online shop: http://www.ant-zen.com/mailorder including pictures, descriptions, tracklists, sound excerpts, search function, shopping cart and links to digital releases' providers. new releases: http://www.mailorder.ant-zen.com/products/new special priced releases: http://www.mailorder.ant-zen.com/products/recommended all prices do not include postage. because of the very different weight and size of our releases, it's not possible creating a simple list for shipping costs. when receiving an order we'll send you an invoice incl. costs for shipping in advance. orders from outside of europe shall include the favourite kind of shipping. other items, not mentioned at this catalogue, are never available anymore. payable also via paypal (www.paypal.com). all prices in euro. news ant-zen: THOROFON. targets. 12'' lp. ant-zen act274 after the triumph of their returning album 'exkarnation' thorofon present six shots of stimulating electronics on twelve inch vinyl format with 'targets'. brilliantly produced and exceptionally packed, this release proves that arresting, involving and outright original music can be both engaging on the dancefloor and in your mind. 'targets' offers a diversified and contemporary collection of minimal electro pop tunes, industrial power electronics and militant body beats. the atmospheric spectrum ranges from icy, clinical disturbance to aggressive, forcing blasts, drilling the message of the forceful lyrics straight to the core on every track. an outstanding limited edition release, superb for building and maintaining excellent shooting skills. packaging: 22,5 x 35 inch paper target poster w/ airbrushed thorofon stencil. this 12'' includes a mp3-download-code. price: euro 12,80. available: 21june2k12 PHILIPP MÜNCH. mondo obscura. cd. ant-zen act275 on this, his second solo album, the exceptional artist that is philipp münch has assimilated musical influences spanning the last four decades, bringing a brilliant and contemporary release into being, just as he did on last year's 'into the absurd'. supported by a number of musician friends he puts an emphasis on vintage electronics and creations ranging from classic rhythmic noise and minimal electro to cinematic ambient whilst retaining a modern edge which sets him apart amongst those who work only for sheer nostalgia. a clearly noticeable component on 'mondo obscura' is the expanded range of vocals performed by philipp himself and guest artists such as kyoung-hi roho, riotmiloo (eva|3), tim kniep (synapscape) and dan gatto (continues, babyland). this multitude of vocalists creates a vast subset of accents and moods ranging between melancholy and aggression. musically, moody minimal pop tunes alternate with harsh power electronics and space-age ambience performed with a high amount of flexibility on rhythms, effects and sounds. a very strong, personal and complete release that deserves close attention, highly recommended to those who are eager to look beyond the limits of musical styles. price: euro 12,80. available: 15june2k12 SONAR. cut us up. cd. ant-zen act276 it has been six years since sonar's last album, a time spent working on different projects and world wide touring for dirk ivens and eric van wonterghem. since 1996 they have thoroughly explored the dark corners of rhythmic industrial whilst bringing their own unique ingredients to the mix - with 'cut us up' the belgian project secure its position among the sovereigns of this genre. the classic propulsive beats are still the driving force on most tracks, while sonar fill the space in and around the drum hits with scraping noise chords, disturbing sampled voices and throbbing sub-basses. combative, violent bursts of industrial uproar and rhythmic scalpels refined with intelligent sequencing result in massive blocks of monolithic sound, each one with noise as a basic ingredient, each one performed in a different way. this album marks a raw, overpowering tour de force - an overwhelming, visceral, and relentless rhythmic onslaught created in the dark wastes of the concrete jungle. price: euro 12,80. available: 12june2k12 SONAR. without warning. girlie-shirt. ant-zen ikon110g black t-shirt w/ frontprint in grey & white ink. one-sized girlie-shirt price: euro 14,80. available: 12june2k12 SONAR. without warning. t-shirt. ant-zen ikon110s black t-shirt w/ frontprint in grey & white ink. size small price: euro 14,80. available: 12june2k12 SONAR. without warning. t-shirt. ant-zen ikon110m black t-shirt w/ frontprint in grey & white ink. size medium price: euro 14,80. available: 12june2k12 SONAR. without warning. t-shirt. ant-zen ikon110l black t-shirt w/ frontprint in grey & white ink. size large price: euro 14,80. available: 12june2k12 SONAR. without warning. t-shirt. ant-zen ikon110xl black t-shirt w/ frontprint in grey & white ink. size extra large price: euro 14,80. available: 12june2k12 news hymen records: VNDL. gahrena: paysages électriques. cd. hymen ¥802 vndl is philippe vandal from montreal, canada who started producing electronic music in 2009 inspired by artists like access to arasaka, mormo, fennesz, richard devine and désormais. his first release 'something for someone' on abstrakt reflections and his remixes for architect, exosphere and synthetic violence have already demonstrated the various facets of his unique and organic style, combining the elements of glitch and idm in a very improvised manner and originating his own, unique method of creating contemporary electronica. 'gahrena' envisages a deeper exploration of virtual reality by using highly processed electric guitars as well as manipulated field recordings and a wide range of electronic devices. the sound on this album can be described as abstract electronica with a deep organic feel, where vndl's inspiration and sonic research fuse with the amendatory work of nebulo, offthesky, pleq and c0ma. vndl constructs a changing, mysterious sonic world recreated from aural landscapes already in existence. a gripping release taking you away to as-yet unknown environments - attentive listening required. price: euro 12,80. available: 11june2k12 BEN LUKAS BOYSEN. restive (ost). cd. hymen ¥803 ben lukas boysen has been writing, producing and performing music since 2003, specializing in sound design and composition. with a series of highly regarded albums as hecq on hymen records, plus a busy schedule producing music for a number of high-profile advertising, film and gaming clients, he has firmly established himself as a forward-thinking electronic musician and sophisticated sound designer. The focus of his every project is to find an efficient and direct way to leave a strong emotional impact, whether it is the production of an album or the conception and completion of a commercial project. he invests a lot of thought and time into every single piece of work and therefore makes every production special rather than settling with something fast and convenient. He is determined that every score, commission, track, or remix should get the same amount of attention and detail. in short: moving away from music and sound as a product and perceive every project as a customizable and individual challenge. a number of companies like cartier, bmw, leica, greenpeace, lacoste or mtv have made use of this approach for their commercials, websites and general sound concepts. furthermore ben also designed a 'live pack' for the widely recognised music software ableton live. restive is not the first film ben boysen made the music for, but it is his first soundtrack to be independently released as an album. as on his previous works as hecq where he has already demonstrated his ability for cinematic sound design, this soundtrack works perfectly as a stand-alone release for those who are not familiar with the movie. with its beautifully elaborate compositions carrying dense moods from light sadness to subliminal tension and disturbance, restive's music is strong enough to speak for itself and to create a motion picture in the listener’s mind. with a basis of mighty sub basses and partial beats, dramatic orchestral ambience interweave with atmospheric synthesized pads and deep reverberation carrying a continuous imaginative suspense of something hiding right beneath the shadow of a thinly layered sonic veil. listening to this perfect symbiosis of electronic soundscapes and acoustic sounds, you can draw a parallel between this release and hecq's 'night falls' album from 2008. restive defines a journey through varied aural spaces interspersed with sounds and tempers beyond the listener's imagination. price: euro 12,80. available: 21june2k12 news various labels: ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. cd. raubbau raub-004 historically, released in 2007, 'four' was the ep interlacing the last two albums ordo rosarius equilibrio put out on cold meat industry, and an augury of the popularity the band would subsequently achieve with their quality blend of neofolk, martial industrial and melodic compositions - and the first time tomas pettersson would use his distinct voice to sing rather than recite. 'four' constituted the first output on the raubbau label, and upon its release the original vinyl picture disc edition almost instantly sold out. so it comes as no surprise that there has been a high demand to make these tracks available again to ordo rosarius equilibrio’s ever-growing following, and raubbau now gives in to public interest and presents a fully remastered and largely expanded cd version of 'four' incl. remixes by mikael stavöstrand, empusae, arcana, thirteenth exile, fredrik leijström, tarmvred, geneviéve pasquier, xotox and spiral69! 'three times four' sets a fine example of what a rerelease/remix album should be about, adding surprising new aspects to the basic material. the approaches applied by the remixers are quite diverse, nevertheless there is a constant level of quality and originality that ensures a coherent, satisfactory listening. see, there are really more than just four shades of darkness! price: euro 13,40. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. boxset. raubbau raub-004box the limited boxset contains the 'four' cd, a metal pin in antique silver, a bar of bittersweet premium chocolate with red wine truffle filling, an embroidered patch, 3 stickers and one inlay, all packed in a deluxe white box with embossing. price: euro 24,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. tape. raubbau raub-004tape cassette tape version of the 'four' album. price: euro 7,50. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. girlie-shirt S. raubbau raub-004shirt-gs black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. girlie-shirt size small price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. girlie-shirt M. raubbau raub-004shirt-gm black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. girlie-shirt size medium price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. t-shirt. raubbau raub-004shirt-s black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. size small price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. t-shirt. raubbau raub-004shirt-m black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. size medium price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. t-shirt. raubbau raub-004shirt-l black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. size large price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. four. t-shirt. raubbau raub-004shirt-xl black shirt w/ frontprint in dark silver & red ink and backprint in dark silver ink. size extra large price: euro 15,00. available: 22june2k12 ANKLEBITER. raintree. cd. tympanik audio ta068 two years after the release of his debut album ‘i will wait‘ and a year after the remix companion collection ‘queue‘, anklebiter returns once again to tympanik audio with his newest masterpiece titled ‘raintree‘. a melancholy montage of beauty and soul, incorporating haunting atmospheres with intricate beatwork to create a massive aural experience that weaves emotion into every sound and pattern, allowing the listener’s mind to flow effortlessly with the music. a labor of love and reflection, ‘raintree‘ is the product of an unfocused, distracted time, full of perplexities about convergence and direction in the face of middle age. a new sapling against a grey sky. cold and uncertain, but spring has arrived at last. featuring collaborations with sheldahl (ml), the oo-ray, erode, and c.db.sn. artwork by bogdan ceausescu and mastering by john mccaig. packaging: slim paperpack. price: euro 10,50. available: 12june2k12 DIRK GEIGER. elf morgen. cd. tympanik audio ta069 ‘elf morgen‘ is dirk geiger‘s third album and second for tympanik audio following ‘autumn fields‘ in 2010 and the companion digital remix collection ‘second life‘ in 2011. where ‘autumn fields‘ exhibited the more experimental side of geiger’s vision, ‘elf morgen‘ proves to be a more accessible outing, offering the listener nine gorgeous new songs that flow effortlessly with subtle grace and intelligent design. ‘elf morgen‘ finds geiger hitting his stride, unveiling an even more mature and professional-sounding approach to electronic music composition. elegant atmospheres encompass infectious, trip-hop and down-tempo beats, driven by such expressive melodies, liberal moments of field recordings, and dreamy synth patterns. this is dirk geiger‘s finest hour – recommended. features a collaboration with erode and remixes by tapage and anklebiter. packaging: 4-panel digipak. price: euro 10,50. available: 12june2k12 SATURMZLIDE. bevor. cd. hands hands-d172 bevor' is german for 'before' - but just what does that mean in respect to this album? in some ways, this cd is rather an 'after' - hamburg’s alexander marco finally releases a full saturmzlide album, after nearly two decades of musical activities in various bands, genres and styles, and after a well-received cd-r on fich-art in 2009. anyways, alex is an atypical musician, following a late vocation to the call of industrial and rhythm’n’noise, who brings along the experience of his past musical endeavours - and lets them shine through in his compositions. 'bevor' is a somewhat enigmatic crossbreed of musical currents that make for a strong blend. the overall essence is the rhythm, no doubt about that, punchy and groove-infected, making this album a tight-knit unit despite the many different ideas which have been put into practice. so, let’s roll with it: 'rainlands' is a moody intro with tribal downbeats and a steady build-up. then starts the rhythm noise section of the album with the club recommendation 'el door rado rmx' – a relentless noise groove and a commanding vocal sample do the job proper! 'power plant' and 'interceptor' combine distorted rhythms with strong atmospheric breaks, while inbetween those 'bionic ocean i' surprises with it’s beatless, experimental atmosphere. 'girl under glas' then adopts a different line: hard beats with a broken edge and full-on modern electronica sounds, an update of the style you shouldn’t call idm. 'world time crash' and 'half of the planet' appear in similar shape with the beats more on the straight side though. the album then closes with a magnum opus, a nearly 25 minute suite in seven movements entitled 'the sky' that revisits all the styles and elements from the album and melts them with new ideas even more out of bounds, with a psychedelic atmosphere being the foundation stone upon which this monumental composition is erected. it starts with a straight rhythm track, plunges into atmospheric sounds; and then come in some guests: the 3rd part ('drifting') features the guitar playing of some andreas hellriegel, giving it a prog rock flavour, while the 4th part ('timerider') is a bouncing rhythm track, featuring industrial veteran philipp münch. the following parts slow down considerably, preparing the listener to bid farewell to this musical trip. so, 'bevor', before what? you get the strong impression, and you may well hope, this 'before' is the first step before a lot more to come – quality always comes out on top, and this debut (if you may call it that) is surely a top pick! price: euro 14,50. available: now !!! DIRTY K. torrent of fury. cd. hands hands-d173 dirty k are a thoroughbred rhythm’n’noise act based in leicester (uk) and is one of the latest signing on hands. 'torrent of fury' is surely an eponymous title, because that’s just what this album is: an unsettling intro, followed by 11 tracks of sheer, unadulterated distorted rhythm power. the band want to explicate a personal take on a post apocalyptic theme based on a vivid dream, incorporating dark and dirty landscapes and buildings. the album is meant to portray a sense of confusion and what it would be like in our to wake up scared and see that is all that is left. most tracks have a similar structure with an irritating, brooding intro building into rhythmic frenzy in no time. thankfully, dirty k never forget to put in the occasional break, short interlude or vocal sample to keep the listener’s attention and give the whole album a very dynamic pace. of course, lots of dj food is to be found here, depending on what specific style you’re after: if you want hypnotic midtempo rhythm’n’noise, you can’t go wrong with the irresistable dancefloor weapon 'smog blanket' for example. if you’re after more defined bassdrum sounds in an industrial hardcore style, opt for the title track or maybe 'frequent thoughts of violence', and if your desire might be pure noise turmoil, a track like 'cataclysm' should make your day. on first listen, 'torrent of fury' appears as a monolith of fierce sounds and beats, on second listen you find lots of variation and detail. may you enjoy this rich and remarkable debut from the uk – and may god save the queen from dirty k’s apocalyptic visions! price: euro 14,50. available: now !!! V.A.. forms of hands 12. cd. hands hands-d174 2012 sees the 12th edition of the forms of hands label showcase, now moving to its fourth location over the years, and it is traditionally accompanied by the compilation cd featuring all 12 performing artists in their festival running order. same procedure as every year: all tracks are exclusive, thus this compilation may serve as an introductory peek into the hands universe as well as it is a must-have for the label aficionados. so what’s in this year’s edition of the hands encyclopaedia? the cd starts with two festival newcomers: saturmzlide, who sets the mood with an uptempo rhythm track with a nice technoid vibe, and with a classically repetitive rhythm’n’noise track (which is the original version of the tune you find remixed by daniel myer on their current album). syntech present their own brand of percussive tribal noise. 13th monkey speed it up further with a fiercely banging piece of industrial acid techno, and s.k.e.t. call to 'reform europe' via ostentatious sounds and stumbling beats. mono no aware does his noise turmoil over teutonic beats and brings day one to an end. the second half of the album starts with two more festival newcomer: first up sylvgheist maëlström delivering a nice encore to their captivating debut full of unsettling electronica and catchy beats, and dirty k, who really have the knack of self-explanatory titles and give us a 'stomping maschine'. nullgrad offers a basic channel influenced techno track and 16pad noise terrorist contribute a fierce piece of dark techstep. ms gentur lets you have a painfully noisy 'contraction', and needle sharing prove again they’re back for good with the 'rave monger' – if you can keep your limbs still to this you’re positively dead (or deaf)! so, another year, another selection shedding light on the activities of roughly ¼ of the hands label roster, a dozen artists affiliated by attitude, yet discrete in style, and isn’t that exactly the special value of a compilation album? price: euro 14,50. available: 12june2k12 SYLVGHEIST MAËLSTRÖM. skaftafell. cd. hands hands-d175 sylvgheist maëlström is a french producer who has a couple of albums under his belt already and joins the hands label roster in 2012 with an album that will leave a permanent impression: glossy electronica, elaborate beat programming and mind-blowing melodies, an actually minimal album (soundwise) which seems massive by its strong emotional impact. sylvgheist maëlström is preoccupied with natural events and special places, and "skaftafell" is the evocation of a huge and massive glacier movement like a moraine or a surge. the concept is to describe as a sound the deep and uncontrollable movement of nature, as the glacier becomes an independent entity, an animal really, untamed by civilization. nevertheless, after human influence, nature starts to destroy itself. the 'intro' showcases the deep melodies, pulses and peculiar beats, downbeat and distorted, yet with a strong organic feel to them, which we shall encounter throughout the album. 'banda aceh' is an area in indonesia which was horribly harmed by the 2004 tsunami, and the track features tribal beats and repetitive sounds that echo the threat. the mexican town 'tlahuitoltepec', casualty of a mudslide, is the eponym for a grinding and scraping beat structure. a less dismal fate is that of the 'narssarssuaq desert' in greenland, which inspired sylvgheist maëlström to a moody, hypnotic tune with minimal techno beats, while 'kuthia' appears even more groove infected among its heavy atmosphere (and would you have known there was a glacier in pakistan?). back to greenland, its capital 'nuuk' – and a shorter, straighter track for 'skaftatell', followed by 'surge', a hypnotic, vibrant piece. of course iceland has its glaciers, and 'jakobshavn isbræ melt' is not only an exceptionally large specimen, but also a track that will resound in your mind forever with its effective and simple melodic hook and repetitive beats. on a darker note is the sonic painting of the floods of 'nartuby' (france); and 'dendrite crystal' is surely the most anorganic sounding part of 'skaftatell', a nice bite of tasty electronica. 'skaftafell jökull' is a place in iceland subject to a constant culmination of natural forces, and the track is also the most upfront, inciting one on the album. the closing title 'puyehue' then releases some of that tension, and maybe it is imaginable that a brave techno dj will have a crowd dancing to a chilean volcano? 'skaftatell' impresses through strong production values and a range of wonderful ideas. it is an urgent recommendation for anyone who will fall for electronica that is far from easily accessible, yet captivating and very deeply emotional! price: euro 14,50. available: 12june2k12 TALVEKOIDIK. negotiate the distance. cd. hands hands-d176 1. definitions negotiate (nɪˈɡəʊʃɪˌeɪt) — vb 1. to work or talk (with others) to achieve (a transaction, an agreement, etc) 2. ( tr ) to succeed in passing through, around, or over: to negotiate a mountain pass distance (ˈdɪstəns) — n 1. the intervening space between two points or things 2. the length of this gap 3. the state of being apart in space; remoteness 4. a separation or remoteness in relationship; disparity 5. keep one's distance to maintain a proper or discreet reserve in respect of another person 13. the distant parts of a picture, such as a landscape 6. to hold or place at a distance 7. to separate (oneself) mentally or emotionally from something or someone 2. formal aspects the fact that talvekoidik is no one other than kai hahnewald of s.k.e.t. is only of interest as to indicate that this album has been composed by a musician with a pedigree and experience – of which the rich sonic tapestries and the glistening production quality would have convinced you anyway. 'negotiate the distance' is the second talvekoidik album, and it’s the work of a man who indulges in thoughts, doubts and visions, a very personal, intimate work. it employs drone-based atmospheres and samples of voices and common items like telephones, but the dominant features are piano and string sounds, making for a very cinematic, emotional quality. rhythm appears mainly as structure. 'take a deep breath' – and slide into the world of talvekoidik with the calm and soothing opener. 'call into nowhere' and 'unreal yearning' appear almost neo-classical, catchy even, before ' heart in stasis with a hiccup' with its slight ritual touch leads you into the darker heart of the album, where more experimental structures are predominant, like in the cavernal sounding 'the tree knows a secret'. keep on walking, until a bit of brightness returns and indicates you’re approaching the end and the closing title 'awaiting you to return' (which is a wish you will gladly fulfil). 'negotiate the distance' might have an intellectual inclination, but it’s far from headstrong, it’s a musically very attractive piece of work with an overall sense of positivity, of hope and love of life. 3. topical outline 'negotiate the distance' is a reflection about distance as a paradigm of relationships between people and the paradox of peoples’ behaviour when it comes to negotiation of distance in a emotional and/or spatial matter, about people forced to live close together in limited space, like in large cities or high rise residential buildings, who are very remote on the emotional level and same time feel close to someone far away or feel lonely among others. it’s also a reflection about longings, demands and fears distance may cause and the higher value moments spent together have when distance is a strong point of one’s relation to someone else. price: euro 14,50. available: now !!! 16PAD NOISE TERRORIST. evilution. cd. hands hands-d177 two years after 'utopia', candy schlüer of s.k.e.t. has finished the 2nd chapter of his book with 'postnuclear brutalism funk stories'. 'evilution' is a statement in his very own way indeed, mastered again by dj hidden, whom he credits as a major influence, which is true in the sense that 16pad noise terrorist presents drum’n’bass with a strong industrial, dark and experimental edge. candy is concerned with contradictions, the underlying question is how we develop, if we just keep on going as usual – well, you guessed it, evolution turns foul, and the result is 'evilution'. the album also establishes strong ties to the debut, whose album title now appears as a track title – as well as it’s antithesis, the dystopia. dystopian visions actually seem the 16pad noise terrorist’s preoccupation, but if 'utopia' was an orwellian boot stamping in your face, 'evilution' depicts a more refined 'brave new world' with all its stupefying soma effects - even though the stench of books set on fire at 'fahrenheit 451' is omnipresent. generally, the tempo is somehow curbed, and even melodies find their way into the tracks. but don’t worry – there’s enough tough darkstep to be found, and the body fluids already start to warm with 'wasp', and are kept boiling throughout the album with 'le petit consommateur', 'we are all junkies' and so on. on the way you will also meet a variety of out-of-the-way pieces: a conceptual track is 'humback symphobia', which strangely misses a 'p', but nevertheless features the famous chants of the magnificent animals who are subject to whaling. 'abyss' is not only the most experimental track of the lot, but also features spoken word phrasing by boris may of klangstabil in a nightmarish slasher atmosphere. 'metamorphosis' has the voice of evil giving some incomprehensible commands, and it shapeshifts in speed and atmosphere constantly, while 'planned obsolescense' is probably the most clearcut club track among the lot. 'dystopia' works at trip hop/dubstep speed, and here the evil keeps ranting atop a stomach-churning distorted wobble bass. the album closes with 'darkest utopia', generating a dehumanized, hostile atmosphere with metallic sounds and shredded speech bits. 'evilution' is not easily digested for sure, but it’s well worth exploring, it provides food for thought, but also a vibe for moving. candy schlüer proves he has defined a distinct style of drum’n’bass for 16pad noise terrorist and will earn tons of due respect for his project with his sophomore album! price: euro 14,50. available: 12june2k12 GREYHOUND. prototype. cd. hands hands-d178 greyhound present their 5th album in eight years, and they have surely achieved to become a household name in the rhythm’n’noise scene. they stand for almost orthodox, as-hard-as-rocks tracks which they produce with remarkable consistency, and for their remorseless sound they are celebrated regulars at festivals like forms of hands or maschinenfest. 'prototype' is of course a self-reflective album title, as greyhound are very specific about their concepts. it is an album about interpersonal communication and mental pressure up to the individual limits, thus it is the reflection of personal experiences, memories and emotions collected over of a year’s time. this information is enciphered in 15 intensely powerful, aggressive rhythm’n’noise tracks with commanding beats. greyhound leave it to the listener to unscramble the emotional message that lies hidden among the noise. a full listening session of a greyhound album may be as demanding as an intercity ride on a greyhound bus, as they never tire, never falter from beginning to end, from the opener 'can you feel it?' with its catchy beats up to the claustrophobic last track 'fade away'. inbetween greyhound denote 'if noise would be my language' – which it obviously is… and be aware of the 'brain stalker', a track that will be haunting you forever with its sonorous undertones. the quiet things happening in the background (and there are lots of them) are what makes 'prototype' more than a collection of functional tracks but also an album suited for home listening. of course greyhound’s proclaimed creed of undiluted industrial is an invented tradition, which is clearly proven by the crisp sound production, but one you will gladly embrace. 'prototype' works on two levels: on the surface it is a two-fisted rhythmic attack, underneath a multi-facetted introspection, a balancing act which seems impossible enough - but is accomplished with ease! price: euro 14,50. available: 12june2k12 . fm interface. cd. hands hands-d179 started in the late 90s as the experimental playground for frequen-c from leipzig. he quickly made himself a name as a diy bedroom producer, releasing numerous cassettes, cd-rs and download tracks over the years in the best old-fashioned tape scene tradition. throughout the 2000s he continually appeared live in smaller venues, but the gigs took on a more serious nature and reached larger audiences after playing the schlagstrom! festival in 2007. in 2009 was joined by drmolle and since operates as a duo. so now the time has come to step out of the underground and present the debut release for hands! 'fm interface' oscillates between old school and new school, between rawness and simplicity and a more modern sound design. the album somehow falls into two parts: the first half seems to present the sonic weaponry of through simple, sketch-type tracks. the opener 'breakbit' is not broken, but a hypnotic noise loop, '3 miles island' abuses the sampled reports of a nuclear catastrophe over a raw electro beat, 'lost in rhythm' could also be the manifesto of 'fm interface', and 'some chords' is just that – and besides the only beatless track on the entire album. the second half of 'fm interface' discloses a decidedly different approach, starting with 'can you feel the daylight', a complex midtempo clubtrack with all the variation, breaks and shifts that you need to get the crowds going. and now put to use their full arsenal of noises and rhythmic structures: 'all notes off' is directly aimed at dancefloors, 'after then before' is a fine piece of noise mayhem, and 'go back freak' even has the machines getting into the groove, due to the remixing efforts of fellow leipzig musician daniel myer aka architect aka haujobb! 'metall und technik' finally is a vigorous industrial hardcore track that will rock the moshpits. the short 'angst rhythmus' and the closing title 'multiply exibit' (with one of the longest breaks ever) then close the album in the more simplified, loop-based style. 'fm interface' is definitely a rare occurrence, after such a long period of maturation and growth, quite unusual for today’s electro industrial scene – but the result, with its entertaining ideas, its timeless sound and the peculiar concept really proves the waiting worthwhile. the overall sound of 'fm interface' is strangely warm and pleasant to the ears of anyone who brings along a knowledge of - and love for - the rhythm’n’noise style. price: euro 14,50. available: 12june2k12 2KILOS &MORE. kurz vor5. cd. audiophob auphcd018 2kilos &more is a french electronica duo from paris created in 2003 and consisting of séverine krouch und hugues villette (von magnet). before finding their way to audiophob, they released one 3'' cd and two albums on different labels as well as a lot of other contributions to compilations and movie soundtracks. the new album 'kurz vor5' is once again produced by norscq (the grief, atlas project, von magnet, ddamage, colder, remixer for meat beat manifesto, depeche mode etc.) in his parisian studio. the duo has invited phil von (von magnet) and black sifichi (a great spoken-words artist from new york who worked with black dog, burnt friedman, simon fisher turner, rodolphe burger, high tones etc.), two important voices from the independent french scene, to feature three new vocal compositions. using samples and digital sounds, the duo composes by improvising on long evolving sound waves. they shape every song like a journey through sonic universe, playing with tension and surges punctuated by instrumental interventions (guitars for séverine or drums for hugues), often reminding us of the cinematographic world of david lynch or steven soderbergh (solaris). the press talks about them as a subtle mix between ambient-electronica (à la warp) and postrock (similar to labradford) because of the constant but measured use of melodic (sometimes noisy) guitars and acoustic instruments (like bass, drums, sensula etc.) with experimental influences. price: euro 12,80. available: now !!! SEMIOMIME. six steps / d-coherence. 12''. mindtrick records mtr010 mindtrick records proudly presents the first vinyl release by semiomime (aka dj hidden/the outside agency). after his debut album which was released by adnoiseam last year, semiomime returns with two very special tracks. the first track is six steps a mixture of cinematic sounds, signature beats and a swirling bassline which gets you right into his mood. the flipside is for d-coherence a piano piece that changes into a deep banging acid trip. very uncommon and therefore very interesting to listen to. with crystal clear production and ever evolving moods he pushes the self established boundaries once again. on this ep semiomime found the perfect balance between creating an ep that is banging on the dance floor, yet very intriguing to be listened to in the comfort of your own home with your eyes closed. this release offers everything mindtrick records stands for ambiance, beats, and clear production! price: euro 8,00. available: 12june2k12 CRISOPA. biodance. cd. n5md md199 biodance is the much anticipated debut album from madrid (sp) based electronic musician crisopa. a densely layered album squeezing inspiration from electronic music sub-generes such as idm, dub-step, post-rock, nu-gaze, and ambient while remaining cohesive, ever evolving and remarkably danceable. anyone having seen crisopa live undoubtably knows they were eventually coerced into moving their bodies by the ebb, flow and trajectory of his music. and biodance is no different, however it is not all about moving your body. a quick look inside the cd case reveals the motivation behind the album: biodance 'is a system of self-development that uses music, movement and positive feelings to deepen self-awareness'. whether he's talking about his own self-awareness our ours, that just about sums the album up. crisopa just wants you to loose yourself in the moment and biodance is the perfect soundtrack for getting lost within. price: euro 13,40. available: 12june2k12 LIGHTS OUT ASIA. hy-brasil. cd. n5md md200 hy-brasil was said to be a phantom island off the south west coast of ireland. the island's lore contains such accounts as more advanced yet opulent inhabitants, an unusually round geographical layout, and a strange attribute of only being visible every 7 years. to further add to the island's mystique it is widely speculated to be the geographic coordinate included in an alien binary code that is also thought to include the phrase 'exploration [of ] humanity'. such multifaceted myth seems to be the perfect name sake the band lights out asia's multifaceted 5th album. for hy-brasil the band is now back to the core duo of mike ystad and chris schafer. the absence of mike rush's guitars have left a bit of space for the duo to explore more visceral sometimes 'vangelian' synthwork, warm emotive cello passages and more dexterous electronic beat workouts. from the opening track onward each composition on hy-brasil twists and turns through the organic and synthetic seamlessly while yielding what we think is their most dynamic, expansive and universally accessible album to date. the sense of urgency so prevalent on their previous album in the days of jupiter has given way to an underlying mood that seems to reflect moments of transition or exhausting post-catharsis. maybe even an 'exploration' [of] the duo's own 'humanity' while looking outward, questioning what truly "is". [52 09'42.532" n 13 13'12.69" w] price: euro 13,40. available: 12june2k12 WHOURKR. 4247 snare drums. cd. ad noiseam adn158cd third album from igorrr's most brutal project. whourkr is igorrr pushing metal to its very limits and beyond. insanely detailled, mathematically conceived (and named), yet heavy, cleansing and violent. price: euro 13,40. available: 05june2k12 WHOURKR. 4247 snare drums. 2lp+cd. ad noiseam adn158lp third album from igorrr's most brutal project. whourkr is igorrr pushing metal to its very limits and beyond. insanely detailled, mathematically conceived (and named), yet heavy, cleansing and violent. vinyl lp version + full length cd. price: euro 19,00. available: 05june2k12 VITA NOCTIS. against the rule. 2lp. minimal maximal mm005 dark entries and minimal maximal have joined forces to re-issue the complete discography of vita noctis on a double vinyl lp. previously these songs were restricted to limited self-released cassettes, compilation appearances and a sole 12'' mini lp. beware, this is abrasive, primal music made by irritated teenagers full of angst ! vita noctis were a trio from vilvoorde, belgium in the flemish region. inspired by the post-punk movement, twin brothers kris and jos kips convinced their friend martine genijn to start a band in 1983. they recorded their earliest songs onto a 4-track machine in their bedroom studio using the meager equipment they could afford: bass, guitar, two synthesizers and a drummachine. their first album 'in the face of…death' was self-released on cassette only, in 1984 followed by the 'much money good boy, no money good-bey' cassette in 1985. in februari 1986 the band recorded five songs at studio care in gent, belgium, later released as the self-titled 12' mini lp on mad in belgium records. their final recording session was november 1986 returning to the band’s 'bedroom studio', resulting in the song 'she likes me' which appeared on the 'climax productions presents' lp. 'more arthouse' than 'goth', vita noctis blend the sneering attitude of punk with the spartan structures of minimal electronics. the band had more in common with the early electronic sheffield scene of cabaret voltaire, vice versa or early human league than their belgian contemporaries. urgent vocals go from a whisper to a scream in seconds and sound restless, bored and irritated all at once. fuzzy guitar, simple baselines and crude electronics take turns accompanying the dynamic vocal styling. while lyrics tackle weighty topics like death and religion, the landscape they paint is a playfully bratty as it is grim. all songs have been remastered from the restored ¼'' reel to reel tapes by george horn at fantasy studios, berkeley california. each double lp comes in a gatefold jacket with cover art by original designer stephan barbery and never before seen band photos and lyrics for each song. spanning three years and four recording sessions ' against the rule ' is the soundtrack to armageddon, very fitting in the contemporary climate of dissatisfaction and social upheavel. price: euro 21,00. available: 12june2k12 PORTRAIT BIZARRE. a new day. lp. minimal maximal mm006 maasmechelen (belgium) 1981; the birth of darkwave-industrial band portrait bizarre. after a year, being influenced by bands such as joy division and the cure, pb performs as opening act for bands as luna twist, the scabs, the neon judgement and de 2 belgen. in 1984 they've already become a regional icon. after the song 'friends could be friends' was selected by ludo camberlin (anything but records) for a spot on the compilation 'no big business 2', things went fast for the band. later that year the first (and only) 12'' 'heat up one moment' was released, a 3-track with b-sides 'the invitation' and 'ballad of the grave' which all became classics in the underground-circuit. in 1985, after several line-up changes, the group split up because of musical differences. now, 30 years later, the band is back and after some rehearsals and a sold out concert in their hometown, portrait bizarre will present their new album 'a new day' in a limited edition of 520 hand-numbered copies, 180 gram vinyl, no re-press!! price: euro 19,00. available: 12june2k12 A SPLIT - SECOND. stained impressions. lp. minimal maximal mm007 1984 was a pivotal year for a split-second. originally a new wave high-school band playing covers and a few own compositions, the first line-up disbanded as composer, singer and bass player marc ickx went more electronic with a primitive sequencer and drum computer. without previous studio experience, he started recording 'stained impressions', a demo tape recorded in single takes with cassette-to-cassette overdubs. in between recordings he met with chrismar chayell, an old classmate who had a small multi-track recording studio. chayell had already recorded among others the full length twilight ritual album 'the ritual', and offered to produce and record five of the songs at his studio. the first five songs on 'stained impressions' were recorded there. chayell also arranged and played a keybord part on 'teargas and champagne', marking the beginning of what was to come for a split-second. the songs also mark a transition, songs like 'hunger' and 'neurobeat' were written by ickx for the previous line-up, of which 'neurobeat' was the only song to make it to the debut album 'ballistic statues'. from the other songs, parts of titles and lyrics were picked up for later material, and 'resignation' was the blueprint for 'rigor mortis'. most of the other songs are largely improvised in a search for the new direction ickx’ songwriting was heading for. largely raw and primitive, 'stained impressions' provides an interesting look into the genesis of one of the most influential alternative electronic bands of the 80’s, and the variety and experimentation that marked this era. the first and official tape release out now on the vinyl only label minimal maximal in a limited edition of 520 hand-numbered copies, 180 gram vinyl, plus insert, no re-press!! price: euro 19,00. available: 12june2k12 PARADE GROUND. the 15th floor. lp. minimal maximal mm008 parade ground', composed of two brothers pierre and jean-marc pauly started performing live in 1981. they were one of the pioneers of the belgian cold wave and electronic body music. the first single, 'moan on the sly', was released in 1983 and they remained active until now (however they decided not to release anything between 1988 and 2007, being involved in other artistic projects like novels-writing and plastic art). their style has evolved during the eighties, passing from an icy and radical cold wave to a more dancing sound with noticeable rythmics and exclusively synthetic melodies mixed up with dreamy visual dadaism. they regularly collaborated with members of belgian band front 242, were produced by english producer colin newman of wire and wrote and composed on two front 242 albums in 1994. they toured in various european countries and have been an inspiration for many bands. a new album 'rosary' was released in 2007, produced by patrick codenys (front 242). the band are well known for their singular and striking live performances ('the choreography of chaos'). 'the 15th floor', the never released album from 1989, containing 12 tracks, is out now on the vinyl only label minimal maximal in a limited edition of 520 hand-numbered copies, 180 gram vinyl, no re-press, plus insert with notes from colin newman (wire) and patrick codenys (front 242). price: euro 19,00. available: 12june2k12 UNDERWATER PILOTS. endless. cd. zweieck zwe024 endless features 13 tracks of unique synth pop that should be very suitable for fans of covenant, seabound or vnv. but according to their name, underwater pilots, the project of manuel g. richter (xabec) and gregoire vanoli, expand those styles by many own additions: low male vocals, machine beats, synth-arpeggios, subtle depth and sometimes dark atmospheres as well as grainy clicks. endless is a modern sounding journey, an album that unfolds more and more after multiple listens. reviews like '...an electropop bomb that will be hard to beat this year...' says it all. featuring daniel myer (haujobb) on one track. price: euro 13,00. available: now !!! (back) in stock - only a few copies left!: MOTHBOY. exonian. 12''. ad noiseam adn52 almost a year has passed since the release of mothboy’s critically acclaimed album 'the fears'. since then, mothboy has been busy fillung up dancfloors and cooking bass heavy mixes for akira the don, 65daysofstatic, enduser, mad e.p. and other artists. to fill the gap between this debut and his follow up 'deviance' (due in 2006), mothboy comes back with a 6 track ep, 'exonian'. but 'exonian' is more than a small bridge between two albums. mothboy has enlisted the talented mc equivalant (last heard on mad e.p.’s album 'eating movies') on the opening radio hit 'too close'. the track itself is an acid bass electro stomper , with more than enough hooks to pull you off your chair and onto the dancefloor. another new track, 'c.s.r.' sees mothboy taking a lo-fi trip-hop route with an odd to the old mo wax beats, the whole thing enriched with the participation of dj a la fu (ninja tune, vava records), known for his cuts for roots manuva and mike ladd. finally, 'slowraider', on the b side, is a jam in the vein of mothboy’s popular live sets; a track that will turn heads, a relentless electro, hard micro-house number with a sure place in dj bags and sets for a long time. the 'exonian' also features some heavy remixed and reworked versions of standards from 'the fears'. mad e.p. (also working here with equivalent on the mic) takes the beats and the shape of 'stuck in a moment' and mutates it into a threatening mix of hectic breaks and sub harmonic mayhem. jeff mills' favourite monrella (a.k.a. mick harris) turns 'becoming solar' into a chest thumping piece of 4/4 detroit noir. finally, 'exonian' closes with mothboy’s own remake of 'a303', faster, more neurotic and richer in bass than ever. 'exonian' is yet another showcase in mothboy’s ever evolving, ever changing sound and is yet more evidence in his skill and ability as one of the leading lights in the current crop of new uk producers. a record suitable for home playing and for p.a shaking. price: euro 8,20. V.A.. tonwelle 2. cd-r. atacama ar28 11 powerful noise tracks, released for the "tonwellen konferenz 2" festival in burscheid (germany) on 26. & 27.6.2009. feat. mezire, flutwacht, satori, atrox, phelios & stritzel, n.strahl.n, code 243, irikarah, minamata, hijokaidan, antracot. limited hand-numbered edition of 250 copies. packaging: cardboard sleeve. price: euro 11,00. PROMETHEUS BURNING. displacement disorder. 2cd. augmented records aug002 nearly two years after their well received crunch pod release 'plague called humanity', the female fronted electro- industrial duo prometheus burning returns to the spotlight with their latest double disk opus 'displacement disorder'. displacement disorder is a powerfully diverse and versatile album, blurring the line between electronic genres and pumping fresh blood into the industrial scene. while sonically unique, displacement disorder will be easily accessible to any fan of dark electronic and industrial music. from distorted dancefloor killing beats to complex chaotic noise, blasting female vocals to grinding synth leads, this album is prometheus burnings most ambitious work yet and sure to please the ears of intimate listeners and club stompers alike. limited (500 copies worldwide) 2cd box version which includes 2 stickers, a postcard and a button all packaged in a deluxe dvd style case. price: euro 15,90. V.A.. krrrbrrrtztzkrrrbrrrtztz! vol.4 - schlagstrom festival 2009 compilation. cd. sleepless records berlin srb awake001 feat. asche, synapscape, in slaughter natives, bad sector, mono no aware, insekt, spherical disrupted, wertham and more. price: euro 12,80.