Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Fischkopf Top 148: All tracks by Fischkopf Hamburg listed, ranked, and commented


Here it is.
Every track that was put out by the label Fischkopf Hamburg, from all records they released.
Listed, ordered, with a little comment / short review / description added to each one.
Note that the "chart" concept might be a bit misleading here:
Essentially, we love *all* Fischkopf tracks and think they are great. So, if a track is at number 101 or 124 in this chart, this does not mean it's a bad track - to the contrary!
It's all good stuff (but some is a little better ;)
We just thought the charts format would be a good idea; to present the label's catalogue, increase awareness of its music, and give somewhat of an overview of the material the label released.
(And some of the comments aim to be in the typical tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted attitude, and style of the 90s hardcore fanzines)

More info about Fischkopf Hamburg can be found here:


But let us begin:

1.Taciturne - Phenprocoumon

very inventive hardcore techno track. a good example of the kind of music Fischkopf Records released. commodore amiga hardcore sound. uses broken, unusual rhythms, not typical 4/4 hardcore techno sequences. very noisy and abrasive. at the same time, a "far eastern" ambient melody is used in this track, which is very calm and soothing. this creates a very interesting clash between the harsh, abrasive elements, and the calm melody.

2.Auto-Psy - Oxyde

A legendary track made by Stella Michelsen. Hardcore Techno. From France. Industrial. Raw. Surreal. Manipulated vocals. Ambient elements. Immortal.

3.No Name - Latex

Aggressive Overture produced by Poka Michelson. Extremely unorthodox. Noisy. Close to avantgarde music. Glorious.

4.Fields Of Defacement - Urticated

Acidcore. Experimental. Project by Lasse Steen. Unusual sound. Hypnotic melody. Very Techno-like.

5.Christoph De Babalon - Babylon 90210

Dreamy. Futuristic. Sci-Fi. Jungle, Breakcore. Done on an amiga 500. By a producer from Hamburg.

6.Amiga Shock Force - Keep Your Enemies Close

By cult producers from germany. Not really hardcore techno. Almost soft, calm. Use of breakbeats. Commodore Amiga sound. Digital, lofi, sizzling. Very good.

7.Cybermouse - My Dorectives

Proto-Doomcore techno track. Very unusual. Entrancing. Techno-style. Drone that gets modulated throughout the track.  Mid-tempo. Use of loops. Creates a surreal feel. 

8.Eradicator - You're Lieing Pig

The only breakcore track on the "Agit Prop" LP. very lo fi, very thin sound. strange sound fx, bleeps, almost videogame-like sounds. overdriven breakbeat rhythm running throughout the track. sparsely used other elements such as distorted guitars and an aggressive vocal sample. great work by Patric Catani under his "Eradicator" alias.

9.Fields Of Defacement - Bang-Bang (Live In Hamburg 96)

Live recording. Brutal. Acidcore. With gabber and general hardcore elements. Entrancing. Exalted. Shows the power of a hardcore techno live performance.

10.Taciturne - Mourning

Probably the best known track by Taciturne next to "Der Toten". was included in Manu Le Malin's "Biomechanik" compilation. Use of ambient sounds next to a midtempo, industrial hardcore techno drum. very minimal, very few elements, not even hi hats snares or other percussion apart from the drum. crispy noisy 8 bit commodore amiga sound. legendary track.

11.Eradicator - Thou Shall Kill

one of the best tracks on the agit prop LP. fast beats, guitars, synth, noises, and a strange vocal.

12.Cybermouse - Overreacting

electro beats. non four-to-the-floor rhythm. commodore amiga sound.

13.Monoloop - Underwater Trumpet

very interesting. unique early breakcore. drone, ambient sounds mixed with hard and rough breakbeats. very surreal, futuristic. this track could only have been produced in hamburg.

14.Auto-Psy - Neutron

experimental merciless distorted ambient hardcore techno.

15.Burning Lazy Persons - If The Truth Be Known

very brutal. one of the hardest by burning lazy persons. guitars and fast beats.

16.Orderly Chaos - Melt Away Love

pure ambient track. interesting, repeated melody. wonderful track.

17.No Name - Control

one of the most classic and most fierce hardcore tracks. if you haven't heard this one, you are missing out!

18.Mathey Olivier - Residential Volume

heavy and loud drums, noises, funny intro.

19.R.A.W. - Cold War Memory Nightmare

great, great early breakcore. interesting use of sounds and "melody". also a good but haunting cold-war feel.

20.EPC - Where Do You Go?

perfect hardcore track, with radar / space-transmission like sounds. very industrial.

21.Fields Of Defacement - Attached

one of the most bittersweet dark and disturbing melodies in hardcore techno. set to arrhythmic beats and fragile manipulated percussion.

22.Eradicator - Titan

included on the 90s hardcore cd compilation "mururoa test 1". truly experimental hard electronics.

23.Amiga Shock Force - Psycore Pt. 1

slow intro. amiga computer sounds. hissing, noisy, overdriven. surreal feel.

24.Taciturne - In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi

samples the chuch of satan. non 4/4 beats. slow, distorted, noisy. dark and scary.

25.Trash Enemy HQ - Pestilence

truly interesting track. acid sounds. very dark and epic melody. no real hardcore beats and rhythm. close to industrial.

26.Eradicator - Brujeria

perfect bloodthirsty "e-de cologne"-style gabber. shouts and heavy metal guitars.

27.Christoph De Babalon - Pleased With Being Alive

one of our favorite christoph de babalon tracks. pure future and cyberdelic feel. a true classic.

28.Taciturne - Der Toten

the one and only fischkopf track that became a real "hit". was in high demand in the dutch gabber scene and ended up on countless compilations.
as you probably already know this track, I don't need to describe it here :-)

29.Cybermouse - War Is Hell

maybe the most brutal track by cybermouse. early speedcore. very minimal. anti-war message.

30.M.C.P. - Overload 30303

arhythmic hardcore inferno

31.Auto-Psy - If

when i played this track, a guy once asked me "what kind of terrorist music is this?". good description!

32.Eradicator - M.C.P.

samples the movie tron. genuine 90s experimental hardcore.

33.No Name - Ydroid

Slick and without mercy.

34.Taciturne - Haematopan F

hardcore to blow your teeth out.

35.Cybermouse - Gulp

also one of cybermouse's most hardcore track. midtempo bounding 909 next to acid sounds.

36.Christoph De Babalon - I Own Death

the first track on his fisch 12". long, long intro. then it unleashes its full force with distorted breakbeats and a powerful melody.

37.Eradicator - Used Against Us (Remix)

Experimental gabber, ambient intro, rough sound, metal guitars. Juno hoover rave sounds. Murderous, nasty, and epic.

38.Auto-Psy - Escape

one of the most outstanding "hardcore" tracks ever. a symphony of drones, fx, noises and bassdrums. over seven minutes.

39.Burning Lazy Persons - Hyper Bitch

an early speed record. brutal and shocking.

40.No Name - Koma

so psycho, so evil, so mean. can you take it?

41.Auto-Psy - Go Out

a submarine is out of control, explosions shake the vessel, metal clanking is heard, and people scream in terror.
then the sounds fade out into the cold dark blue depths.

42.Monoloop - Underwater Feelings (Live Alone Mix)

one of the most interesting tracks on this ep. fake live act. ferocious early breakcore with sophisticated production values.

43.Monoloop - Underwater Feelings

very sweet, very relaxed ambient sounds, mixed with hard breakbeats. pianos, water splashing, whales' whistling.

44.Amiga Shock Force - 24 Hour Connection

another true amigacore classic! ruthless and heavy.

45.Cybermouse - Datenvernichtung

comparable to early french noisecore. nice and evil.

46.Taciturne - Phenylephrin-Hydrochlorid

everyone knows "mourning" and "der toten", but this one is great too. proto-doomcore with a haunting drone, then gets faster towards the end.

47.Eradicator - Worringen

Heavy track with pounding steel drums, noisy synths, screams, everything you need.

48.Eradicator - Fucking Bitch Called Walker

Is that patric screaming?
Menacing uncoventional hardcore gabber techno.

49.Cybermouse - Noishead

Early noise hardcore. The noise treatment for hardcore heads.

50.No Name - 01100010

didn't the german dance act "das modul" have a similar track title?
but this one is hardcore, for sure!

51.Cybermouse - Adrenalin Structure

first track of the first fischkopf release. epic. was first released on an commodore amiga diskette magazine.
not 4/4 hardcore, but wicked and strange electro sounds.

52.Monoloop - Chill Out

breakcore madness in between being chilled (as indicated by the piano) and being killed (as indicated by the screams).

53.M.C.P. - Overload MS 50

very aphex twin like, great experimental hardcore.

54.EPC - Autoplasie

Noisecore for your mind!

55.Burning Lazy Persons - Frd

a hammer coming down on your skull.

56.P. Server - Wires (Break)

a recording of audio wires that have been broken?

57.Fields Of Defacement - Uptight

melanchonic melodic hard core tech-no?

58.EPC - R 624-2

Techno chopped up and turned into noise. Very analogue feel.

59.EPC - Persistance

Oh what a beatiful noise!

60.Eradicator - I Cum Blood

Evil experimental gabber insanity.

61.Auto-Psy - Ovoide

first track on this great ep. sounds that invoke the images of a runaway train accelerating straight to hell.

62.Auto-Psy - Andropose

the tranquil intro might give you the impression it's time to relax now, on this ep. but then the beats hammer on.

63.Eradicator - Destroy It Yourself (Remix)

March into hardcore disturbia..

64.Taciturne - Liquid Theatre

strange ambient intro. cult track.

65.M.C.P. - Overload RZ-1

hardcore machines got out of control and force people to dance to their death.

66.Auto-Psy - Clear

"null... null... null..." when i put on this record for the first time, i totally fell in love with this sound and all that followed.

67.P. Server - Ratings (Terror Unit H.Q.)

cool monotonous acidcore track.

68.M.C.P. - Overload Sigma

mental gabber up your cranium.

69.Amiga Shock Force - Sex, Mord Und Kunst

one of the fastest tracks of its era. hyperfast beats next to crazy rap samples.

70.Taciturne - Boys Don't Cry (Revisited)

robert smith would be proud!

71.No Name - Black Dream

help me. i hear voices. they are distorted. just as the drums.

72.No Name - 0.Vin .I

slowing down a bit. but not one bit less relentless.

73.Mathey Olivier - Easy Recording Aera

the last track of the last official fischkopf release. going out with a bang! and it's good-bye.

74.No Name - Kamasutra

i wonder what kamasutra technique inspires one to produce such devilish hardcore from hell like this. but then, it might be better to not find out.

75.Eradicator - Us Against Us

not as good as the revisit, but great nevertheless. tough experimental gabber.

76.Amiga Shock Force - Violent Geisha

mix between breakcore and early speedcore with an amiga feel.

77.Burning Lazy Persons - Poisoned Radio Wave

ooh, painful audio signals and overly distorted hardcore drums. i'm luving it.

78.Eradicator - Streptocock Gee

one of two true breakcore tracks patric catani did for fischkopf. excellent!

79.Taciturne - Praxis Dr. Fischer

Legendary drone-speedcore track. Doctor Fischer has the cure for you! Just go to his praxis.

80.Monoloop - The Dreamer

already a foreshadowing of the "ambient-breakcore" on fischkopf 13. epic!

81.Burning Lazy Persons - Garden Of The Permanent

this is crazy!

82.Burning Lazy Persons - Nakano Shit

man, this is some of the roughest hardcore that i ever heard.

83.EPC - Infectious Properties

these sounds bash right through your skull.

84.Fields Of Defacement - Found & Lost

Stones and flowers on the ground
We are found and lost
But love is gonna save us

85.Burning Lazy Persons - Fake

"die maschinen die maschinen die maschinen"? whatever. this machine kills!

86.Eradicator - Impulse To Destroy

the other "oversize" track on the agit prop LP. fierce drums and percussion. plenty of noise.

87.Eradicator - Distorted

Very distorted indeed! Fantastic.

88.Eradicator - Split Wide Open

Powerful radical hardcore with acid elements.

89.Burning Lazy Persons - Catastro

The overdose of noise and drums.

90.Taciturne - Krach-Aran-RMX

Now this is just krach! But a good one.

91.Eradicator - Cologne Boring M.F.

Hyperfast mental metal hardcore madness.

92.Orderly Chaos - 45m

The so real dark ambient experience.

93.Burning Lazy Persons - Kone Kane Dayone

a very very wild ride.

94.P. Server - Pulley

excellent lasse steen production. has some rave elements.

95.Amiga Shock Force - Mass Appeal Madness

one of the most "poppy" tracks on fischkopf as it samples james brown. crazy hardcore gabber.

96.Jean Bach - Tausend Stimmen

very crazy and over the top track by jean bach. heavy distortion.

97.Eradicator - Destroy It Yourself

Sepultura samples, weird noises, gabber drums - perfect!

98.Christoph De Babalon - Promise, Broken

total future psychedelic breakcore.

99.Trash Enemy H. Q. - Braintraining

noise and distortion with a painful sound without drums or anything else.

100.Taciturne - Avarie De Machine

made up of sounds of heavy machinery? great!

101.No Name - Message

we got the message and the message was clear.

102.No name - Help

get on a hardcore trip faster than light.

103.Eradicator - Starving

epic ambient intro.

104.No Name - Start E·nd

it starts and ends in torturous hardcore agony.

105.No Name - A

"a" total french insane techno track.

106.Monoloop - Second Trumpet

in style similar to the other 3 tracks on fisch 13. has a heavy jazz feel.

107.Shangoe - Army Of Darkness

interesting breakcore out of hamburg.

108.Eradicator - Agitprop Troop

interesting noise experiment.

109.Eradicator - Forkboy

early speedcore track. guitars and hyperspeed drums.

110.Taciturne - Dexpanthenol

riots of noise, distortion, and brutality.

111.Monoloop - Drum Da Style

stylish early breakcore.

112.Mathey Olivier - Second Transmission

mad scientist hardcore.

113.Mathey Olivier - Well Done!

the acid sounds from outer space invade the second part of this great french hardcore track.
well done indeed!

114.P. Server - Epigraph

lasse steen delivers with this great dark acidtechno track.

115.Taciturne - Krank

total "kranker" hardcore!

116.P. Server - Plunger

all power to the 303!

117.P. Server - Psave

legit 90s acid hardcore. rough production values, almost as if mastered from cassette tape.

118.P. Server - Dispatching

hardcore up your acid!

119.Fields Of Defacement - Dark.R

the 808 gets the full-on distortion treatment.

120.Eradicator - Enter Three Witches

one of two "oversize" tracks on the agit prop LP. on four-to-the floor beats. ambient outro.

121.Eradicator - Widerstand

noisy agit prop sounds!

122.P. Server - Banging Happening

gabber-acid.

123.Fields Of Defacement - Corkscrew

Wonderful monotonous hardcore without bleeps or melodies.

124.Amiga Shock Force - Shoot 'em Breax

A perfect early breakcore track. Hip hop and guitars.

125.Cybermouse - Obstreperous

Very experimental techno / hardcore track. 
Acid like sounds, great use of percussion, and a sci-fi feel.

126.P. Server - Metal Disposition

acid gabber brutality.

127.Burning Lazy Persons - "R"

vicious nice and nasty track by nawoto suzuki.

128.Burning Lazy Persons - Dorami De Onanie (240 Vers.)

faster onanism.

129.Johnny Ego - Untitled

again an interesting hamburg breakbeat track.

130.Orderly Chaos - Pine

painful sounds and pure ambient.

131.R.A.W. - Sudden Death

the other r.a.w. track from the otaku compilation. impressive as well!

132.EPC & A.N.T.I. - Sharpomatic

noisy hardcore with a total "piss off!" attitude.

133.Burning Lazy Persons - Dorami De Onanie

onanism will give you a mental disorder that allows you to create wonderful nasty hardcore tracks like this.

134.Burning Lazy Persons - Fish Tenpuraaaaa

fish fried well, and served for this solid hardcore dish.

135.Burning Lazy Persons - Mongolian Chop

typical nawoto suzuki. mental and dangerous. awesome.

136.Burning Lazy Persons - Niko Niko Satujin Dan

ooh I'm freaking out.

137.Taciturne - Boys Don't Cry RMX

the original "remix" version. i'm also lovin' it.

138.Taciturne - Evil Dead

a kick straight to the face.

139.P. Server - Intensioner

wonderful acid techno.

140.Eradicator - Liebe Und Verbrechen

very strange and surreal gabber track.

141.Monoloop - For The Lord

monumental, experimental and exceptional breakcore with a runtime of over 7 minutes.

142.Burning Lazy Persons - Rotter…damn

funny piss take on rotterdam hardcore. includes a piano, but not in a typical happy gabber way!

143.Burning Lazy Persons - T.C.H.C.

nasty and nice.

144.Monoloop - Kills Again

a track to die for.

145.Monoloop - Free Man

noone is ever free. except the experimental hardcore resistance! (or, in this case, early breakcore).

146.Taciturne - Nightchildren RMX

lullaby of terror for the night children.

147.Taciturne - Mo Punk RMX

do you feel lucky, punk?

148.Monoloop - She's A Lion

early breakcore from hamburg


So, that's it! Over and out. Did you like our charts? Let us know!

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Review: Miro - Forever And Ever (Planet Phuture)


During his PCP/ACA era, Miro produced in a wide array of styles. He is probably best known for his work as Stickhead/Jack Lucifer/The Kotzaak Klan (and more) for Kotzaak Unltd., delivering vicious and merciless Hardcore and Speedcore that's darker than the devil himself.

There were also projects like Steve Shit and Billy the Kid, with their cheeky, hit-the-dancefloor type Gabber anthems full of hoovers and rave stabs. Or the more restrained but very powerful Techno of projects such as The Overlord or Reign. Yet there was also another thing that stood out very much among his creative output. Tracks like Purple Moon, Blue Sun, Inspirit, Rizing High...

And if you were longing to hear some tracks in that vein again, I have some very good news for you! Because I think it's safe to say that this new release by Miro on Planet Phuture is a straight continuation of that style. Titled "Forever And Ever," it consists of two tracks, "Golden Dawn" and "Forever And Ever" (just like in the old days when releases like this "just" had 2 tracks - an A side and a B side).

"Golden Dawn" starts with a 909 drum going on as new elements are introduced and the drum gets put through further distortion. Then, in the breakdown, a synth melody slowly builds up. And it's an epic melody... dreamy, melancholic, poignant. In my opinion, definitely on the level of the melody work that can be found in classic tracks like Purple Moon. We are informed that "this one's designed to open your mind," the bass drum kicks back in, and surely this is the moment when all ravers will hit the floor and dance into ecstasy... The track goes on and introduces variations to the harmony and rhythmic elements and never loses its tight emotional grip on the listener.

"Forever and Ever" follows a very comparable structure: a mixture of Hardcore and Techno elements, beats, percussion FX... with powerful energy. While I prefer Golden Dawn by a notch, this is a fantastic and stunning track too. And again, the melody is of stimulating, hypnagogic, euphoric quality.

With this release, Miro and Planet Phuture unleash two monsters of the sonic kind again, which are tantamount to the legendary releases on PCP and AKA (and, in my opinion, take things even further ahead) and are bound to become future classics.

Monday, May 15, 2023

When Aphex Twin went truly Hardcore: A look back at 7 early tracks

Some would say that the work of Aphex Twin most of the time is pretty Hardcore by itself - at least when he doesn't go for ambient, "soft" techno and similar deliberately "mellow" outings.
And it's true that a lot of his output has a pretty harsh, abrasive, unsettling, straight-kick-to-your-teeth quality (and we mean that in the most positive of ways). Especially to new listeners that might not be acquainted with his oeuvre (if such people still exist).
Yet, there were times when Aphex produced *literally* Hardcore tracks; i.e. stuff that fits all the requirements and definitions of the Hardcore Techno genre (while still going beyond its limits, of course).
Hammerhead distorted drums in a 4/4 fashion, needlesharp percussions, walls of distortion, noises and sounds...
Tracks that, when dropped in gabber club, would make the crowd go into a riot (or make their heads pop off in a loud bang right away, at least).

Thus, here we are lookin' at 7 Aphex Twin tracks that we consider... to be literally Hardcore!


#1. Garden Of Limniri

Released under his Caustic Windows alias in 1993 on the Joyrex J9 EP.
This is truly a Hardcore blaster! Some of the most mean, dirty, evil distorted drums in Techno get unleashed in this tracks. Joined by all sorts of hellish, over-ly distorted noises and fx.
This track predates extreme Hardcore genres like Noizecore, Industrial Hardcore, Speedcore by a few years (or decades) but already shows many of the elements that define these genres. And, let's face it, this track is even one times rougher than the majority of the output in the aforementioned genres!


#2. Fantasia

Also from the Joyrex J9 EP. If you thought it couldn't get more chaotic and disordered... well, then there is this track.
Basically another wall of heavy beats and shrill noises (or shrill beats and heavy noises), but in an extremely frantic way.
A 4/4, "Gabber style" rhythm could not really be found here, but it's very Hardcore nevertheless!


#3. We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin QQT Mix)

We Have Arrived is usually classified as the first real "Hardcore" track in the history of Techno. Produced by Marc Acardipane aka the Mover, and released in late 1989, it really signaled the arrival of a new era. Marc went on and build his Planet Core Productions empire of (sub)labels and (sub)artists, which eventually became one of the most famous venture in Hardcore and Techno (and is still hugely influential and respected to this day).
Being friends with Marc, the Aphex Twin decided to remix this track, and oh boy, what do we got here!
Once again a true monster of a drum that crushes everything that gets in its way, and a rampage of screaming synths, hihats, and otherwise positively deranged things. If there is one Techno track that truly sounds like it was recorded in a steelworks factory, it must be this one!


#4. Isoprophlex

Any Gabber-head who thinks he doesn't know his track probably at least knows *parts of it* - namely, the bassdrum of this track.
Because it later got sampled and re-used 1000s of times in many classic and modern hardcore tracks. and its likely one of the most used drum sources in a gabber track when a 909 (or 909 clone) is not used.
but let us get back to the track itself. once again, a non 4/4 affair, but very hardcore nevertheless. the broken, unusual drum sequence loops and hammers away without remorse while dark, but also soothing tones appear and disappear in this track; which actually generates a very interesting contrast!
one of the first truly "dark" tracks on the hardcore spectrum.


#5. We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin TTQ Mix)

the second remix to we have arrived; some of the elements and the mood are retained, but this time the rhythm is broken and unsteady, and generally more subtle. a bona fide precursor of the more "industrial" side of later hardcore and techno developments.


#6. We Are The Music Makers (Hardcore Mix)

Any aphex twin probably knows one of the incarnations of this track with the famous "we are the music makers..." sample; which is actually a quote from a very interesting late 19th century irish poem (look it up!).
As the track name implies, this is the "hardcore mix" of this track; and it's very hardcore indeed!
similarly to isoprophlex it more relies on non 4/4, broken rhythms to hammer the nail into the wall; but that's nothing to complain about!
and there also is an onslaught of unsettling, haunting drones, synths, notes... which again gives this track a mood between hardcore brashness and dark contemplation.


#7. Quoth

probably the most well-known track on this list, right?
a true aphex twin classic and again a track that most of his fans will know "inside out".
here we have a straight, direct rhythm again, supported by a ferocious beating drum together with suitable percussion.
the whole track has an otherworldly alien feel, and also evokes the images of heavy machinery again.
the drum itself has also been a sample source favorite for many hardcore and other producers.
well done, aphex twin!

So this was our little journey into the very hardcore region in the world of aphex twin. Did you like our examples? Do you know more tracks in this vein?
Let us know!

Sunday, May 7, 2023

May 2023 Charts


Murmuur

1. Densha Crisis - Monster
2. Mad Dog & Gabber Eleganza - You Belong
3. Machinist - The Destruction That We Deserve (Dirty K Remix)
4. Ghost In The Machine - Come On
5. Rabbeat - Doomed
6. Nanostorm - The Audient Void
7. Energetic-X - Diapason
8. Murmuur - No Survivors
9. Marlen - Attempt (Murmuur rmx)
10. FLUCC - Votre Satisfaction (ft. Mateòó)

Rites

1. BSE - You Will Die (Rotjecore)
2 .Fifth Era - Xaoc (#FCKDSCGS TAPES/Ketacore Records)
3. Figures In Distortion – Figures In Distortion (Morbid Records)
4. Antraxid - Exceptional Beings (Teknoland Production)
5. Psychic TV - Those Who Do Not (Cold Spring)
6. Low Entropy - Thy Will Be Done (Kingdom Come Edit)
7. Von Bikräv - Quand Quelqu'un Meurt (20CONTRE1)
8. Years of Denial - Lover's Crime (Veyl) 
9. Cobra Kane - Prada (Scuderia)
10. The Undertaker's Tapes - Exodus (Wrong)

Nikaj

1. Entombed -Left Hand Path.
2. Unseen Terror - Human Error.
3. Bolt Thrower - Realm Of Chaos
4. Embolism - Bloody Fist 10.
5. P Server - Fischkopf 007.
6. Ultraviolence - Psycho Drama. 
7. Tim Dog - Penicillin On Wax. 
8. Bigfoot (Aus) - Giant Steps. 
9. Anthrax - Among The Living. 
10. Portishead - Dummy

Pardonax 

Pardonax says:
"10 pieces... That in way or another are a kinda challenge to listen to imo. And that's why they are so good... Be it the speed, chaotic / correct structure or the sample intensity. This is what makes this side of the hardcore so good. Just a full on attack on the body. The dark edge surely adds to it."

UK Skullfuck - Nuclear Family
Ec8or - Raving Hypospadie
S37 - ZNAA
Eradicator - Used Against Us Remix
Burning Lazy Persons - Rotter...Damn
No Name - Control
Auto-Psy - Oxyde
Fist Of Fury - De La Mort
Cytochrome C - 1984
Re.pete - Total Thrust 

Ms Bones
Top 13 Super Special Top Ten bags of fun list…in zero order disorder

1. Fifth Era - One Zero Eight
2. The Forest - Soul Saver - Frozen
3. The Mover - Invite The Fear 2017 rmx
4. Desolate - Liars Thieving Rmx
5. Frank Borjak - Vivattnett - Kirsten Dunst
6. Frans Björk - Min Fiende Ar Nu Min Van
7. Return To Zero 6 Pt 1 - Last Breath of the Homelands
8. Summonz - Powers Transcend
9. Techno Tribe - Suburban Soul - Witchcraft
10. 14anger and Dep Affect - Glass Burnt Black
11. Marshcore 7 - 65 Suomi vs the World
12. Fifth Era SIC 2018 FOAH REMIX - The FOA Hillegom Remixes
13. KULL aka ORICHALCUM - Mastered at Johns

Dave
Tuesday's Favorites (Doomcore classics list, in no order)

E-Man - XTC Express
The Mover - Gatecrusher
Arrivers - The Arrival
Miro - Purple Moon
Frozen & Dr Macabre - Dimension Of The Doomed
Reign - Show Em (Cold XTC Remix)
Current 909 - The Lockdown
Mescalinum United - Vs. Evil
Evidence - Inspirit
Negative Burn - Gates Of Heaven

Monday, May 1, 2023

Interview with Aneurysm Recordings

There have been some very interesting developments in the global hardcore underground in recent years. New parties. artists, and labels appeared... fresh and bold ideas, concepts, visions get merged together with those from earlier days that stood the test of time... it's a very interesting era to be in for hard electronic music again.

One of these contemporary labels is Aneurysm. The label was created in 2020. While it's rare for any label to still release vinyl, it's even more special when a new label focuses mainly on vinyl releases (amongst the countless of labels that get created each year that are "digital only").
And even more so when it's a label with such exceptional releases like this one.


But, let us not use much more words; because the mastermind behind Aneurysm will tell us the story behind the labels and releases himself.

So here it is, our interview with Andrea Cozzaglio.

When did you start Aneurysm? Why did you start Aneurysm and what are the ideas behind it?

First of all I would like to thank The Hardcore Overdogs for the interest in my project and the exposure you are offering. 
After the experience of working for various years on the No New Style!!! project, I felt that it was time to change and that I was ready to to take a new path that fully expressed myself. 
The idea of starting Aneurysm Recordings came up toward the end of 2019, but only the year after I was able to lay down the foundations (what better thing to do during a lockdown?)
For this new project I was inspired by all the labels that formed my musical culture and that truthfully represent the underground scene.
I am talking about Praxis, Fischkopf, Stormcore, Bloody Fist, Drop Bass Network, Widerstand, Loop Records. This is just to mention some for the list is very long. 
Placed at the center of this project are the artists themselves, their art is the focus which is sustained by passion, dedication and the acknowledgment of working on something special.

Is Aneurysm focused on a specific sound / style of Hardcore?

I do not want to put a label, well, on my label, or project as it is. On the opposite, I would like to surprise my public with each release.
If you had the chance to listen to the first 4 releases you can notice the wide variety of sounds and genres presented, very different indeed from each other.
Being such a big fan of all the sounds found between Richie Hawtin’s Detroit Techno and the experimental speedcore of La Peste, I would say that our target is vagueley placed anywhere between the two. 

3 of the 4 vinyls (released and planned) were by legendary producers of the 90s. Is that the main direction behind the label? Or will we see more releases by newer producers, too?

Most likely yes, this is the direction. 
However, I cannot completely exclude the possibility of giving space to younger talented producers, but at the moment I see Aneurysm Recordings as a space for more ‘matured’ and experienced artists. 


You put out a vinyl by Disciples of Belial. Why did you choose them? How did you get into contact with them? 

I believe that Jason Mendonca aka DOB is one of the most loved and at the same time mysterious artist of the hardcore scene: he produced 5-6 records (under different names) then he practically disappeared. 
I got in touch with Jason around 7 years ago through a common friend, the great Brandon Spivey.
DOB played at one of our party back in 2017 and we remained in contact since then. 
After a long and enthusiastic ‘flirt’, he finally accepted the offer of working with me. 
This was the coronation of a lifelong dream… I did not sleep for 2 days for the excitement. I am very proud to be the creator of this project and for his comeback after 27 years of absence from the scene. 

What can you tell us about the DoB release?

This record is a true blast from the past and I believe it has nothing to envy to the previous releases on Praxis records. Part of the sounds used for the production of these tracks is unreleased material from the 90s specifically chosen and edited for this project. 
On the A side we find two tracks that resemble the gabba style, with engaging rhythms and psychedelic sounds. Basically, Jason’s emblematic style. Both of them have a very strong impact on the dancefloor. 
On the other side we find only 1 track, Stare Into the Abyss. This track differentiate itself from the previous productions. It possesses a darker soul with a punk accent, it also plays a lot with bpm changes. Under some aspects this track reminds me of The Berzerker pre-grindcore sounds. The vinyl was pressed in March 2022 and with its 666 copies it is the best seller out of the first releases. 


Afterwards, there was a release by Taciturne.
What was your reason to release a record by him? Where you already in contact with him?

Why Taciturne you ask? Well, we are talking about a living legend. He produced, Mourning… Who would not like to work on a record with him?!??!
I was able to contact Jorg aka Taciturne a few years ago through his Bandcamp page. Back then I asked him for an unreleased track for a compilation. He sent me the entirety of his discography and simply told me: ‘you chose’. 
I was immediately-immensely grateful and appreciative of his generosity and humbleness, and found the same fantastic person in the years that came after. 

What can you tell us about this release?

We can probably write a whole book on this release. 
Jorg mentioned that he wanted to work on some new project, something he had in mind since the mid 90s but that he was never able to actualize and produce. 
After some time he told me that he was ready to send me the tracks: I was firstly positively dumbfounded, I have never had heard something similar before then.
I was faced with an incredibly fast composition (all tracks are over 300 bpm) yet, I could not define it as speedcore. Speedcore is usually a brutal genre with violent sounds, while this production with its ethereal and dreamlike sonorities it almost puts you in a relaxed state. It is as if you are in a dream, or in better words, a nightmare with your eyes open. 
To give a visual representation I would personally define this record as the audio counterpart of Zdzisław Beksiński’s paintings and masterpieces. If you know this great artist, you know what I mean, if not, google it!
This record was released in February 2023 and limited to 400 copies. 


Now, there is an upcoming release by Ingler aka Laurent Hô. Similarily, what can you tell us about the background?

Ingler is one of the most eclectic and brilliant artist of the Hardcore Techno scene! Not many other artists have had a similar success as Dj, producer and Label owner. Right off the bat I can only think about Mark Newlands or Dj Freak who have had a similar success and influence… although I am definitely forgetting somebody. 
I was able to get in touch with Hô toward the end of last year thanks to my friend Nicola Pedrocco aka Koney, which was recently released on Epiteth Rec. Hô was very enthusiastic about my proposal since the beginning , but he was also incredulous that somebody was still interestes in his music. On the other hand, I was even more baffled by the fact that his tracks were uploaded on YouTube for some time but nobody has ever asked him to release them. 
Personally this is significantly satisfying, I also wish that the record will be as appreciated by the fans and the industry insiders. 

And what can we expect of this release?

This EP is composed by a total of 3 unreleased track form the mid 90s. Only the track named Kohl appeared before on the 1998 CD compilation Explicit Bass Drum Vol 2. This track, in my opinion, is also emblematic of Ingler’s production style. Noisy sounds, industrial and experimental notes are the characteristics that define this production. Obsessive rhythms and sharp sounds emerge throughout the EP... it is basically as if you were to take a walk through a steel factory. 
The EP will be limited to 333 copies and will be officially released and launched at the HardTraxx part on May 20th 2023 ( https://www.facebook.com/events/1874535982911456/ ).


Are there already plans for the near future? Any further releases lined-up?

The artists’ list that I wish one day I will collaborate with is significantly long. I’d like to take the chance with this special interview to announce the fifth Aneurysm Recordings release, in which we will find a collaboration between Brandon Spivey (Drop Bass network / Praxis Records / Killout recordings) and Federico Chiari (Go More Core / Traumahead Society records).
Right during these past few days I listened to some of their demo tracks, and I can assure you it will be a very very interesting release. 

Any sublabels, etc.?

Yes, indeed! The project is already in the making and hopefully will be a reality in 2024. 
The idea is to have 2 artists for each release, 1 side for each. 
Nothing new concept wise you might say, but in this way I will have the possibility to give some artistic space to some of my undeniably talented friends such as Hotrebor, Tannoizer, Shrui-Khan.

Are there any party series, venues etc. connected to the label?

Not in this moment, but it is something I have been giving some thoughts to.
Who would not love to see shows from legends such as DOB, Taciturne or Ingler?
It would be incredibly cool to organize a couple of European tour dates in 2024, maybe with the help of some Dutch, English or German crews. People of Europe, if you are reading this, bring it on!


How do you see the Hardcore scene of today?

If you want I can tell you about the Italian underground scene because it's the only one I know well and have been frequenting for years. 
As for the parties I have to say that we are not in a good moment. After 2 years of forced closures due to covid, the scene has undergone a significant decline in terms of participants: if before you met 200 people at parties, in recent times there are about half. As an event organizer with the Hard Traxx project, but also speaking with other staff, I can tell you that everyone finds themselves dealing with increasingly smaller budgets and unfortunately also with the concrete possibility of not being able to fully cover the expenses. 
The positive fact remains that we can consider ourselves as a family: a group of friends who share the same great passion for music. 
Let's move on to the positive notes instead. In the last 2-3 years we have witnessed a real explosion of labels, and therefore the increasingly overbearing return of vinyl as an audio format. Among the most influential labels and releases I would like to mention: Narkan Records with records by HCM and Pardonax, Piss Drunk Records with KCMA, Hotrebor and Nico303, the release of T.O.T.A. & Dj Raf on their label P.S.M.I. and finally Redecesio Underground with an interesting various Made in Italy. I hear Traumahead Society Records is also working on a new EP.

What do you think is the place of Aneurysm in the Hardcore "world" of today? 

I believe that Aneurysm Rec. is located exactly in the same space that once was of labels like Epiteth, Bloody Fist, Fischkopf, Crapshoot, etc. I don't cockingly presume to say that we are at their same level but unfortunately it is a fact that many of the labels I mentioned, if not all, are now defunct. The underground movement needs fresh forces….and we are here!

Do you want to have a positive / radical impact on the scene with the label?

We were born just over 2 years ago but I won't hide from you that I am very satisfied with the results obtained so far. I think releasing Disciples of Belial was a crucial moment for the label: the record was a huge success and people started to get interested in my project. Will this have impacts on the scene? We'll find out in a few years, in the meantime I keep working hard!


Anything you want to add?

Yes, I want to thank all the enthusiasts, friends and distributors who support me and my label. Rest assured that Aneurysm Recordings will never let you down. 
I would also like to give special thanks to: Silvia, my partner, who always supports me. 
Hotrebor who takes care of the masters and who always gives me excellent advice. 

Diego and Francesca for the great support and amazing graphics.

Thanks for the interview, Andrea!

More information and resources: