked me once for an X-FUSION song or remix for a compilation, which he has just put together. So we got into conversation, then at some point somewhere it ran across the road, and has determined that you are well understood. The rest came by itself. In addition to that you're also a music producer. Do you get to listen to music privately? If so, what kind of music? Jan: I don’t have much time for that unfortunately - but when I get to listen to something privately, it is nothing from our scene usually. I like very little music, but my taste is diverse. I listen to a lot of dark orchestral stuff, but sometimes Goa or metal, too. Where do you think the development of the electro scene will go talking from your perspective as a music producer? Jan: It will go south ... musically, as well as economically. The last words of the interview are yours. Jan: I've picked on enough on illegal downloaders, and I’d like to thank for all who support my projects (and I do not mean those who upload my music on Youtube). Thank you for your answers! We wish you success with your projects. Jan: Thank you! Noisuf-X @ www: Noisuf-X @ MySpace: by PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.com) - April 2010 |
Interview Absurd Minds PromoFabrik
Your new album bears the title "Serve Or Suffer". What concept stands behind it? Are there any political considerations that may have influenced you? Stefan: We have been asked several times in interviews about the concept of the album. I have to remark here, that "Serve or Suffer" is no pure concept album. Not all of the songs follow a common tread. However, there is the title song that was transformed into the visual concept for the artwork. Once we had nailed down the cover and visualisation of that mean and grief character, we may have kept coming back onto that topic while writing the songs. The titletrack "Serve Or Suffer" is very cluborientated. Did you plan it as a dancefloor hitsong? Stefan: You can’t influence that. If we had a secret recipe for generating clubhits, we were much more successful in commercial respect. Many things happen subconscius and do not follow certain algorhytms. Who was responsible for the very interesting artwork and what intention is hidden behind it? Stefan: I have been responsible for the Absurd Minds artwork from the very beginning. I got supported by Franziska Franke for this one, though. She is a very talented artist in the field of conceptart, matte painting and texturing for mayn games and movies. The two graphics inside of the digipak she made according to my basic ideas. On the album we can hear a cover version of the Escape With Romeo-classic "Somebody". How did you come up with the idea of putting that guitar-rock-like song into an electronic sound enviromnent? Stefan: Other question: Why shouldn’t we do it? It happened many times in the scene. We like the song and the feeling it transports. I have rediscovered the song and thought that I really want to interprete it, too. How do you stay in contact with your fans? On your website I read that your stage outfits come from the "Abaddon Mystic Store". What can you tell us about this cooperation? Timo: David, owner of Abaddon, is a long-time friend of the band. He lives in Dresden, too. During the release of the EP "The Cycle" in 2006/2007 he offered a cooperation by sponsoring, which we will continue in the future. Fours have passed since the release of "The Cycle". Before that you have been much more active. Why did you take such a long break? Timo: During the past four years, our professional career has changed dramatically. We have dare to start our own business. Thus, the spare time you can spend on your own music is markedly reduced, as you need to keep going all the time... According your own statements you have "For the first time produced an album from the very first note until the final master without any external help". How do you feel about it? Do you want to stay independent? Timo: Serve or Suffer is indeed our first self-produced album, but not the first record from our hand. "The Cycle" has been the same. We have collected enough equipment and know-how over the past time to take that next step and we are very satisfied with the result. You celebrate your 15th anniversary these days. How do you assess your own development? Timo: 15 years are a long time. We actually have not been aware of the fact that our first record had been released 10 years ago. Of course, this is a reason to celebrate and we won’t do it in secret. If there is any booker or event manager, or other bands, please, don’t hesitate to contact us. Anyway we want to use the release of the new album to be more present in public. There are some things on the making that we will disclose when all is set. The past 10 years have been much of an experience for us. The beginning was dominated by uncertainty, doubt but also enthusiasm and experimentation with different things of music production and creation. We have gained confidence and experience. Our technical possibilities have increased dramatically and our music became more mature. One can reckon us to be old hands in the business and we want to become older with our music. You have created music together for 15 years. I guess this ties together as well as there are times of arguments and differences. And times of development in different directions inside of the band, isn’t it? Timo: At any time when men make their way together for a common aim, there will be moments of diverging opinions. As we come together as friends, differences are easier to cope with and agreements were always found. Do you have certain criteria to decide whether a song will be written for english or german lyrics? Stefan: The favourite language for Absurd Minds was and will be English. It’s international and ist better to handle, no matter if speaking about rhythm, poetric metre or rhyme. German songs always get out of shape by a higher density in words. Thus, the song can hardly breathe. At least I perceive it that way. Of course there are excellent german songs. Our hitsingle "Herzlos" is written in our mother language, too. Do you have some closing remarks? Timo: We want to use the opportunity to greet all our long-standing partners and friends - Frank of our Label Scanner, Peddy of our booking agency neuwerk Music Management, Alex and Alice (our Lightoperators), Left and Thomas (our Soundengineers), David from Abbadon, Nick and JP of the band Legacy of Music, with who we share stages very often, and of course all our supporters and fans of our music... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Absurd Minds @ www: Absurd Minds @ MySpace: by PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.de) - April 2010
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 Hells Kitchen Kitchen Lounge located in Newark is an experience worth having by all. Upon walking into the place you are greeted with an eclectic mix of pin ups and NJ Devils memorabilia. The set up gives you the choice of bar or lounge seating, with the lounge providing the added delight of bench seating around the walls with animal print pillows for your comfort.
One regular told me that she comes there every Wednesday "Its conveniently placed and drinks are fairly priced." So naturally my next destination was the bar. The bartender was courteous and when I inquired about the drink specials he was more than happy to repeat them a second time. $4 margaritas, $6 Grey Goose and Patron, and $2 Bud and Coors drafts.
The Passion Fruit margarita was a pleasant mix of sour and sweet without the over powering taste one might find in other drinks. The theme of the night was an 80's reboot with DJs Ash and Aengel. Both Djs spun wonderful sets combining popular with the not so well known of the 80's genre. DJ Aengel as always was friendly and talkative in between sets. His plan to dress as an Avatar for Halloween and the predicament at the lack of butt covering material in the costume got a lot of laughs. All in all a wonderful place and a wonderful experience. However if 80's isn't your idea of a good time Hells Kitchen has weekly events to satisfy everyone.
Movie night Mondays, Burlesque Thursdays, and Karaoke Wednesdays. Tuesdays SIN-Dustry night brings out the kid in you with Rock Band, Jenga, and an assortment of other games. Also for the frat kid in you theres Beer Pong and Flip Cup. As another regular told me "No matter what night you come theres good music and good people. The environment is so relaxed and everyone respects each other." Additionally Hells Kitchen has of course a kitchen where if you come for happy hour from 3-7 you get a choice of discount appetizers and drafts, and for those of you who can wake up before noon on the weekends brunch is offered. So whether your just having dinner and drinks, or are looking for a fun night out Hells Kitchen can provide it any day or night of the week.
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Interview 6ct Humour – PromoFabrik
Hello together, who takes part in the band 6ct Humour and who is responsible for the specific tasks? Andreas: Rouven is the voice of 6ct Humour and responsible for the lyrics. Ronny and me are behind the keyboards and we compose the instrumentals. And everyone of us has other things to do to make the band work. Rouven does the financial stuff, Ronny does the design and I am responsible for the contact to webradios and together with Rouven for the social networks on the web. How did it all start? Andreas: Me and Ronny know each other for about 20 years. We started making music in the 90s. Rouven joined "6ct Humour” in November 2008 and it was a perfect fit! We decided rather quickly to record an EP which was released in April 2009 as "dropping a dime”. Well, now we released "iHuman” in 2010 and that is only the beginning! Do you have a lot of "Humour" to give away as a special? I think, 6 Cent is really cheap, guys...? Andreas: Yeah, our bandname. It has confused a lot people already! But the story behind the name is rather simple. In the Depeche Mode song "Blasphemious Rumours” from 1984 there is a textphrase that sounds similar to the name "6ct Humour”. It’s on you to find out! On your website you presented video-messages on a regular basis. Who came up with the idea for that? Andreas: Ronny came up with the idea! Rouven and me were immediately hooked and 6ct TV was born! How did you find your label? Andreas: The EP "dropping a dime" we released in 2009 was sort of an application. We have been looking over linklists and bandsites for relevant adresses and wrote some letters to the recordlabels that made sens for our music. We had some interviews with the labels and "Sonic-X” made it it at last. We knew quite early that there is a good conection between "6ct Humour” and "Sonic-X”! And what do you reckon to be the advantage of having a label? Andreas: There are a lot of new distribution and marketing possibilities for us. New contacts and people that we can’t reach on our own. "Sonic-X” definitely moves "6ct Humour” ahead! Why did you choose the releasedate of Good Friday? Andreas: Our CD "iHuman" is about being human! There is no better releasedate than Good Friday, isn’t it! You have put the album "iHuman" out as an Easter present for everybody. Did you receive first feedbacks on it yet? Andreas: There had been some special interviews on internetradios and radiostations and the reactions had been very affermative. We had a preorder event that went really well and there had been a lot of congratulations on our social-network-platforms! What is the meaning behind the album title "iHuman"? Andreas: The album "iHuman” is about the fact, that humans became less important in a more and more technical world. Actually, human isn’t allowed to be human. How do you write your songs? Do you start with sound or lyrics? Andreas: Most of the time, the instrumentals are the first thing that is composed but generally there are allready some ideas for the lyrics in Rouven’s head. During a creativ phase we combine the lyrics and the music to the song. What reason can you tell us that the CD became bilingual? Do you feel more comfortable with German or English? Andreas: We feel quite comfortable with both languages. English is the language spoken most in the world of music and heard the most. We grew up with this language in music and use this for our songs. Who is the guy on the cover and what is the meaning behind the graphics? Andreas: That’s Rouven our singer. The idea behind the cover is a video by Björk that I like very much! It is a very impressive video in our oppinion and Ronny came up with the idea to us. Both liked it very much and it was a perfect fit with the albumtitle "iHUman”. It was also quiete a challenge to get it done! Let’s take a closer look onto some of the songs. Maybe each of you can pick his favourite to tell us something about it... Ronny: For me, there is no favourite song. I’m looking at the CD "iHuman" as a whole and I think we did a good job on this and made an improvement to our first EP "dropping a dime”. Rouven: I agree with Ronny. If there was a song that we didn’t like 100%, it would not made it on "iHuman”. What about remixes? Do you think of bands that you would love to remix? Did you get request to do a remix, too? Andreas: Some bands ask for it but we concentrate completly on the production and release of "iHuman”. Basically we are open for every call concerning that! What can you tell us about your live-shows. How do you plan to present the record on stage? Andreas: The new album will definitly be played live, but as a nemcomer it is not easy to find locations and the right framework. We like playing live, btw we are looking for a bookingagency that could help us with this! Are there any bands you would like to share the stage with? Andreas: For sure there are some bands! A show with Depeche Mode would be over the top but even shows or a tour with Mesh, Client, De/vision, And One, Camouflage, Assemblage 23 and so on would be awsome! You are working with many social networking platforms. Who is dealing with all those time-consuming things? Andreas: All of us do this work, so if you mail or contact us you can be shure: a band member of "6ct Humour" is on the other side! Where do you think your path will lead in the future for 6Ct Humour? Andreas: The way leads definitly to a new album that will be released late 2011 and we’re looking forward to every crossroad on the way! Many thanks for the interesting interview. Maybe we can end with some closing remarks from your side to our readers... Andreas: We are very exited about the times that will come and we are curious how the people like our new CD "iHuman”. We try to be in the chatrooms when there is a internet radio special about the band "6ct Humour” and for all of those who want more informations about "6ct Humour” visit us on Facebook or Myspace or check out www.6ct-humour.com! Thanks, take care and bye! 6ct Humour @ Myspace: 6ct Humour @ www:
by PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.de) - April 2010 |
 Holst - The Planets Suite |
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New Zero God is a new name for most of our readers, could you introduce yourself? Mike: New Zero God is a four piece act formed in 2006 in Athens, Greece. Our intention was to simply have fun by playing songs of our former bands, as well as creating a few new ones. How did you get the idea for your band name "New Zero God” and what does it mean? Mike: Sidheog had been toying with this for years now... It's great in print, it sounds nice and it may contain as many diverse meanings as you can come up with - profound or not! You called your new album "Fun is a Four Letter Word". What’s the meaning of this title? Mike: Love, hate, fear and a few other meaningful words have just four letters. They are all a part of life (which also has four letters). Can you tell us something about the background of the New Zero God band members? Mike: I was a member of the gothic rock band The Flowers Of Romance, a band that worked with Wayne Hussey as producer, released a number of albums and singles and supported The Sisters of Mercy and New Model Army. After The Flowers Of Romance split, I formed the band Nexus. Your band comes from Greece. Can you tell us something more about the current alternative scene in your country? Mike: Greece was always in a "grey area”. Your label, "Puzzlemusik Records", is a newcomer label on the "scene". Can you help us to know them better? Mike: Puzzlemusik was founded sometime in the mid 2000’s by Christos Alexopoulos, who is an alternative musician. To date, Puzzlemusik has 14 releases ranging from post-rock to jazz music and from prog-rock to post-punk. All bands find inspiration from literature, art, and other musical concepts they admire. Please tell us about your influences in music and in other arts. Mike: I guess New Zero God is influenced by bands such as The Clash, The Damned, The Cult, The Chameleons, The Sound, and other English bands of the 80’s post-punk era. How do you get inspired to write lyrics? Mike: Everyday life offers a great number of issues from which to gain inspiration. Politics, loss of communication, religion, exploitation, feelings, domestic violence, world hunger… What are your opinions on the underground music scene in general? Do you think we live in interesting times or do you think there’s much stagnation? Mike: While mainstream music is at its worse, I think the underground scene is at its finest. There are many good bands out there, as always, but with a lot more means to reach more ears... Today's accessibility of less commercial music via Internet downloads and better distribution has led to a generation of people who have an easier access to a great range of possibilities. Do you reckon these alternatives give people a chance to find out new musical genres, like the one New Zero God plays? What are your views on piracy? Do you feel affected by it? Mike: Thanks to the internet, the average person receives a load of information – most of it is junk – and one has to do a good amount of research to find the mind-blowing parts. What is your attitude towards commerce in music as art? Mike: I don’t know about other people, but between New Zero God and the expensive limos, luxurious houses and million dollar suits, there is a huge gap… If our music would give us the money to make another record that would be great… What do you think about networks that promote the bands? In which way they can contribute to their success? Mike: Promotion is what is needed for musicians to come out on top from the load of information that one receives through the media every day… It is announced at your website that you will play some gigs to present your new album. What are your feelings when you are up on stage? How much importance do you give to your live shows? Mike: One might think of a gig "as part of the promotion”, but for a musician it has a whole different meaning. Being on stage is completely different from recording or rehearsing. Are there already plans for a next album? Mike: It is too early for doing that. A final message to our readers, perhaps?
By PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.com) - March 2010 Interview: Alessio Bandiera (http://www.decadancerecords.it) |
Howard Gardner – London Animator/Film Maker
Interview: What is the concept of your work?
What are your future plans? My future plans for the site include turning my 'Whinemeal' cartoon into a longer series and doing some more work on music videos. Thank you Howard for sharing this with us, we look forward to seeing more from you in the future! You can view Howards work at http://www.downwithfreedom.com/ Interview by Altercarnated
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 Click here for Essex club listings LONDON! Click here for London club listings SURREY & BERKS! Click here for Surrey/Berkshire club listings
@ Underworld, Camden
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Hiya both! Nice that you have found the time to have a chat with us. Michael: I have known Fiet for around 7 years. My former Keyborder Thoralf from the band Jäger 90 introduced me Fiet. He was always loyal to Dark Electro and Hioctan. Because of this, I have asked him to support me during live concerts. Together we had awesome concerts. Fiet’s opinion was important to me. Therefore he has also supported me in the studio during the recordings for the new album "Under Control”. If you were asked to describe Hioctan with three words, what will they be? Michael: We play honest music for honest people. Following I can say three words: authentic, unconventional and complex. Fiet: individual, vigorous, honest. Founded in 1999, you are no newcomers. How do you see the progress you did form the beginning until now? Michael: In the time between 1999 and 2002 we have tried out different things, so that we could find our own style. In the early years we also had female vocals in our music. If I look back, it was not bad what we have done in the first years, but I am more satisfied with that what we do today. But in summary I can say that we have not changed our music style after our first release "Headscan” in the year 2003. One difference between our first two releases and "Under Control” is that we are now more focused on the audio engineering, so that we could get a more transparent and clear sound. "Under Control" is our third album now. I guess you can interprete it in different directions but I guess this is ablut society in general, isn’t it? Michael: Not quite. The album title "Under Control” is taken from the same named song. This song is about the position of the USA as Worldpolice. They are commited to the welfare of mankind on this wonderful world. The task is to force the "axis of evil” to a new world order. If it is necessary, this is also done with weapons and violence. Collateral damage and the protection of their own interests are accepted. But, after the return of the troups from the attacked areas, mostly nothing is "Under Control”, but rather hate against western civilisation is bigger than before. What are the stylistic means you use to express the criticism on society musically? Michael: The lyrics alone are able to be critical. They accuse circumstances or incidents from the past and present. What do you think in what aspects America should go after Germany and vice versa? Fiet: That´s an interesting question, when one considers, that Germany is an American colony. Amis could for example attend to our culturell life and our culinary skills. On the other hand Germany should establish the death penalty and take more drastic measures against criminality. Amis have the advantages of matter-of-course patriotism and the freedom of opinion over us Germans… My knowledge of Latin is very poor, so i guess "Pax Veritas" is translated by "A piece of truth"? If this is correct, what piece fo truth do you sing about in the song that is named after it? Michael: "Pax Veritas" means something like the "True Peace” and is the opposite thing to our song "Pax Americana”, what means "American Peace”. The sentence "Pax Americana” describes the claim of the western civilisation to form the new world order. The USA is the key figure to demonstrate and to induce the domination of the western civilisation. If necessary with weapons and force. In contrast to this stands the song "Pax Veritas” – the "True Peace”. "Sonderbehandlung 14f13" is the solitary Germany track on the album. Why do you use that term? Michael: The lyrics are in english. But we have chosen a german song title, because "Sonderbehandlung 14f13” is about the dreadful atrocity of the nazis on german ground. And what does it mean "14f13", if I may ask?.... I remember a term called AKTION 14f13 in the Third Reich. Am I right on that ? Michael: Yes, the lyrics are directed against this activity. ”Sonderbehandlung 14f13” was the activity of selection and killing of concentration camp prisoners during the nazi period. At the beginning of the second world war this activity was directed against invalid and disabled prisoners. In the latter course of the second world war this grows into large-scale organized racist genocide. Michael: I hope that the people will remember this atrocity in 1000 years. We should not forget this dreadful chapter in human history, so that we always have in mind what a beast the human is. Maybe it can help us in the future to be better people. But the time after the NS-regime has showed us that mankind is not adult enough. Fiet: This issue is still very interesting…because we Germans are concerned individually and the dealing with it is still very problematic. But also other warlike conflicts and dictatorships of the history are matters. "Aim Of Life" is dealing with the conformism in society. What do you think are the key points in your point of view? Michael: It is the case that we all play a kind of role in this society and we have to do things, which we sometimes don’t like. So most of us go every day to work, satisfy the boss and to profit as much as possible. People collect material goods, which they don’t need. They measure themselves on the success on their neighbor and plans his life in the hope, to have all under control. Therefore the song "aim of life” and the question: What is all this for? At the end only death is waiting for us. And if you take a look back at your life, you understand, that you have missed living your life. What can you tell us about the track "Damned Society"? Fiet: The point is to show the mainstream of society…with its modesty, its anxiety to scrutinize (question their lives) and to criticize, to speak their minds freely or rather even have an own opinion. They are exposed to a constant stream of the media, they suit to the fashion trends… they let social injustices go unchallenged and they wallow in their idyllic world. Morality as well as individual values dwindle, the youth falls into bad ways. Simple Misery. I’d like to pick anothter track from the 14 amazing songs. The song "The Great Deception"... What is this deception about? Fiet: It means the mendacity of the Christianity, which enjoys great popularity despite the inhumanely history and the contrariness in itself… It also means the deception of the church on the humans and above all its own self-deception. People build on miracles and the succour of a supernatural being, instead of handling their lives on their own. They resign to their god-given fate and lay that (their lives) into the hands of an imaginary creature with magic power. They confess and at once – all infamous actions are forgiven…let´s do it again. This is immoral, isn´t it? How do you see the current situation in the music scene? Is is prospering or dying? Fiet: Which one? The commercial one thrives, while the original, honest one goes to rack. Michael: In my opinion the dark electronic music scene is rather at the bottom. It is noticeable that a lot of bands implement a large amount of techno elements in her music. Furthermore the bands try to copy eachother and to excel eachother in aggressiveness and senseless lyrics. It is difficult for me to have esteem for a band who puts half a litre of imitation blood over their head and poses with a gun. That is in my opinion neither aggressive nor imaginative. Also it is not authentic or honest. If you were prime minister of Germany or another country, what is the first thing for you to do? Michael: I am not interested in having such a position. I also believe that an official act alone would change nothing. The threads are already knitted. Fiet: Because I am no politician, I can only outline some things; stop social injustice and allocate social contribution justly, once again act for the purpose of the people…support the freedom of opinion and fight intolerance in any way, punish criminality severely…. Let’s take you can travel into the future, what first destination do you select? Michael: What a question. Maybe from the future I would take-back the formula for a cure for cancer. Fiet: I will contemplate about it when it´s conceivable that I´ll ever experience such a thing. Talking about the future: How about your future? Michael: We want to play some live concerts. Now, after we have finished and released our new album, we want to have contact to the audience. Many thanks for answering our curious questions. Maybe you want to leave some final remakrks here for all the readers out there? Michael: Don’t believe what they tell you. Have the courage to find it out for yourself. Fiet: Think before you judge, don´t let someone impose crap on you. Speak out your minds and go straight!
By PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.de) - Februar 2010 By PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.com) - March 2010 Interview: Alessio Bandiera (http://www.decadancerecords.it) |
Interview Mekanik Disorder PromoFabrik
Hello César, many thanks to have the opportunity to ask you some questions. Maybe you can describe the project Mekanik Disorder shortly? Hello, well I could describe Mekanik Disorder as a plattform where to show some things that lay deep inside myself, which go outside with a sound acording to my strongest music influences. This is a very own personal project of Electronic Body Music (without forgetting the synthpop touch or even post-punk spirit, genres I love as well as EBM), but it all in the oldschool way. How did you discover your passion of creating music and why did you decide to release it now? After years of listening to music and keeping devotion for some bands, I decided that I had something to say. Suddenly one day I realised that I was spending even more time on creating music than listening to it, that was the point. Until now, when Caustic Records has given me the chance to release an album, something that was just a dream for me not much time ago. Internia, a bandname that is mentioned in your biography. What can you disclose about that project. Internia was basically an electronic solo-project where, from the middle 90`s, my brother José Carlos decided to explain himself musically. More or less the same point I was going to pass through a few years after. No one could guess how was going to sound the next track: Experimental, Techno Pop... the stuff of Internia was unpredictable and that made it brilliant. Definetely he did open the doors for me to, first listening, and then dare to create, this kinds of music. And if I started being fan of styles from Synthpop to Industrial it was thanks to him. How did your brother and you get together to write music? He had composed some very nice instrumental tracks and then he had the chance of doing a gig in one of the best venues in Granada, "Planta Baja". On stage he prefered to be something closer to Vince Clarke than a frontman, you know, so he asked me to be the singer and for me that was fantastic. I gave him a little hand in writting some letters, and thanks to the covers we did the setlist was very atractive. With Internia you did cover songs that you personally like where a lot. Can you name three songs that come to your mind spontanuously? Of course: "Running" (Information Society), "Photographic" (Depeche Mode) and "Felines" (Front 242). Undoubtely I´m talking about some of the songs of my life. Did you ever get feedback from the bands who had written the original? At that time we didn´t try to get it. It still wasn´t the total internet age, today it would have been easier because I could get that feedback when doing my first cover with Mekanik Disorder, "Melting Away" from Absolute Body Control. Thanks to myspace I contacted Dirk Ivens and he did like it so much (there´s a curious story about this). What happened to Internia when you founded "Mekanik Disorder"? Work and family were little by little letting less time for my brother to carry on making music and attending a band. Surely i´m talking about something usual. That was just the moment when I decided to start my own project (from Internia I especially was missing to go on stage). Anyway, of course he still loves the bands of his life and he supports Mekanik Disorder in every way he can. You write lyrics in four languages: English, German, Spanish and Dutch. Do you speak all those languages fluently? Well, at first I can say i´m able to write and sing in those four languages. Apart from Spanish, my mother tongue, I´ve got a fluentl English. I have German studies from years ago, but I couldn´t have continuity and I still have got much left to learn; anyway, I have interiorized the gramatic and reached a correct pronuntiation. Dutch was the last one on calling my attention, and I started aproacching it thanks to my German knowledges. What did cause the idea to write in multiple languages? Basically the importance I give to the lyrics and, of course, my passion for languages, especially germanic ones: I think they are the most suitable languages for electronics as I understand it. By the way, for me is like a new challenge everytime I try to express feelings in German, and I really enjoy when at last I achieve to build something. Now, the debut album "Cold & Strong" will be released. What do you want to express with the album as a unity? I´ll bring you here a short answer from the past. One day, in the times of Internia, they asked me what electronics means to me. I just said: "the coldest way to express the strongest feelings". Without being a conceptual album, the title reflects more or less what you are going to find inside, what EBM means to me, and it speaks about my personal way of performing it. Are there any criteria for you to decide what language you use for a particular song? How does inspiration for the lyrics come to you? I use to compose the music and then writte the lyrics. The first idea use to come to me from thoughts, feelings, passions, things i have lived or even dreamed, it all closely linked to my personality. And yes, that idea can even determinate the language I´m going to use, you know: thinking on the voice as another instrument, the language can work out as its first effect, by the way if I want to sound as cold as possible. Then the chorus and the delays make the rest. "Stigmatized" – obviously an Old School EBM track and absolutely catchy. What can you tell us about it? I choosed Stigmatized to open the album because I wanted a visceral beggining, without intros or whatever. Something able to show directly what is Mekanik Disorder about, from the first instant, and this was the track. Listening to Stigmatized you can identify much of the elements that define the music style in wich moves Mekanik Disorder. And it seems like the synth melody at the end was a still place to go for the tormented soul the lyric talks about... "Das Letzte Mal" and "Ich Kontrolliere" remind me a lot of DAF. Has this been intentional? Honestly, this has been more intentional with "Ich Kontrolliere". Since I started composing it I considered this track as a tribute to the DAF sound and attitude, and the result was that. In the case of "Das Letzte Mal" it all came more unconsciously, maybe because this was my first composition in German and I took out all the DAF spirit that lays inside of me, i supose. "Hate At First Sight" – is a nice playing with words. What is the story behind it? I like this play with opposite concepts that may are the two faces of the same thing. Behind this there´s a story of a relationship where the passion of love was grewing so quickly and it turns suddenly to something absolutely immposible to handle. That paradise we seemed to be living in was not real at all, so where did love end and where did hate beggin? Or are we talking about the same? It´s just a reflection, but this is the stuff my songs are made of. What do you reckon to be "Pieces of Mine"? This is probably my most personal song. Imagine yourself walking alone in your city, after having some beers, late at night: every street reminds you something you have been living there. And there´s anything from you, from the pieces you´ve fallen to, in every corner where you were anytime laughing, crying, kissing or, of course, drinking. So this is myself taking a round in Granada. My Spanish is not very good...well, what is "Orgullo Minero" all about? Maybe´s the only track in this album with a strong social inspiration. This song is dedicated to Almadén, a little town in Spain I were living in for a few months, known by its mine of mercury. This place reached prosperity in the past, but now the mine is closed. When visiting the mine they told me stories from the convicted that were forced to work, and how they where taken from the prison to the mine along a corridors under the ground, without seeing the light of the day in years. And my Dutch is not better that Spanish. So what can you tell us about the message in "Ik Ben God Niet". The answer is in my passion for cycling. About two years ago I read in the newspapper that the cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke (one of my idols, dead last october) had written his autobiography titled "Ik ben God niet", sentence I translated instantanously (I am not God) and, believe me, that made me starting pay attention on Dutch language. I have taken this title for dedicating a track, not only to VDB, but to another belgian heroes like Johan Museeuw and to all of who have made this sport great. I´ve tried to inspired myself especially on what cycling means to the flemish people, when filling the roads with their Lion Flags. I really admire them. You are supported by Fran Rubiño and Gilberto Gámez when it comes to live performances. What can you tell us about your gigs? Since I started this project I was sure that I wanted to show it on stage. Then I needed someone to give me a hand. Fran and Gilberto, both them friends of mine, are very nice bandmates and they really enjoy being part of Mekanik Disorder at the keys, software and synths on stage while I am basically playing the rol of frontman and taking out all I have got inside. We give to our live performances a very special meaning, from the most agressive to the most solemn moments, allways trying to get the deepest connection to the crowd. Where have you been and where can we look forward to see you soon? Apart from Granada, our city, we have been moving around the South Spain area: Sevilla, Almería.. After passing these last months with all my efforts on working hard to the album I have no new dates for gigs at the moment. Anyway, the surest thing is that we are going to present the album in Granada to all our people and then, my main target is of course to have the chance of touring some places beyond Spain and showing how this projects sounds live in Germany, Belgian, Eastern Europe... and all the places where the music I make still have a considerable support. I wish i could confirm to you a few dates over there! In your pressinfo, some other band names are mentioned. Maybe you can tell me your first spontanuous thought, feeling or image you associate with them: Front 242: The Atomium, Brussels. Calva Y Nada: Someone dressed like a monk, carrying a cross. à;GRUMH: Jesus jumping across the water. Nitzer Ebb: Technoclub, Frankfurt - 1989. DAF: Gaby Delgado, mic in hand, inflamated veins, singing between the crowd. Absolute Body Control: A farewell. A precious way to say goodbye to anyone or any place. Depeche Mode: A just – married couple celebrating their honeymoon in a factory. Information Society:"Running", the first song i have ever sung on a stage. Portion Control: Electro-punk. Raise the pulse!! Force Dimension: One of the most forgotten EBM acts from the old golden age. The Neon Judgement: Too cold to breathe! Many thanks for your answers and we wish you much success with "Cold & Strong". I guess you will have some closing remarks to our readers. Thank you so much, nice to do this interview. Kind regards from Spain! www.myspace.com/mekanikdisorder www.myspace.com/causticrecords
by PromoFabrik (www.promofabrik.com) - February 2010
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 Underworld, New York City
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 Gotham 11 – The long-running one day indoor festival returns to London, at the O2 Islington Academy once again. There was a more traddy-goth sort of line up by comparison to last year's festival, and this time the Academy's mezanine level had been turned into a scaled-down version of the Alternative Bring & Buy Sale (more usually spotted at the Dome in Tufnel Park) which was a nice touch and gave us something to explore between the bands. I’m sorry to say I missed the first four acts. What I can however say is that: Rhombus
Lahannya Again,it was possible to tell pretty much exactly what you were about to get when this Anglo-German four-piece got up on the stage, with hair rockers flanking and a solid wall of guitar and Lacuna Coil-style vocal power abounding, with a hint of industrial bleepiness for texture. I really enjoyed this act and will look out for them more in future! The Eden House
IMAGES COUTESY OF ALTERCARNATED PHOTOGRAPHY |
 TURBULENT SOUNDSCAPE, PHOENIX, APHRODITE & SCHISM NEWS Fright Nite is growing at the Town Hall, the HUGE pub in Staines, with bargain drinks prices, a MASSIVE dancefloor and more and more people every week!! 19 and a half years and STILL going strong. Many live nites coming up as well - For all gig details check our newly launched website, www.phoenixmusicpromotions.co.uk the site features, a calander, videos, club news, gig info, a forum and SO much entertaining stuff!! Equilibrium returns to the Sound Circus in Bournemouth the 3rd Friday every month. Of course, Turbulent Soundscape might have your picture in our archive section, head to www.turbulentsoundscape.com On to our Sister company, Phoenix Music Promotions. Phoenix Music A new nite "Heresy”, a Dj free for all, the last Friday each Month in Egham, held at the Working Mens Club next to the Fire Station, CHEAP drinks and a huge space to dance, park, smoke and drink!! £4 entry, 2 for the price of 1 if you’re signed up to our Facebook group or to www.phoenixmusicpromotions.co.uk Then Brighton with "Hidden Generation”, held in the Hydrant, aka the Hare and Hounds, a Rock n Roll extravaganza, Live bands opening the nite, followed by a full on club nite with performers and all sorts of crazy stuff!!! :) Another coming one day!! Tuesdays is now not dull as well, we have Psycho City in the Purple Turtle in reading!! ;) A nite of Rock n Roll, Blues and Soul, also Djing is the ever eclectic Jony Indudus!!! www.purpleturtlebar.com So, a quick recap, tueadsys, the Psycho City in the Purple Turtle Reading, Weds, Fright Nite, the Town Hall Staines, Thursdays, Live bands in the Town Hall Staines as well as the Gaff, also on Thursdays, Flame at the Jet Black, first Friday each month, Velvet Highway in Kings Cross, 2nd Sat from March 12, Hidden generation in Brighton, Last Friday each month, Heresy in Egham!! Enough for now??? :) More coming!!!!
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Fortunately the burlesque acts that followed were able to redeem the evening with the impressive performance of Chrys Columbine. This burlesque dancer shows us why blonds can and will do it better than the rest, as Columbine plays classical music on a piano while removing items of clothing. The execution between playing music and taunting the audience with her gradual nakedness was indeed flawless. Displaying both grace and mastery over her profession this was a dancer not to be taken lightly. The other burlesque dancers were also able to hold their own on a stage of the electrified evening as north London welcomed Philly Caramel and Claudia de la crème. Two intriguing performers who knew how to get the keep the room booming and keep the guys watching, while Claudia wets anyone’s appetite for more the American Caramel leaves a rich taste in our senses; the taste of the big apple.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCINDA AT ALTERCARNATED PHOTOGRAPHY
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 Theatre of Tragedy at Camden Underworld. 14/3/2010
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 Seventh Void
So i walk into this club in brooklyn called don hills, a small venue which really needed the smoking ban lifting, it was screaming out for a smoky atmosphere. I was fairly excited to be seeing a Type O Negative spin off called Seventh Void, but at first I was greeted by the support act, a kinda electronic, kinda goth, 3 piece, with keys, bass and vocals, with the keys player switching to guitar when I got in the female vocalist was crawling around the stage with fake blood on her knee. Something was very much missing from this act, too much talking, a bad moment with a depeche mode keyboard line, drums with no drummer, which is fine, but really if you must use electronic drums then don’t try and make them sound real! Honestly if I never see this band again it’ll be too soon, the final insult was the badly done Doors guitar line, at this point being temporally deaf would have been a useful thing. I have to give them credit for at least having some instruments actually played live though, that on it’s own was fairly refreshing, plus I did over hear them say they were going to be getting a real drummer soon, so maybe things will pick up, but maybe not with the current line up. Ah, so the headline act arrives on stage, it’s pure rock n roll, large people, tattooed, musicians shouting along with the vocals, everything was right, everything was a perfect example of a loud and dirty rock n roll act. So, what of the ex type o drummer? Just incredible, I guess you figured that much for yourself, he very much handled being in front of a smaller crowd than his Type O days, perfect rhythm, I’m sure he didn’t drop a single beat, one could even be forgiven for calling the guy a human drum machine, then the guitar solos from the lead singer/lead guitarist just slid in, possibly amongst some of the most slick I’ve heard, also another type o survivor. Over all the sound was strangely reminiscent of early Life of Agony, if they’d had a love child with Velvet Revolver. Another very refreshing thing to witness was the sheer conviction this band had for their songs, a total belief in what they were doing. Their sound is hard to explain and I hope my earlier reference doesn’t throw you in the wrong direction, but I would totally recommend you checking them out though, expect a mix of hard rock, with an early 90 s twist, without being at all dated, everything then crossed with a distinct blues edge. Totally an 11 out of 10 gig, making me happy to have caught them in front a small crowd before they hit the dizzy heights that should, if there is any justice in the music business, be in their very near future. I managed to ask the drummer how he felt about going from the type o days to small crowds in a small bar in the back streets of Manhattan, "very humbling” he joked, but it did make me smile when he said how it was all just rock n roll, small shows big shows, as long as the crowd is having a good time! :) I guess that’s really what it’s all about!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Midnight, Washington DC, every Saturday
Midnight crashed onto the DC Alternative scene in November 2002. It carried on from where the old Catacomb event left off, held at a space called The Meeting Place on 17th and L Streets. Scott the promoter recalled “There was a crowd at the door before we officially opened,” Scott has also been quoted as saying – “It was his intention to create an informal and friendly gothic hangout, while trying to add in small things that were missing from other club venues in the area.” As time carried on Midnight played host to a number of live acts like Bow Ever Down and Dharmata 101, while becoming a popular place for Guest DJ’s to spin, some of these Djs have included, Saint Matthew of Baltimore’s Kommencemen, DJ Danny Red, and DJ Paul Hart, even me on a few occasions, it’s one place I try to hit on every USA trip and I genuinely love playing there. Make sure you get to hear resident Dj Vlad if you ever get the chance and you happen to be in DC, he’s one of the most progressive I’ve ever heard.
Why do I love it so much, well, there is a real family atmosphere at Midnight, all the Djs, the helpers, the bar staff, the security and the promoters seem to be committed to keeping up a friendly atmosphere, a friendly atmosphere that Midnight provides so well. Imagine a gothic/Industrial version of Cheers. I want to make special mention at this point of the chief of security Six and his impeccable team of some of the best security I’ve ever encountered. Scott once summed it up by simply saying – “There’s a Good group of people here” Midnight has a slightly unique format, allowing its clubbers to shop from different local vendors, whilst dancing to a diverse mix of music, at the same time as they socialise with an equally diverse crowd, that takes in some of the original scene veterans with the newbies while they dance together. At Midnight (the time not the club name) there is the announcements about the forthcoming weeks, the general scene and a prize draw that has some highly random prizes.
The diversity of activity and crowd keeps the night fresh and exciting, some of the regular vendors have included Slyx Fashions (http://www.slyx.com) with their stock of latex clothing as well as offering patrons the chance to lie in a rubber bed that is vacuumed sucked around their entire body. Stark Raving Mad, another regular vendor, offers girls the chance to pick up hair barrettes, purses, corsets, and shirts, that will make their clubbing outfits complete. I particularly liked the gothic yard sale that was the stall last time I spun there. The party vibe is carried on by the rotation of hand selected DJ’s all picked by Scott. It’s a format that’s hard to argue with, it’s a format that pleases a large crowd and draws them back week in week out, Midnight is a place where people can catch up with friends, meet new ones, pick up new clothes, and dance to some of the finest djs on the scene.
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 The Perfects
Ric Peters
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 This is the Voice of Australia … an introduction to the wealth of music and culture that the Australian scene has to offer. Each month I will be writing about what’s new, what’s up-and-coming and what’s hot right now. Enjoy! Miss Black The new issue of Fiend will be landing on shelves at the end of April. Full of music, dark shopping and lifestyles, it is something you don't want to miss. Issue 21 includes interviews with British EBM group Nitzer Ebb, Italian electro/goth/techno band XP8 and fetish model Emily Marilyn. www.fiend-magazine.com FASHION Deep in the heart of Texas (I mean Perth) is nestled Burlesque Baby. Being run by those great guys who are the driving force behind Mame, one of Perth's leading Goth stores, you know Burlesque Baby is going to have a whole swag of interesting local and international clothing points of focus. Situated at 567 Wellington St, Perth, Burlesque Baby offers a wide gamut of clothing inspired, not so surprisingly given the name, by the feminine era times of the 1940s and 50s. Not everyone may be thinking that pasties are the next hot thing to wear for a good night out. But you would be hard pressed not to find something that catches your eye in their collection of clothing, corsets, fascinators and accessories. Recently they have started stocking the Pussy Cat Dolls range of lingerie so go check them out. http://www.burlesquebaby.com.au/
Dark Muse Corsetry has just launched its new web site, including their new range of polka dot and gothic brocade gusset corsets. 
Purpur fashion has relaunched their website to be a web store where you can buy straight from their ready-to-wear collections. They have just launched their 'Noir' collection, which is more gothic-inspired than the military style that brought them to fashion-fame. Look out for Purpur fashion at Circa Nocturna with their retro-futuristic, almost Matrix-style collection of garments made of cotton, PVC and furs. Log onto Beserk's web store to see their new collection and super-cheap sale items. Become a member on the Beserk web store for your chance to win a $50 voucher each month. www.beserkclothing.com Perth store Red Stripe Clothing stocks over 15 Perth-based designers plus loads of imported clothing and accessories. It has labels that you can't get anywhere else. www.redstripeclothing.com CLUBS Black Cherry at the Factory Theatre, Sydney was a night full of entertainment, with some of Australia’s top burlesque dancers, local rock bands and DJs working between the two rooms. Burlesque performer Tasia wowed audiences with her elegant light routine, while The Rumjacks got everyone dancing, or at least tapping their feet. www.myspace.com/blackcherryclub Darkwave Brisbane Goth club Decadance will be running on April 10 at The Globe, Fortitude Valley. Bands playing include The Horse Darkly, The Wretched Villians, 13 Bats and Scybermonk. www.globetheatre.com.au Cabaret Nocturne had the biggest crowd ever in January with ever 300 people. The next event is March 19th and has Dave Foreman performing live as well as being the official Emilie Autumn after party. There will be Emilie Autumn-inspired cocktails for $15. www.cabaretnocturne.net The Sydney Fetish Ball will take place at the Gaelic Club on April 25th. Genitorturers will be playing live with DJs and performers including Mandy Rollins, Lui Raptor and Neo Tokyo. The new Canberra club Null attracted 180 people who were entertained by resident DJs Virul3nt, Metavirus and IDOC. The next night will be at the Transit Bar on March 20 and has guest DJs Requiem and Opiate. 
Sunday Wreckovery is going to be a chilled Sunday afternoon at the Sandringham Hotel, Newtown. The next event is March 21 and is featuring Unit 13, Lunar Module, All Eyes dark and DJ Tigerlily. The Burlesque Ball was sold out in most Australian cities and guests were entertained by performers such as Julie Atlas Muz and Peekaboo Pointe from the US and Roxie Dlite from Canada.
BANDS Brisbane EBM band Bitch Brigade will be launching their album 'Dendrite' at Scvherkraft, upstairs at the Transcontinental Hotel, Brisbane on April 10. Bitch Brigade has vocals reminiscent of Ladytron and Battery, mixed with a beat that is perfect for the dancefloor. www.myspace.com/bbrigade
The Dark Shadows and Mz Ann Thropik will be playing at Batcave in Sydney on March 11. Batcave is on every Thursday night at Club 77, and plays old-school goth and industrial. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=362831515029 
Perth is hosting a Sea Shepherd benefit gig which includes local bands including Battletruck, Suffer, Scalphunter, Apathex, Dead grenade and SSA. Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=294022592738&index=1 US industrial/metal/industrial rock band Genitorturers will be touring Australia from April 23-30. www.rivettingpromotions.com 
ART Outre Gallery in Sydney and Melbourne will be exhibiting original paintings and new prints by Niagara. Niagara is a musician and painter who works within the pop art style and collage. She will also be touring with her current band 'The Hitmen'. Dr Sketchys Sydney has started up again for 2010 featuring Chrys Columbine from the UK on Tuesday 9th March. www.drsketchy.com.au. For Dr Sketchy's in Melbourne visit http://drsketchymelbourne.com, and in Byron Bay www.drsketchybyron.com
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 ‘Demons And Wizards’ - Uriah Heep: Mercury Records/Bronze Records: 1975:
Once again, apologies for those who may not like the following bands, hopefully you will have heard of them however! "I don’t really see myself as a fantasy artist but as a landscape painter.” - Roger Dean.
‘Expect No Mercy’ - Nazareth: A and M Records: 1977:
Another classic rock band I want to include this month are Nazareth, with the ‘Expect No Mercy’ album.
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 Vurt
It's a rabbit hole without the rabbit but plenty of "drink me’s”, in the forms of feathers. Set in a futuristic Manchester, the story is narrated by Scribble, who is searching for the elusive English Voodoo as a way to retrieve his sister (and lover), Desdemona, who is stuck in a bad Vurt. He runs with the Stash Riders, who both help and hinder him, as he makes his way through Bottle Town, harboring an illegal extraterrestrial that he needs to exchange to get Desdemona back; and maybe listening to the Game Cat along the way, who knows all and dispenses advice when it sees fit. The rhythm of Noon’s words feels like being in a rave, vibrancy of some scenes coming at the reader like glowstick-induced hallucinations on a dancefloor. I don’t agree with the book jacket's assessment of Noon's first novel, but not everything published has to be the Next Great Thing. It's a fun romp, and a must buy for fans of Gibson or Philip K. Dick. Easy to digest and with its quick pace, even I couldn’t put it down.
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 SPONSORED BY Fashion flashbacks: There I was after a vodka too many in the small space of a crowded pub dancing provocatively behind her. These waist shrinking-tit busters are a miracle in a form of a seductive corset, its sucks in the stomach and pushes out your breasts to create a figure that all of us woman wish to own naturally. Corsets have made a bold comeback since burlesque was revived in the early 2000’s and brought back a lot of history.
(Stand straight and shoulders back....) (The Edwardian Corset...)
(Fast forward to this century) These days’ women no longer are forced to wear corsets with elegant gowns or daily dresses. (Some good advice....) To end this very brief history lesson, corsets are here to stay!
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Mitch Hedberg
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Psychosis by Sarah Kane
4:48 Psychosis, Sarah Kane’s last play before her untimely suicide at 28 in 1999, has often been described as her suicide note in play form. To view the play as such, however, would be an injustice to the playwright and to a play that is so much more than just a full-stop, more than a posthumous suicide note in motion. The entire cast is excellent, but Magdalena Cielecka’s performance of the nameless Woman is truly outstanding. Cielecka gives a terrifying, and visceral portrayal and given that the Woman is never off stage, her energy never wanes through the 80 minute or so running time, and we are gripped in her struggle as she slips deeper into the clutches of her condition, disturbing and exhaustive as it is. From her screeching torment, to the fragile moments of hope, equally intense and disarming, we are invited into a personal hell and who we see on stage is not a broad symbol, or a generic representation of depression, but a human and highly personal display of a woman trapped in the system and in her mind, harrowing in its brutality. I highly recommend this production, and if ever given a chance to see it, prepare for a piece of theatre that is unique and emotive, unforgettable as it explores the darkest pits of the human condition.
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So here we are again trying to decide what delightful tortures we are going to visit on those foolish enough to want to be our slaves. After weeks of being bombarded with politicians all trying to woo me I have found my mind leaning towards a good guide for those of you who want to stab someone.
I am of course talking about playpiercing but thought I’d see whether or not there is an internet watchdog that will pick up on the words “stab” and “politician” being in the same sentence. Play piercing is one of the most visually stunning and apparently extreme forms of play, often resulting in blood streaming across the skin of your victim as they wriggle and writhe in the grip of endorphine hyped sensations. It also provides the most reward for the least effort and is therefore the logical choice for a lazy cow such as my own good self. Why tire out your arms beating their buttocks and shoulders for hours on end when the same result can be achieved with a dozen or so needles.
Obviously hygiene is of the utmost importance when piercing, you are breaking the skin after all and infection is always going to be a risk. Make sure that you are only using sterile needles ( I favour microlance 21 or 22 gauge, green top and black top) and by sterile I DON’T mean that you have held them over a lighter flame for a few seconds! Always begin by donning your gloves then swabbing the area you are planning on stabbing your victim in and your gloves (you really can’t be too careful with this) I will then often begin by gently stroking the area with one hand as I remove the needles from their wrapping with the other (again clean gloves after this) I often find it comfortable to hold up to 8 of the needles between my lips as my fingers then begin to pluck gently at the intended victim, taking areas of skin between thumb and forefinger and lifting slightly.
I find this works very well at building up tension within your victim as well. When you have got bored of just playing around with them remove a needle from its plastic sheath and slowly trail its cold steel sharpness over their skin until you reach the area that is currently being pinched between your thumb and forefinger. As you reach this hump in their flesh push forward smoothly and the needle should slide through their flesh easily. You are aiming for a shallow piercing of about ½” in length. Once you are happy with how the needle is sitting get another needle and repeat until safeword.
One of the other main concerns with this is needlestick, that awkward moment when you stab your finger on the piercing you have just given someone and now have to work out the best way of telling them you have Hep C. No real advice about this apart from DON’T!!!! For clear advice on Hep C, visit - http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/ Obviously, or at least I would hope obviously, some areas are considered out of bounds for this kind of thing. Eyelids for example should be avoided when piercing, or indeed when beating or branding but then I am assuming a measure of common sense among you. However just in case I am wrong DO NOT PIERCE EYELIDS!
Come back next time for my guide to how long to leave them in for and how to remove them safely
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 Dj Znuh from New England lays out some rules for a new Dj
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 Nocturnal Dance Launch Night
Nocturnal Dance is a new dance company created by Amy Morgan and Alyxxandra Sanchez Edinboro. These girls are on a mission, helping to create a community for those interested in rock and metal music and dance. Mixing an array of dynamic choreography and daring dance styles to inspire confidence, inviting others to join their dance classes. They offer dance training as well as live performances for events and bands.
The launch night was hosted by Vienna Shilling, who had taken on the guise of a strict librarian for the night. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and slight scepticism, unsure of what to expect but the night turned out to be anything but dull and very entertaining. The Girls opened the show Smoke and Diamonds, a creative medley of alternative acts, with a playful, bouncy dance performance consisting of small but quick movements featuring a Poi performance from Nicola Hooks. The girls danced to the powerful and catchy electric noises from the band Pendulum, a suitably punchy way to kick start the launch.
Other standout performances included a bluesy duet performed by Amy Morgan with the vocal talents from the effortlessly sexy Siobhan McGuire. The pair sang the infamous and iconic song Fever, bringing a jazzy cabaret feel to their performance.
Dark performance art with a game theme, starring Sophia Disgrace as a scantily clad super-sexy cyber-doll wearing an Optimus Prime mask. She begs to be played, only to rebel against her chosen gamer.
Emily Jane Starr put on an elegant performance displaying her skills with taming fire, making bold and graceful movements, mimicking the fire and a dramatic climax with a beautiful display of fire breathing.
The Nocturnal Dance girls performed various routines to tracks such as Hot Kiss by Juliette and the Licks, an energetic performance revealing their unity, passion and enthusiasm. Change in the House of Flies by the Deftones, performed by Alyxxandra Sanchez Edinboro and Victoria Sims, which blended nicely into a following routine where Victoria left the stage and joining the not-even-nearly-exhausted Alyxx was Amy for a well executed contemporary dance to another track from the Queen of the Damned Soundtrack.
The girls also displayed humour in an exuberant and sensual aerobics style dance performance, featuring special guests in the form of a pair of male gym enthusiasts who try to psych one another out. As the event comes to a close our Hostess Vienna indulges in a brief but eccentric skit as she sheds her strict image to encourage people not to be afraid to let loose and dance like no body is watching! Before proudly sauntering off stage she lets people know that they can be signed up for classes via her. Later armed with a clipboard Vienna had more than accomplished signing a tidy collection of new recruits. Launch night was a total success! |
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(So it begins.....)![The_Imperial_summer_corset_ca1890[1].gif](index_clip_image004.gif)
![20090426173939!Coronet_Corset_Co[1].gif](index_clip_image006.gif)
(Probably the most ridiculus looking shape of the bunch and the one style that I haven’t seen recreated, however it has less health risks to a woman’s stomach and abdomen than others)![OBSATRDBLK[1].jpg](index_clip_image008.jpg)
You can go casual with jeans and denim-like leggings (Treggings) or show a bit more leg (if you got good pins) by combining a corset with a frilly tutu and a Ra-Ra skirt. 
real suicide attempt while a distorted love-song drones in the background, to name just two, these elements are never used excessively or for ostentatious shock value. It would be easy to allow these moments to detract our attention from the content, which is distressing in it‘s very nature, but this never happens. They are used purposely, and are disturbing not just because they shock, but because we, as an audience, feel them
