Unlike most labels, projects or artists with "links to the past" that we review here, praxis is *not defunct*, but still very active.
it does not just still put out records, but the crew is also involved in publishing a magazine (datacide) and running a record shop in berlin, and involved in overthrowing the capitalist system in an anarcho-communist techno-revolution.
but let's cut to the point. due to the large material and output of the label, we focus only on one segment here: it's 90s releases. which helped define plenty of the genres and culture we mentioned above (hardcore, breakcore...).
let's go!
Scaremonger - Scaremonger EP (Praxis 1)
*Very* interesting initial release by Praxis.
Even though it's from 1992, it's almost "pre-techno" in sound - the drums, percussion closer to acid house, detroit, or new beat.
If these sounds were made on a distant planet. In a different galaxy. On a different universe.
Also quite hardcore! The "bang bang" beats blast pretty bold.
The icing on the cake, of course, is the overarching theme of video drome on here.
Bourbonese Qualk - Knee Jerk Reaction EP (Praxis 2)
Praxis had a very different sound in the beginning, and compared with other qualk releases, this might even be the most "dancefloor" friendly.
if terms like this are appropriate here, as the sounds are still very shrill and powerful.
Scaremonger - Soon We All Will Have Special Names (Praxis 1X)
more scaremongering, via remixes of the first praxis release.
this goes all over the map, from 80s ebm type sounds, to proto-hardcore techno.
Bourbonese Qualk - Qual EP (Praxis 3)
Bourbonese Qualk actually began producing long before the advent of hardcore - or proper techno, even.
on this release, you can still feel the anarchist diy spirit of early electronic days. that get channeled into the upcoming era of hardcore beats and dancing insanity.
Metatron - Speed And Politics EP (Praxis 4)
If there was a genre term called "left wing squat techno", then this would be its epitome.
The tracks have the deep bass frequencies for huge sound systems within enclosed walls and basements. The semi-dry production as regards reverbs and fx; that fits to the same surroundings. Plus the focus on hypnotic and repetitive beats for pre- or post-riot allnighters.
the peak track is "men who hate the law". But I also like "state of emergency", as it is a bit slower than the rest.
Bourbonese Qualk - Autonomia (Praxis 5)
This release is a hidden gem, right at the beginning of the label's catalogue.
lots of tracks and sounds. genre is "undefined" to most part, i hear influences and spirits of ebm, industrial, acid house, even a bit of the proto-plasma of psy-trance maybe...
but, and this is noteworthy, there are some legit industrial hardcore tracks on here, and these are amongst the earliest tracks of that kind. and amongst the hardest.
Noface – Burnout EP (Praxis 6)
Very interesting early release by Noface aka Christoph Fringeli on his own label.
It's mentionable that the drums (and tracks) are optimized for very low and loud bass systems. Like those in the UK squat and free party scene.
The tracks on the other hand could not be more varied. There is a kind of strange "dubcore", early Doomcore, fast acid, industrial hardcore...
And the killer track for me is "Love or Kill". Cyberdelic bleeps and totally insane, non-traditional drum structures.
Disciples Of Belial - Songs Of Praise (Praxis 7)
A very interesting release in the early days of what we now call "Hardcore" and "Gabber".
The man behind it used to be a black metal musician, and after his electronic period, found success in that genre again.
So one might expect a kind of "blackened gabber" release here, and, in concept it might be, but not really in sound.
Because in sound it's very close to the rotterdam and amsterdam counterparts of its time. "Bang bang" 909s, four-to-the-floor rhythms, sequencer logic. But there are no funky hoovers, silly squeaky vocals, MCs shouting "clap your hands" and all the other shenanigans that were so typical for "Rotterdam Gabber".
They have been replaced by sounds of screaming machines, klaxons, and general noise.
Of course, at much later years, we had artists that did all-out speedcore bpms, chaos without rhythm and rhyme.
But this one *still* has structure, yet the structure is already caving in and breaking down.
And this is exactly what makes this releae so interesting: it almost sits in the middle of the road from "dance-gabber" to infernal speedcore.
that doesn't mean it's necessarily "both" at the same time: it's hardcore techno with a zany, mental, hellish twist.
and we like that!
Metatron - Seduction EP (Praxis 8)
for me, this release is a spiritual brainchild to both the preceding metatron release, and noface's "burnout".
the sound continues in their direction, and if you are in need for a sequel (which you should be!), then check this vinyl as well.
DJ Jackal - Drumtrax (Praxis 9)
PIL once stated "this is what you want, this is what you get".
and it's true for this record; it promises "drumtrax", and drum tracks you get.
tracks that focus almost exclusively on rough drum, strange rhytms, earth shaking grooves, and rumbling basses.
in the praxis way.
Various Artists - Paraphysical Cybertronics (Volume One: The Experiments Of Bloor Schleppy) (Praxis 10 CD)
Compilation by Praxis Records, which is, as you know the pioneer label for experimental Hardcore and, later, Breakcore.
We are told that these are the "paraphysical" and "cybertronic" experiments of Bloor Schleppy.
An undisclosed character, and neither on this, or later releases, we do learn who he actually is or was.
The tracks themselves do embody the sounds of spirit sessions, séances, and ouija boards though - to a degree.
We learn about the "Mark of the Beast", a "Nirvana Trail"; and "When Time Becomes a Lock" you don't have to anything but "Hallucinate".
The whole shebang somehow reminds me of a past thing called "occult tape research", where the snake oil vendor equivalents of self-professed scientists (or quacks) would do extensive recordings of what they thought to be the disembodied sounds and voices of the deceased, spirits, and more evil things - live on tape.
And here, too, strange voices and sounds out of nothingness seem to manifest themselves, possess the surroundings, and then pass through the next wall and disappear again.
A lovely release!
Fav Picks:
The Mover
Noface
Metatron
Heist (4) - Dystrophic EP (Praxis 11)
Under-rated EP. "corridors" and "blista" are industrial hardcore bangers. (when industrial hardcore was still fast!)
but even more interesting is "homage". kinda like polygon window / lory d / mover soundscapes are disrupted by slowcore beats.
DJ Yubba / Deviant – World's Fattest Split (Praxis 12)
this is definitely the odd one out on praxis. a release featuring hardcore that feels more brawny than brainy.
but this is not a bad thing.
as the liner notes indicate "If this doesn't get you yubbaring, then you're no yabba!"
Lorenz Attractor - Strange Attractor EP (Praxis 13)
Something i mentioned before is that "blackened death metal" musician jason mendonca happened to do a frantic hardcore-gabba EP on this label.
and in an even weirder twist of things, he also was involved in the production of this ep.
and it happens to be a true blue doomcore techno EP. one of the first of its kinds.
heavy, dark stuff.
there are also two more experimental tracks, "raw toy" and "the suffering of kabul".
Deadly Buda – Morph Beat Vol.I (Praxis 14)
I reckon this is one of the first EPs by deadly buda, or productions even.
buda always had a very interesting style, different from most other producers. lot's of samples from various genres, thrown and cut together, layered, punctured... i guess this is an influence from rap / hip hop and its traditions of scratching and mashing things from the most diverse sources...
either way, this machine kills!
Cyberchrist – Information : Revolution (Praxis 16)
imho cyberchrist always was one of "the speed freak"'s most interesting projects.
and this 12" is outstanding, too.
yeah, there are some killer terror-gabba tracks at the start of each side. highly recommended.
but then... the second tracks.
there is a completely arhythmic hardcore/industrial track on side A. loud, and very minimalistic / futuristic at the same time.
imagine Schwarzenegger, in his role as the terminator, turning into a b-boy, then firing the gun in every direction, and then doing the same while breaking into a funky dance.
now side b... an ambient composition... with heavy use of frequency-modulation synthesis (martin damm was always quite good at that).
like a nightmare while your sub sinks down, down to 20.000 leagues under the sea.
then you wake up from the nightmare. and are still trapped in this sub.
Disciples Of Belial – Goat Of Mendes E.P. (Praxis 17)
"the goat of mendes" is a cult classic to some gabber fans. in my opinion it's topped by dob's preceding release, "songs of praise".
but, it's still high quality, and good, true industrial hardcore is a rarity to come by, and this 12" does not disappoint in that regard.
the real interesting track / song on this ep is the one about mary. real oldschool, lo-fi death / black metal on a hc tech vinyl. it must be a miracle!
Somatic Responses – Post-Organic EP (Praxis 18)
it's somatix! this release happened when they were on the fringes of developing an own, new style. like it was featured on later albums on hymen or ant-zen.
but this one here, oh it's still rooted in the "kill em all!" style of hardcore-gabba-terror of the 90s.
more cerebral, more... "metallic", though. and the later experimentalism is already peaking in.
but maybe... this makes it all the more lethal!
Cunning Meets Bambule – Cunning Meets Bambule (Praxis 19)
very under-apreciated release on praxis that shows the label at one of its highpoints.
really smart, really clever electronic hardcore and acid or experimental music.
if your friends think "hardcore techno" would necessary equal "gabba gabba hey!" sillyness, play this record to them.
Slaughter Politics – Slaughter Politics (Praxis 21)
this happened around the time praxis transitioned into more of a breakcore direction.
this release is kinda inbetween, it's half 4/4 "hardcore" and other half is breakcore in sound.
and this is a nice twist, ain't it?
Test Tube Kid – H (Praxis 22)
in my opinion, catani had the "e-de cologne" alias for his "gabba!" output, ec8or for digital hardcore songs, eradicator for underground squat terror-hardcore, and this one... uhm i'd say it goes in the direction of eradicator, but maybe even a bit more experimental. test tube kid, nomen est omen.
this ep stands out as no track on here sounds like the other.
"promars" is probably the one you know from your local underground dancefloor.
my favs are "marchine" though... and "h" !
as the liner notes indicate "If this doesn't get you yubbaring, then you're no yabba!"
Lorenz Attractor - Strange Attractor EP (Praxis 13)
Something i mentioned before is that "blackened death metal" musician jason mendonca happened to do a frantic hardcore-gabba EP on this label.
and in an even weirder twist of things, he also was involved in the production of this ep.
and it happens to be a true blue doomcore techno EP. one of the first of its kinds.
heavy, dark stuff.
there are also two more experimental tracks, "raw toy" and "the suffering of kabul".
Deadly Buda – Morph Beat Vol.I (Praxis 14)
I reckon this is one of the first EPs by deadly buda, or productions even.
buda always had a very interesting style, different from most other producers. lot's of samples from various genres, thrown and cut together, layered, punctured... i guess this is an influence from rap / hip hop and its traditions of scratching and mashing things from the most diverse sources...
either way, this machine kills!
Cyberchrist – Information : Revolution (Praxis 16)
imho cyberchrist always was one of "the speed freak"'s most interesting projects.
and this 12" is outstanding, too.
yeah, there are some killer terror-gabba tracks at the start of each side. highly recommended.
but then... the second tracks.
there is a completely arhythmic hardcore/industrial track on side A. loud, and very minimalistic / futuristic at the same time.
imagine Schwarzenegger, in his role as the terminator, turning into a b-boy, then firing the gun in every direction, and then doing the same while breaking into a funky dance.
now side b... an ambient composition... with heavy use of frequency-modulation synthesis (martin damm was always quite good at that).
like a nightmare while your sub sinks down, down to 20.000 leagues under the sea.
then you wake up from the nightmare. and are still trapped in this sub.
Disciples Of Belial – Goat Of Mendes E.P. (Praxis 17)
"the goat of mendes" is a cult classic to some gabber fans. in my opinion it's topped by dob's preceding release, "songs of praise".
but, it's still high quality, and good, true industrial hardcore is a rarity to come by, and this 12" does not disappoint in that regard.
the real interesting track / song on this ep is the one about mary. real oldschool, lo-fi death / black metal on a hc tech vinyl. it must be a miracle!
Somatic Responses – Post-Organic EP (Praxis 18)
it's somatix! this release happened when they were on the fringes of developing an own, new style. like it was featured on later albums on hymen or ant-zen.
but this one here, oh it's still rooted in the "kill em all!" style of hardcore-gabba-terror of the 90s.
more cerebral, more... "metallic", though. and the later experimentalism is already peaking in.
but maybe... this makes it all the more lethal!
Cunning Meets Bambule – Cunning Meets Bambule (Praxis 19)
very under-apreciated release on praxis that shows the label at one of its highpoints.
really smart, really clever electronic hardcore and acid or experimental music.
if your friends think "hardcore techno" would necessary equal "gabba gabba hey!" sillyness, play this record to them.
Slaughter Politics – Slaughter Politics (Praxis 21)
this happened around the time praxis transitioned into more of a breakcore direction.
this release is kinda inbetween, it's half 4/4 "hardcore" and other half is breakcore in sound.
and this is a nice twist, ain't it?
Test Tube Kid – H (Praxis 22)
in my opinion, catani had the "e-de cologne" alias for his "gabba!" output, ec8or for digital hardcore songs, eradicator for underground squat terror-hardcore, and this one... uhm i'd say it goes in the direction of eradicator, but maybe even a bit more experimental. test tube kid, nomen est omen.
this ep stands out as no track on here sounds like the other.
"promars" is probably the one you know from your local underground dancefloor.
my favs are "marchine" though... and "h" !
Various Artists - Dead By Dawn (Praxis 23)
"Dead by Dawn" was a series of "satanic speedcore parties" (according to the flyer) in a squat in london, in the 90s. the very squat was actually quite famous and pops up in anarchist history books.
this LP was made to accompany or celebrate these parties, and, as far as i know, only artists who played at the parties are represented on here.
the tracklist looks like the "who is who" of dangerous electronic underground in the 90s. tracks range from harsh / gabba, to more intelligent or experimental products; or tracks that are all at once. like the final one, "the fire is the centre", which is also my favorite track here.
Society Of Unknowns – Society Of Unknowns (Praxis 24)
collab between christoph fringeli and jason skeet. (and aphasic)
this is one of the earlier breakcore releases... and you can feel that the style was without a "solid framework" yet.
"transversal" is quite close to traditional jungle... while others use distorted, "hardcore" type drums.
i love this one because there is an interesting source of sounds aka samples... musique concrete, contemporay avantgarde from the past... this is more like an intellectual, auteur mode of breakcore...
not some rave/drug fueled low blow stuff.
and the main, sweet, wonderful piece for me is "dead by dawn" - the endless mix.
it's neither breakcore, nor hardcore, or in any genre really. one of a kind.
...like a sound collage, washing over you, voices and despair in the echoes... something remiscient to steel works or a bell... and lower bass frequencies, too, yeah.
looping on and on. listen to and maybe you will feel the same way.
Potere Occulto - Potere Occulto (Praxis 25)
the long awaited collaboration between the chiefs of ghostly idm and the head honcho of experimental hardcore.
i don't know how long this has been in the making, but if i recall correctly it was around 4-5 years before it finally got released.
given the hadean and wild nature of all 3 producers involved, the results are as good and positively-terrifying as one might expect.
stand out track for me is "Mynydd Ddu", which exchanges the usual juno-like synths of the somatix with something that sounds like the wailing of cerberus.
Pure – King Kong Pt. 2 / Katharsis (Praxis 26)
pure is / was one half the infamous techno-gabba project "ilsa gold".
he does not give us xtc-driven rave madness on here, the whole thing is more cerebral, introverted and - hard & disturbing.
my fav pick is the flip side: "katharsis". a track that hammers on with its speedcore beats for close to 7 minutes.
Base Force One – Welcome To Violence (Praxis 27)
the ep that set new standards for the (back then still very) young breakcore movement.
there are also two speedcore-smashers included.
and phuturist has a surprising, piercing industrial slowcore sequence. maybe my favorite thing on here.
oh, and the whole ep is based on the "faster, pussycat! kill! kill!" movie (not related to the tom jones song).
Bambule – Vertical Invasion (Praxis 29)
interesting second release by bambule.
at the meeting point of idm, breakcore... and general weird experiments!
Eiterherd – 1984 Vs. 1999 (Vision Vs. Reality) (Praxis 30)
to say this release was a breakcore manifesto would not be an under-statement.
as its tied in to political and insurrectionary concepts. the front cover art features a printed-out pgp key for electronic communication.
the back cover provides further links for the (hopefully) revolutionary listeners. like a list of websites dedicated to politics, cryptography, information... (i guess most of them are defunct by now, though.)
the music itself is just as revolutionary.
the whole concept is, of course, the question: do we already live in a world that is as authoritarian and dystopian as it was envisioned in orwell's novel "1984"?
so there are lots of samples cut from the german dub of the 1984 movie used in the tracks.
which makes everything even more powerful and deep.
16-17 - Mechanophobia (Praxis 31)
another project on praxis, that was already very active before the dawn of techno and hardcore.
16-17 already released on the praxis pre-cursor vision before.
and on here, they give us early breakcore that seems to be influenced in equal parts by avant-garde industrialism and deranged free jazz.
Hecate - Hate Cats E.P. (Praxis 32)
still one of hecate's finest, maybe even hardest EPs.
also one of the best and wildest early breakcore vinyl overall.
especially look out for "caught up". some of the most haunted, chthonic soundscapes i ever heard!
Nomex - Trocante Gramofony E.P. (Praxis 33)
praxis' output was always the most varied; of course.
so here is something completely different, a pure harsh noize / experimental ep.
it's more heady than, say, merzbow or masonna, but cuts just as deep.
check this track: "the fire is the centre" (a noizy re-make of the "dead by dawn" track by the jackal?).
https://praxisrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.discogs.com/label/4638-Praxis