INCLUDING MATERIAL SENT IN BY ANONYMOUS, FRIENDS AND FANS FROM OCCUPY WALLSTREET AND MORE

Fatboy Slim just charted the track at number 1 at beatport (Tony Senghore Remix)

Atari Teenage Riot just returned from the USA tour , jumped right into tons and tons of amazing shows in Europe.

The tour continues !

21.10.2011 AT-Dornbirn, Dornbirn

22.10.2011 DE-Stuttgart, Universum

28.10.2011 NL-Dordrecht, Bibelot

29.10.2011 NL-Haarlem, Patronaat

31.10.2011 FR-Lille, Aeronef

01.11.2011 FR-Clermont-Ferrand, “La Cooperative de Mai”

03.11.2011 FR-Saint-Etienne, Le Fil

04.11.2011 FR-Nantes, Le Ferrailleur

17.11.2011 JP-Tokyo, Liquidroom

18.11.2011 JP-Osaka, Fanj Twice

19.11.2011 JP-Nagoya, Club Quattro

23.11.2011 RU-Moscow, Tochka

24.11.2011 RU-St. Petersburg, Glavclub

25.11.2011 FI-Helsinki, Nosturi

26.11.2011 SE-Stockholm, Debaser

02.12.2011 DK-Copenhagen, The Rock

03.12.2011 DE-Hamburg, Gruenspann

ATARI TEENAGE RIOT XXXMAS RAVE 2011!!!! ATR live plus open end party!

Alec Empire & CX Kidtronik DJ-Sets plus special guests from LONDON!!!!

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VIDEO PREMIERE OF MUSTARD PIMP’S “CATCH ME” FEAT. ALEC EMPIRE

In anticipation of their newest single, we are proud to announce the video premiere of “Catch Me”, featuring Alec Empire of Atari Teenage Riot.

The complete release of the title track, featuring remixes by DJ Antention, Kanji Kinetic, and Counterstrike, is now available for download on Beatport here , and through all worldwide retailers October 11th.

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About 15 hours ago or so I was listening to Obama’s voice over the internet…online radio…

I was doing something else, nothing important really… I had returned from Japan a few days before, but somehow this time jetlag had hit me pretty hard despite having played such energetic shows over there…

Sometimes in the past I felt nothing, but this time it was like that scene in Fight Club in which Edward Norton lays on the couch with his remote control, flicking through TV channels, suffering from insomnia. The only difference was that I had got rid of my TVset almost 10 years ago. I had three totally different books in front of me, couldn’t focus at all.

But when Obama came on, I suddenly felt a shot of adrenaline, I woke up. He was talking about how “Standard & Poor’s doubted our political system’s ability to act” – the US had been downgraded to an AA+ level. The debt level was increased, the problems far from solved. The information wasn’t what alerted me, it was the tone of his voice.

When Obama got elected, he convinced a whole generation just by speaking to them in a certain way, that democracy and capitalism will work out for everybody. We CAN change and improve things. Even though I come from a very different political standpoint and I am very aware of the power of the system, when it comes to the system changing individuals who tried to change it, I heard an honesty in this man’s voice which was rare amongst politicians. But suddenly what seemed to have changed mostly for me was his voice. It was the voice of a man who failed badly but out of respect for his listeners was performing a duty.  The job of being President.

We live in a society which has no place for optimism anymore. It’s gone. Nobody wants to take the risk and predict a future,  mainly because everybody feels powerless. Nobody even wants to take the responsibility and take matters into their own hands.

It’s stagnant. Establishments are regarded as fools. It is a constant battle between the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ and the ‘mob mentality’.

So while I was starting to feel like I was actually back in Berlin and awake, I looked outside the window, down on the street in which Atari Teenage Riot had played the peace demonstration on May 1st 1999. Thousands of people protested against Germany’s first involvement in an attack war since World War II. I remembered when I was on the microphone during a song and saw how the police beat into the, at that point, peaceful crowd. Of course the situation escalated, it’s all on film. Even though the images have become iconic and still give viewers the chills, but in my opinon they also tell a story of failure…

There is a long tradition in Berlin that the labor day, the 1st May ends in violence. In 1999 it was supposed to be different. The intent was to get across how serious people treat this issue of Germany sending their soldiers to war. The police failed, because they didn’t break up the crowd and things got out of hand. We all failed to get the real message across. The media had their images of violence, and basically a decade later, it seems perfectly ‘normal’ for German politicians to send troops into other countries.

Violence is always the result of people failing. Failing to communicate, failing to take responsibilities, failing to solve problems. Always.

Now the street in Berlin, Kreuzberg looks peaceful and quiet. Like it did a day before May 1st 1999 and the day after.

I turned back to my computer. The different news feeds were sending update after update. “Freddie Mac reports 2nd quarter loss, asks for $1.5B in federal aid”, “Bank of America now down -20.31%”, “Asia stocks fall after U.S. #stocks dive”, “Losses accelerating at Australian stock market; S&P/ASX200 index off 5%”

At the exact same time, more reports about looting in London, riots, clashes with police.

When European politicians discussed the crisis in Europe over the past weeks, you couldn’t help but get the impression that ‘the markets’ were some sort of wild untamable beast for them. One wrong word and bang, the swarm moving into another direction could destroy you. It makes people manipulate facts, makes people hide problems instead of solving them.

In situations of great stress and pressure most people just react to fear. When we want to understand the reasons for violence, we must look at fear first.

Once the snowball starts rolling, the destructive dynamic of it all can become so big, it takes a long time to heal and to repair the damage.

Vocalist Carl Crack sang in the Atari Teenage Riot song from 1993, an adaption of Sham 69′s ‘If the kids are united’ that

“the violence is a disease – it will become parts of our lives and our future if we don’t DO something against it! If we put our energies together it can be a very powerful era!”

The song was a reaction to the racist attacks by Neo-Nazis in reunified Germany which made most people call for more police, more laws, harder punishment. Carl was basically saying that we must act without waiting for the help of big brother government.

The link between Neo-Nazi ideology spreading and receiving more support and conservative right wing politics of the German government were clearly visible at the time.

There is a  connection between mob, political leaders and those who do nothing and watch in apathy…

How often did we think about that in Germany since we were children? I can’t count it… How did Facism happen? How could people let it happen half a century ago? So when you constantly deal with the consequences of that history, you will always reach the point where you must think about the dangers and dynamics of the ‘mob mentality’.

It spreads like a virus, but make no mistake. When riots and violence occur they are always the result of those in power failing.

When a corrupt system falls apart, it never happens in a ‘controlled’ and ‘thoughtful’ way (apart from maybe GDR in 1989 which is almost a miracle in history). Real riots are not lead by intellectuals who read Marx, so don’t expect it.

But also don’t step into the mainstream media mouse trap:

The August riots in London have nothing to do with ‘anarchy’, they are the fruits of capitalism and the consequences of government decisions.

If you think ‘mindless thugs’ have ‘nothing to do with society’ and your part in it, you might be part of the problem.

To make it clear: I don’t justify or judge anything. I am saying there will be more because the system doesn’t work anymore.

I don’t think in terms of morals, wrong and right. So when this stuff happens, it is EVERYBODY’s fault. mine, yours, theirs.

It is frustrating how some people let politicians & bankers set fire to whole countries’ economies and their future but now are in shock of the results.  People who commented were speaking as if a natural, unexpected disaster came over them, one that they didn’t have any control over or could have not prevented.

I know everybody got used to torture & war during the Bush years. But here is a  reminder: Violence is ALWAYS a failure and a sign of when things go very wrong.

Reading opinions of other music fans from the UK I realized during that quiet night in Berlin, that people repeated commentaries of mainstream media, but disguised them as their own opinions.

The reporters kept repeating the same words over and over again: Mindless violence.

You got the impression that either this was decided before they arrived at the scenery or they kept copying and pasting from each other.

What struck me is how they made “mindless violence” sound like a crime in such a way that you ended up suggesting that “thoughtful violence” is justified in our society.

I lean back and read Wikileaks Twitter “The BBC can interview the Taliban, but is apparently incapable of a single meaningful interview with a London protester. “protesters” or “rioters”, there are no interviews, but endless pathetic commentary.”

It makes me think… Why do people divide between rioters and protestors? Aren’t those as ‘guilty’ who stood by and watched how a whole generation of young people were put into a corner where there is absolutely no way forward anymore? Morally is there a difference between a corporation which pays workers overseas pretty much nothing for manufacturing trainers and teenagers who steal them?

Who is attacking your property more? The looters who throw a brick into your window or the government who lends so much money that your children won’t be able to pay off the debts?

I keep reading….

Oh yes, the first voices as expected, demanding more police & higher budgets for police …while cuts in education were totally ok just a few months ago.

Having more police on the street can only be a reaction to violence, while EDUCATION PREVENTS violence. (As logically as it sounds to us, it is a threat to some in power because then the whole passive consumer business model doesn’t work anymore)

All these things are connected.

There’s a unified axis of government and corporate power, lawless and unrestrained. That’s what we should talk about. Corporations exploit the power of the state to further enhance their power and the real criminals get away. There’s a class war going on… And it’s the rich who are waging it.

Our society has a huge problem to solve. Let’s identify it properly and understand it so we can start acting because “praying for london” won’t do it….

Alec Empire / Atari Teenage Riot waving huge Anti Fascist Action flag at Fusion Festival. (taken by Freda)

posted by Alec Empire for EYHO Blog Berlin
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posted by RZ22 for EYHO Blog Berlin
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Quietus Mix 31: Alec Empire’s Empirical Evidence by The Quietus on Mixcloud

The Quietus :”That the world is a better place with Alec Empire in it is an indisputable truth. That Alec Empire has done us a mix AND taken the time to talk us through his choices, is an indisputable proud moment in the history of this Quietus Mix Series. These are the fizzing elements, deep foundations, bracing braces and sonic weapons that in their own ways, have conspired and combined to make up Atari Teenage Riot’s new album, Is This Hyperreal?

When it comes to disseminating righteous music to the world, you can rely on a man like Alec Empire to go above and beyond the call of duty. The Atari Teenage Riot man has compiled us not only a fantastic mix of the music that has inspired him and the group over the years, but provided a narration of why the songs are so important. There are some fascinating stories too – imagine a festival bill with The Locust, ATR, Suicide and Metalux, who are included here… well, it happened. And I for one did not know that there exists a 7″ with The Fall on one side and ATR on the other – listen as Alec tells us what an honour it was to play with The Monks. There’s also fascinating insight on the impact of techno, Sonic Youth, why ATR love The Raveonettes, plus a brand new track from Nic Endo and a rough, never-released mix of ‘Battle’, his track with Patrick Wolf. Remember Atari Teenage Riot’s Is This Hyperreal? is a) their best work and b) out later this month.”

Alec Empire / Atari Teenage Riot tracklist:

Wipers – Romeo

Sonic Youth – Kissability

Metalux – Track 03
Magic Alex – Mardas
Tatsuhiko Asano – Bonjour
Output – Sympathy Nervous
Fifty Foot Hose – Red The Sign Post
The Sonics – He’s waiting
Alec Empire – it should be you not me
Raveonettes – With My Eyes Closed
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & Alec Empire – Attack
JM Van Eaton – Beatnik
Alec Empire & The Monks – Monk Time
Jeff Mills – Human To Machine Connection
Nic Endo – Sanctuary
Spooky Tooth & Pierre Henry – Offering
Atari Teenage Riot – Riot 1995
Patrick Wolf & Alec Empire – Battle
Atari Teenage Riot – Shadow Identity

posted by RZ22 for EYHO Blog Berlin
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ALEC EMPIRE and MAX DAX will play the strangest bar music at the HBC bar, starting at 8pm.

click here to watch Alec Empire’s official Hypermodern Jazz Remix of Björk’s classic from way back

the ever-caring HBC chefs have heard the news and will open some definitive fines de claires for the listening audience (and, of course, they serve aperitivo food as always).

VUP LOUNGE is part of CERCLES at HBC
Karl Liebknecht Straße 9
Berlin Alexanderplatz

posted by RZ22 for EYHO Blog Berlin
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click here to listen to Acid Junkies!

Live Friday Night from 22.00:

Warming Up Rave Party !!!!! => Spiral Stage aka Network 23 Tribe Stage
[wikipedia.org] // [spiral-tribe.org]
One of the most famous soundsystems in the world !!!!!

click here to watch 1994 reclaim the streets clip

Crystal Distortion alias Simon,
69db,
Ixindamix
Jeff 23 alias Dj Tal,
Meltdown Mickey
The Bad girls ( Ixindamix + MC Simsimmer)
Ixindamix

click here to watch original Spiral Tribe music video

Visuals: Feenix 13

Sunday From 14.00: Camping Afterparty until 22.00 !!!!

click here to watch cult 12″ clip of SP23

Some artist that have already confirmed:

Some artist that have already confirmed:

ALEC EMPIRE (Germany)

click here to listen to Alec Empire from 1994

ACID JUNKIES (Holland)
DJUMA SOUNDSYSTEM (Denmark)
DAZ BRIGADE (Germany)
KOZZ (Belgium)
ACID KIRK (Belgium)
TRISH VAN EYNDE (Belgium),
WHICKED HAYO (Belgium),
ENDUSER(Usa)

watch Eduser with Assasin
FFF (Holland)
JEROME HILL (UK)

Violet = Kong = Aether/ Void = Psychedelic
—————————————–
Whicked Hayo (Belgie)
Hishiryo (France),
Dennis The Menace (Sweden),
Pzyko (Belgium)
Phenotype (France),,
Psychoz ( Germany),
Kya (Germany),
Fraktophon (Belgium)
Syntrax Error (Belgium),

Wit = Mu = Wood = Hardcore // Breakcore // IDM
———————————————–
ALEC EMPIRE (Germany)
ENDUSER(Usa)
FFF (Holland)
K-os (Belgium)
Probex (Belgium)
Zeck (Belgium)
Mayhem (Belgium)
Terror (Belgium)
Droon (Belgium)
Wan bushi (Belgium)
Mr Bad Monkey (Belgium)

Yellow = Feng = Air = Rave// Acid
——————————–
ACID JUNKIES (Holland)
ACID KIRK (Belgium)
Nocid (Belgium)
Cthulhu 303 (Belgium)
Metamorph (Belgium)
Parazoid (Belgium)
Phobiak (Belgium)
Ralph Storm (Belgium)
Fritacid (Belgium)
L-Reak (Belgium)
The Fresh W (Belgium)

Brune = Tu = Earth = Ambient// Live // Chill Out
———————————————-
Seal Phüric (Belgium)
Palsembleu (Ucture + Bishop Dust) (Belgium)
Cnuff. I (Sheperd + Egon Fisk) (Belgium)
Biofix (Belgium)
Uriel (Belgium)
Dee Elfe (Belgium)
Fhex (Belgium)
Krasius (Belgium)
DJ Bassmati (France)
More chill-out artists TBC
SEOUL & T LINDER (Usa)
MASHED PAPER KLUB (Belgium),
MOONLIGHT MATTERS (Belgium)

Blue= Shui = Water = Minimal//House
———————————–
DJUMA SOUNDSYSTEM (Denmark)
Daz Brigade (Germany)
MOONLIGHT MATTERS (Belgium)
LouLou Players (Belgium)
Ishtar & La Maz (Belgium)
Robbyns & Markey (Belgium)
Don Santos (Belgium)
Ricardo (Belgium),
Voxter and Balance (Belgium)
Stevie P vs Gols (Belgium)
R’Deem (Belgium)
Massaar (Belgium)
Joey Payne & Jose Noventa
Mk Ultra (Belgium)

Red= Huo = Fire = Techno// Electro
———————————-
KOZZ (Belgium)
TRISH VAN EYNDE (Belgium),
JEROME HILL (UK)
SEOUL & T LINDER (Usa)
MASHED PAPER KLUB (Belgium),
Klaina (Belgium)
808 SNKRDZ (Belgium)
Celtric (Belgium),
Spastik (Belgium)
Jamie Behan (Ierland)
Jrd (Belgium)
Bumperfunk (Belgium)
X-Act (Belgium)

next days more news…. Chill Contact Shops: jamie.bell2009@gmail.com Deco Art:

Wrekon – Mutoid Waste Co. (Spiral Tribe, Italie)
[facebook.com]
Global Village People (Fusion, Ozora, Rhakti Dei, UK)
[co.uk]/

More to be confirmed!!!!

posted by RZ22 for EYHO Blog Berlin
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Hey, it’s Alec Empire posting this time. (Thanks to Tenderhool for putting this up on YouTube)

I spent a long time in the studio finishing the new Atari Teenage Riot album. So when Patrick called me up, I was like “yeah the last show I have been to was my own – some point in December last year”… You know when you haven’t seen a live show in a while, it’s really great to go to a show again! (I always feel like that opening scene in Alien 1 when they wake up from that long sleep – not saying the time in the studio was boring, but it’s so different from being together with hundreds of people who share the same music)

All the new songs sound amazing live.

Patrick got me up on stage, so we played a stripped down version of the Hard Times Remix I did when it was released as a single.

click here to watch Patrick Wolf with Alec Empire playing Hard Times in Berlin

Then Vulture…where the whole band got back on stage with us. It was amazing for me because we wrote those songs together in my studio in Berlin, and even if we have performed them together in London before, to play them in the city that inspired us to write the songs, felt great.

Click here to watch them play Vulture

For the record….I am totally into Saxophones! I am a huge Jazz and Ska fan and FINALLY someone has broken that taboo and included this amazing instrument again!

(Usually mp3′s make saxophones sounds terrible, that’s why it has disappeared from most music..which is a shame. At a live show it can add a level of excitement which is unbeatable)

click here to watch Patrick’s big finale “The City”

So we hung out backstage – met Rowdy Superstar who supports Patrick on this tour. There are not many clips on YouTube, he is working on new material right now.

That guy has a lot of energy!!! AND has two great dancers with him on stage. It reminded me of one of my all time favorite film scenes in the beginning of Do The Right Thing.

Try to get to Patrick’s show early to see Rowdy Superstar…

click here to watch Rowdy’s freestyle in the streets of New York

posted by Alec for EYHO Blog Berlin
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http://dimmakrecs.com/artists/atari-teenage-riot/

Alec Empire:” This is one of the darkest projects I have ever been involved in…it’s intense…I loved working with those guys! This is very rare stuff…try to grab it while it’s still out there…the guys from crustcake.com couldn’t have described it better…read below.”

“Not so long ago, we gave you the heads up on Sailors with Wax Wings, the new project from R. Loren of Denton shapeshifters Pyramids. Well, Loren has another project to unleash upon the world – White Moth. According to Loren, White Moth is:

…a milestone on an indefinite journey, much of which is documented here- a series of deeply intimate works crafted with the help of those that have inspired my own growth and musical bloodflow for its duration….

You have to listen to get the full meaning of his statement. Their self titled record comes out tomorrow on Angel Oven Records, and you can preview it in the link provided above. And in accordance with the collaborative nature of Pyramids, this record’s got a whole host of great guests too. Colin Marston (Krallice, Gorguts), who was on the Sailors record, appears again, as does No-Wave legend Lydia Lunch, John Gossard (Weakling, Asunder, Dispirit, The Gault), experimental hip-hopper Dälek, and many more. White Moth’s a little more all-over the place and beat oriented than either Pyramids or Sailors With Wax Wings, but it’s still got R. Loren’s penchant for dreaminess. Well worth a listen.

Album cover, track listing, and full list of personnel (seriously, it’s also AMAZING) after the jump.”

1. There was a man with tongue of wood
2. Two women, knitting
3. The sea was blue meadow
4. Shoot the clock
5. You texas, dark star
6. Blood and torn grass
7. Smiles warm red light
8. To the cathedral

Lineup:

R. Loren
vocals, textures

C. Rogers
vocals

Ashley Scott Jones (Treasure Fingers, Evol Intent)
beats, electronics

Colin Marston (Krallice)
guitar, bass

Sam Hillmer (Zs)
saxophone

Jacob Kirkegaard (Touch Records)
processed field recording

Christoph Heemann (H.N.A.S.)
guitar, piano, electronics, percussion, moog

Lydia Lunch
vocals

Dälek
vocals

Alec Empire (Atari Teenage Riot)
vocals, tr 808, linndrum, roland jupiter 8, roland rs-202, arp solina, arp 2600, minimoog

Shelby Cinca (Frodus)
vocals

John Gossard (Weakling, Asunder)
vocals

Chet W. Scott (Blood Of The Black Owl, Glass Throat Records)
artwork and design

WHITE MOTH – S/T by YOU TEXAS DARK STAR

click here to watch clip

WHY we should remember people like Maclaren in our times?

This is why….John Robb wrote in his latest blog, why punk rock was so important in the late 70ties.

“Middle aged men talk about music in terms of how people play with no
regard for the soul power and the passion and the ideas- they missed
the point entirely. They don’t get the thrill of the other stuff,
they don’t even get the thrill of the music- being to busy getting
autistic over the musicianship. Boring.” by John Robb

Just open up any music magazine in 2010, you’ll find them in
there…and the bands fit so well… confused drunken festival goers,
age 20, talk and think and listen to music this way… I turn up MX80
and I hear them sing: “Why are we here? Why are we here…”

click here to watch MX80

read full article by John Robb – click here (excellent blog by the way you should subscribe to!)

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IAMX – ‘I Am Terrified’ Alec Empire Remix

IAMX | MySpace Music Videos
click here to watch

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IAMX: Chris Corner announces the release of his new album ‘Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK’ comprised of Reworks and Interpretations of IAMX‘ third studio album ‘Kingdom of Welcome Addiction’, by the likes of Combichrist, Terence Fixmer, Alec Empire, Black Light Odyssey and Aesthetic Perfection. Release date 19.03.2010. Coverart and tracklisting revealed. The CD can be pre-ordered now from boutiqueiamx.eu.

Tracklisting: 01 Nature Of Inviting – Black Light Odyssey 02 Tear Garden – UNFALL CHOCOLATEFURWINE 03 You Can Be Happy – Combichrist 04 Kingdom Of Welcome Addiction – Aesthetic Perfection 05 The Great Shipwreck Of Life – Pull Out Kings 06 Tear Garden – UNFALL ART DECO 07 Think Of England – Miss Derringer 08 The Stupid, The Proud – Index 09 My Secret Friend – Omega Man 10 I Am Terrified – Alec Empire 11 An I For An I – UNFALL X-Mess 12 Nature Of Inviting – Terence Fixmer 13 Running – Cook/Kirby

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Here is the second DJ Mix!!!!

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….

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ZAN LYONS PLAYS AT TRANSDUCERS PT.2 TONIGHT AT TRESOR – A GOOD REASON FOR US TO REPUBLISH ALEC EMPIRE’S INTERVIEW WITH HIM!

IT WAS TRUE PUNKROCK!

Alec Empire interviews London filmmaker and musician Zan Lyons

Alec: “I think most of our readers might only be aware of your music, but you
have been almost more active in making films in the last years. Could you
please give them a brief introduction to your work…”

Zan:

“When I started making music the thing that excited me most was that I could do it all at home with just a sampler and computer. It was true punk rock. I’d have an idea turn on my machines and Jam.
I wanted to bring the same energy to films and then combine it with my sound!
All my films are shot, lit and edited by my me on my laptop. I also do all of the visual effects and post production. This means I can take my camera, shoot something and start trying ideas immediately.
It’s a powerful and liberating experience!”

Alec:” Many people say that video games will replace film one day. Do you agree?
Can video games ever achieve the same effect that films can?
Does it even make sense to put both in relation to each other?”

Zan:

“From an industry standpoint video games have already replaced film. Even in our current economic climate video game sales keep growing while film sales are shrinking. I think the reason is a simple one. Value.
Even though games are significantly more expensive than films the experience is much more involved. What happens on the screen is happening to you, not a character you passively empathize with. Film distributors need to start giving audiences more with their DVDs. The same lack of value destroyed music – even though the industry blames downloads. When you buy a game you are buying something that will absorb you for days – even months.
From a personal perspective, nothing will ever replace the magic of cinema and although Games offer a truly interactive form of entertainment, they are not yet able to compete with film in terms of story. Games like Metal Gear Solid and the Final Fantasy series have scratched the surface. I think we’ll start to see the two worlds collaborating in the near future. Brilliant storytelling not better graphics will really take gaming to the next level.”

Alec: “How influential is Asian film right now? It seems that Hollywood steals
more ideas from there than from anywhere else…”

Zan:

“Asia is without a doubt leading the world of cinema. Films like ‘The Ring’ and ‘Oldboy’ have completely changed films and have left Hollywood playing catchup. South East Asia always gets mentioned but India is also producing thought-provoking dramas as well as the colorful entertainment of Bollywood. Also a lot of people don’t realize that Bollywood is the biggest film industry in the world with Hollywood coming second place.
People working in Asia really know their craft and as a result, they make better films for much, much less money than Hollywood. Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle has worked most of his life in South East Asia. He’s easily the greatest cinematographer working today but I doubt he would have reached this point if been swallowed up by Hollywood or even Europe.
Asian cinema keeps getting better and better and I think it will play a much greater role in years to come.”

Alec: “How important is authenticity or realism for you as a director ? Do they
both even matter?”

Zan:
“My films have lot’s of small details so realism is very important. I always use lighting to create a film’s atmosphere because it’s means the image comes to life in front of me and I can react to it. All of my effects are very simple and usually involve more camera work than computer effects. I want people to believe what’s on the screen.”

Alec: “Can you recommend 3 films to our readers? And explain why they should
watch them?”

Zan:

“The first is ‘In the Mood for Love‘. The way color and music are used to create atmosphere is amazing. It manages to feel like a classic 1960′s film and a modern one at the same time.

The second is ‘THX1138‘. I think this is one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. It has a sense of claustrophobia that I don’t think I’ve experienced since. There’s an impending doom from start to finish and it’s themes of government control feel more relevant today than ever before.

The final film is ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit‘. It’s a perfect example brilliant family cinema. Children will love the cute charater animation and adults will enjoy all of the film noir references. Most importantly though, it’s 90 minutes of pure mind-bending fun!”

Alec: “Has technology left human imagination behind? Anything can be created
with the help of computers these days, but still most films out there lack
ideas? Why do you think that is?”

Zan:

“Technology can be great when used well but too many people seem to use it to make short cuts and cover over weak ideas. Films like Star Wars and 2001 were at the cutting edge when they were released but the initial ideas were good in the first place so the effects were just enhancements. I think we need to return to this way of thinking and use new technology as a creative tool.”

Alec: “Or is the problem rooted in our society, in which everything , even art
itself, has to serve only one goal: profit making?”

Zan:

“When Hollywood gets it right the results can be amazing. but unfortunately money often gets in the way. There are too many people who see film making purely in financial terms and they are usually the reason for bad films.
I think this will change though. Audiences aren’t stupid, if a film isn’t good people can just download it!”

Alec: “Are you thinking of doing a full length film one day?”

Zan:

“My new album will be a collection of 9 songs with a short film for each one. It will flow together running at about 45 minutes so it’s actually a full-length film.
You’ll be able to either watch it as a complete film or select individual chapters – or just listen to the music. Each viewer will experience it differently.
The music is all instrumental and the films have no dialogue. The sounds and images are heavily synchronized – I wanted to create a world that people get can lost in.

I also have two story-based feature films that I plan on making at some point. I can’t say too much at the moment but they’ll be made in a similar way to my shorts.”

Alec: “You did visual remixes of some scenes of Blade Runner. How did the
audience react to that? This film is often seen as the masterpiece that
nobody is allowed to touch…”

Zan:

“There was a strong reaction to it here in the UK for that exact reason. Audiences loved it though! When it began they thought it was just a live soundtrack but quickly discovered I’d re-edited the film as well. I used heavy synchronization between my own music and various scenes. I remember BBC Radio interviewing me asking if I was trying to make Blade Runner better! I was never trying to improve the film – that would be impossible. It was more like my own version. I had some clips on youtube but was asked to take them down by Warner Brothers:)”

Alec: “Do you think that most film scores push the audience far enough?“

Zan:

“Not at all. The last good film score I heard was ‘There Will be Blood’ It created an almost unbearable tension throughout the whole film.
Otherwise Most film scores sound either made-to-order or like a cynical way to promote a bands music.
Film scores are in real need of a a change!”

Alec: “Where do you think films will be at in 10 years? The same stories told with
different/younger actors?”

Zan:

“I think a revolution is coming! There will, of course be the same old money-making films but I think Digital Technology has put film making in the hands of everyone so I hope we’ll start to see new visions and different methods of storytelling.
There will definitely be less money to make films so people will have rely on ideas instead of funding to make good work. We’re already seeing this with people like Warp Films and Philip Virus.
I think we’ll also start seeing more films that take advantage of the internet rather than treating it as an enemy. Maybe interactive films where the viewer has a say in what happens next.
Like I said, tools that used to be exclusive to Hollywood are now in the hands of everybody. In ten years we’re going to see more films made faster, cheaper and for the RIGHT reasons!”

check out Zan’s films and infos here:

http://www.zanlyons.com
http://www.youtube.com/thisisourpunkrock
http://www.myspace.com/zanlyons

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click here to watch

Artist- WE
Album – As Is
Track – Magnesium Flares
Label – Asphodel 1997
just a great record….there really was something different happening in New York/Brooklyn around that time.

…just woke up…recorded and recorded….each new album sucks out the last drop of blood in me… pleasure, pain and lust… Berlin is greyer than grey… like the outside world doesn’t exist…..

miss all of you….

Alec

click here to follow Alec Empire on Soundcloud, get exclusive tracks and mixes

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watch clip and click here

Ever wanted to know the truth about most remix deals which are being done lately? Watch this clip.

EYHO Blog urges all new and upcoming producers to not give into the bullshit. The “foot in the doorstep” will never happen. (same goes for playing commercial festivals by the way)

It is time musicians unite and fight the exploitation which is going on behind closed doors.

We suggest if you like a track that much that you’ll get on your knees to do it then just do a mash up or bootleg remix and put it online.

Basic rule in the download age: If someone makes money with your shit, you should get your fair share.

(Yes, that also goes for any torrent website that has advertising or takes donations. Share your profits and support each other.)

German band Kraftwerk described themselves as ‘music-workers’ (‘Musikarbeiter’)…

click here to listen to song

Brüder, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit
Brüder zum Lichte empor!
Hell aus dem dunklen Vergangnen
leuchtet die Zukunft hervor.

Seht, wie der Zug von Millionen
endlos aus Nüchtigem quillt,
bis eurer Sehnsucht Verlangen
Himmel und Nacht überschwillt!

Brüder, in eins nun die Hände,
Brüder, das Sterben verlacht!
Ewig, der Sklav’rei ein Ende,
heilig die letzte Schlacht!

UR – it’s time ! click here

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…and click here to watch our favorite Mayhem song

…and another one

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Alec Empire is spinning Acidhouse and old Force Inc records tonight in Berlin! we know this is a rare thing these days…

here is the info (in German, but you’ll manage) from the press sheet from the promoter:

ALEC EMPIRE (dhr) – acid house dj set
SVEN WEISEMANN (mojuba) – techno dj set
ACID MARIA (abe duque rec, killekill) – dj
DJ FLUSH (killekill) – dj
STYPE (killekill) – dj

Der Megahorst, der Megahorst, der kommt mit seiner dicken Worst.
Das wird DIE gro?e KILLEKILL-Abschlusssause f?r dieses Jahr.

Ein ACID HOUSE SET von ALEC EMPIRE!!!!!!
?Geht?s noch?? w?rde Roman Fl?gel vielleicht fragen. Wir w?rden sagen: ?Ja!?
ALEC EMPIRE ist ein Megastar des Industrial, Berlins Anti-hero, Erfinder des Breakcore, eine Legende auf seinem Gebiet.
Dass er aber – wie jeder gute K?nstler – musikalisch nicht einseitig ist, wird er an diesem Abend beweisen: Und zwar, indem er seine ganz pers?nlichen Acid House-Perlen aus seinem Plattenschrank holt.
Damit das nicht zu kuschelig wird, haben wir den neuen Deepness-Superstar SVEN WEISEMANN im Gegenzug auf ein Techno-Set festgenagelt.
Mit sowas hat er in der Berghain Kantine schon einmal alles weggeblasen, was man nur wegblasen kann, mit seinen unwahrscheinlich schnellen Fingern.
Da bleibt kein Auge trocken.
Wunderkind ACID MARIA, der Neuzugang im Killekill-Resident-Stall, wird den Abend weiter veredeln und dass dann mit DJ FLUSH und STYPE noch zwei der Residents mit am Start sind, ist eigentlich auch kein Wunder?

Also, aufgemacht, kurz vor Weihnachten noch einmal richtig durch den Tisch getreten!

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

19.12. KILLEKILL MEGAHORST
HORST KRZBRG
Tempelhofer Ufer 1
S + U Hallesches Tor
Start: 24:00
8?

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watch exclusive trailer here!

Sonic terrorist, Alec Empire, returns for another blistering series of live dates here in the UK that looks set to blow the roof off every venue it invades across the country.

?1000 Eyes? is the new download only single taken off the animated short film, ?The Golden Foretaste of Heaven?. After the critical acclaim of his mini album, ?Shivers?, earlier this year, Alec channelled his dark energy into creating a brooding, mesmerising soundtrack to the hotly tipped film by Austrian rising star, Richard Wilhelmer.

Fresh off supporting Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails on their European leg of the tour, Alec will bring his awesome live setup to the UK showcasing material from a career spanning almost two decades. Always a knack for spotting new talent, Alec has collaborated with Robbie Furze from The Big Pink on the track, ?If You Live or Die? off his last album and has produced and written Patrick Wolf?s lead single, ?Vultures?.

Wolf also appeared on stage with Empire during his sold out London date at The Underworld earlier this year and looks certain to join up with his partner in crime for the Islington Academy show in London on November 19.

Having recently remixed IAMX, ex Sneaker Pimp, Chris Corner?s new single ?Terrified?, the hardest working Berliner in music?s next project is a team up with Major Lazer and Saul Williams for some new tracks and a remix special with Dillinger Escape Plan later this year.

As a special treat for UK fans, Alec has roped in up & coming alt techno-core outfit, Motor, who are currently on tour with D?p?che Mode as support for his UK dates.

Alec has once again reinvented himself and you can witness the Empire effect first hand this autumn as Nic Endo and him take to a stage near you.

1000 Eyes (Single Version) / Alec Empire by alec_empire
ALEC EMPIRE
The Past – The Present – The Future Tour 2009

15.10.2009 F-la Tronche, La Faiencerie
16.10.2009 B-Antwerp, Petrol
17.10.2009 Hannover, Indiego Glocksee
20.10.2009 Essen, Grend
21.10.2009 K?ln, Underground
22.10.2009 Hamburg, Logo
23.10.2009 Berlin, K17
24.10.2009 Cottbus, Gladhouse
25.10.2009 PL-Gdynia, Ucho
27.10.2009 CZ-Prague, Lucerna Music Bar
28.10.2009 A-Linz, Stadtwerkstatt
29.10.2009 A-Wien, Szene
30.10.2009 Ingolstadt, Paradox
31.10.2009 Leipzig, Lagerhof
06.11.2009 NL-Den Haag, Bazart
07.11.2009 NL-Utrecht, DBs
18.11.2009 GB-Newport, TJs
19.11.2009 GB-London, O2 Academy Islington
20.11.2009 GB-Birmingham, Eddie?s
21.11.2009 GB-Manchester, Club Academy
22.11.2009 GB-Edinburgh (GB), GRV
25.11.2009 CH-Z?rich, Stall 6
26.11.2009 F-Perpignan, CrockMore? NEW!!!
27.11.2009 CH-Vevey, Rocking Chair
28.11.2009 I-Florence (I), Siddharta
07.12.2009 I-Roma, Atlantico
31.07.2010 PL-Bolkow, Castle Party
If You Live Or Die live by alec_empire

for more information visit Alec Empire’s website
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FEEDING TIME

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& CONFUSED –

PRESENT

THE BIG

PINK – A

BRIEF HISTORY

OF LOVE -

ALBUM

LAUNCH

THURSD

AY 17TH

SEPTEMBER

10PM – 4AM

CHARLOTTE ST

BLUES BAR

74 Charlotte

Street

London,W1T4QH

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ALEC EMPIRE TAKES A BREAK FROM HIS TOUR WITH NINE INCH NAILS AND TALKS WITH YIP YIP TALK ABOUT , SESAME STREET, MUSIC AND NOISE, INDUSTRY AND MORE…

click here to watch original TV Yip Yips

Alec Empire:

” Many of our readers might not know you guys yet…the two creatures from Sesame Street are quite famous out here. I remember driving my parents crazy by adapting the Yip Yip talking style for days, when I was a kid…they did almost turn me into that kid from The Shining…is that a dumb question that you get asked all the time? Or what’s the story behind the name?”

Brian:

“It’s not a dumb question, because it would seem like we definitely got the name from that. In fact, even I thought Jason got the name from Sesame Street for the first few years of doing Yip-Yip with him, until we had one of our first real interviews and they asked if we got it from that. I said “Yes”, and Jason said “No, I didn’t”. I wish we did get it from that, because it would make the question a lot easier to answer. Even I don’t believe Jason’s answer.”

Jason:

“It’s just a stupid name i thought of. It doesn’t mean anything. We had an even worse name before this one and we knew we had to change it, but we couldn’t come up with anything good. Most band names that mean something end up sounding dumb after a while, so we just wanted a name that didn’t mean anything. Something totally nonsensical.”

Brian: “Calm down, Jason.”

click here for more

Alec Empire:

” I got introduced by Gabe from The Locust years ago, have been
listening to your music ever since. Are you part of a scene in the US?
Let us know where you are coming from…”

Brian:

“When we first started, we were really into that awesome wave of weird music from the late 90′s early 2000′s of The Locust, Lightning Bolt, Melt Banana, Arab On Radar, Crom-Tech, Neon Hunk, etc. I think we were really hoping to become part of that scene, and in a way, surprising to us, we kind of did. We were lucky to meet the people and bands that we did, and we are happy to have made it into a scene at all.”

Jason:

“We seem to not quite fit into any particular scene. I think we’re a little bit too happy or silly for the heavy experimental scene, but we seem to have some sort of foothold there anyways. Maybe we would fit better in the electronic/dance scene, but we see ourselves as more like a band and some of that stuff is more like deejays.”

Brian:

“Yeah, like we feel like we don’t fit in as well with the electronic scene, even though we actually probably fit in better there. But really it’s mostly who we’ve met, and who have met us, played with us, and liked us enough to be our friends and take us out on tour.”

Alec Empire:

” Why we love your stuff is because it sounds great, I mean the sound of the music is serious (as opposed to most of these rather stupid digital joke 8bit 2 piece bands in Europe). I find it very interesting
that there seems to be more cool analogue & weird shit coming from the US. Tell us about why you sound the way you do and if there is a philosophy behind it…you know…”

Brian:

“That’s awesome that you see that our music is serious. Not that we are a very serious band, or we want to be taken very seriously, but yeah, I think a lot of people kind of think of us as more of a joke, and we are lumped with that kind of stuff so much, and we never understand why. We are seriously trying to make really interesting and fun music, and we are seriously trying to be a great band, even though we are hardly know what we are doing. It’s been kind of hard, and it’s taken us a long time to get our stuff to what we are doing now. It’s very rewarding when we finish and we know that we have figured out this music that seems to be pretty original and might possibly break some new ground musically, especially when it feels like almost everything has already been done.”

Jason:

“There’s a fine line between fun music and funny joke music. We are trying to walk a few fine lines. We want to make music that is fun, but not a joke. Music that is challenging, but not not too heady. Noisy music that is more than just noise. I don’t know why there is more weird shit coming from the US. I think a lot of people from the US think it’s the other way around.”

http://soundcloud.com/yip-yip/yip-yip-gender-changers

Alec Empire:

” It looks from the outside like you’re doing everything by yourself…since years. You’re even documenting via Twitter when you are about to post new 7inches… and still you have your music up for
free download. Is that impression true, and what do you think about your way of doing things? Does it work as an example for other bands?
Tell us your view on the “business” side of your music…(mainstream bands get praised as revolutionary innovators while they just copy the ideas from bands in the “underground” who have been doing it since
years)”

Jason:

“Giving away free digital downloads is, I think, absolutely necessary in this day and age.
I don’t really want to have anything to do with the ‘business’ side of music but dealing with the business side is unfortunately a necessary part of it for a band at our level. We can’t afford to pay people to do that stuff for us. Lucky for me, Brian takes care of all of that stuff.”

Brian:

“We haven’t been very good with the “business” side of our band so far, and that’s probably why we’ve hardly made any money, and why we have to work at photo labs and deliver food to pay our bills. My view on the business side of music is I think the more people who hear of your music and hear of your live shows, the more money you make when you tour, and maybe you might even make some money off of albums you put out. So the most important thing to me, at least while we are still mostly unknown, is to get us heard.

Putting a price on every song you put out is not a great way of doing that, so we have put a lot of our stuff up online for people to check out and decide if they want to support us by buying our albums or t-shirts, or by coming to our shows. Maybe that kind of carefree idea of putting up one too many songs to download for free is why we are currently label less and wondering if anyone is going to actually put out this album we’ve been working on.”

Jason:

“As cheesey as it sounds, the more you think about the business side, the less you think about the music side. I’d like to say that it’s all about the music, but I’d also like to think that at some point in our lives this music could support us financially. We are nowhere close to that point right now and I don’t know if we ever will be.”

Alec Empire:

” What are your shows like? In what type of clubs do you guys play? And how is your crowd? (this might sound boring but I think more and more bands are just about pleasing the crowd while you don’t seem that kind of band)”

Jason:

“Since we don’t quite fit into a musical niche, we get to play with all sorts of bands in front of all sorts of audiences at all sorts of venues. Our ideal shows are in well-run, all ages, d.i.y. venues with good sound. Those places are few and far between, so we will play wherever we can. Mostly we just want it to be loud. If it’s loud and we can hear our music the way it should be heard, it is a good show for us. If the audience is having fun it’s definetly a bonus.”

Brian:

“The crowds are different depending on where we are playing, and who we are playing with. We we toured with The Locust, the crowds and shows were all awesome. People at the shows usually seemed to know who we were, and were excited to see us. The sound systems were almost always great and really loud, which also helps a lot. Some shows can be weird, like when the crowd isn’t familiar with us, so they just kid of stand there and stare. We will end our set and go backstage and think that we sucked, but then end up talking to a bunch of people who say they loved the show and buy our crap.”

Alec Empire:

” What is your favorite gear when you create new music? You are recording right now as I understand. A new record? Is this going to be different? How do you approach that process?”

Brian:

“Yes, we just finished writing our new album, “Bone Up”. We are going to start recording it very soon. The biggest thing that’s going to be different than our other albums is that this album is going to have us both doing vocals. This album is way more elaborate than anything we’ve ever done.”

Jason:

“In the beginning, we had more of that digital sound because all of those types of sounds were so accessible. We could get toy keyboards at thrift stores and digitally manipulate them with Sound Forge or some other software. But that got kind of boring and digital stuff always sounded sort of hokey to me. It was probably a year before I got my first serious synthesizer and since then I’ve liked analog over digital. Analog synths a lot more fun to play, there’s no programming and everything happens immediately.

And no matter how well you know your synths, there’s always a certain level of sonic unpredictability and slight variation. There are always graduations in digital knobs so you can hear the steps when you turn them. Analog knobs are just a clean sweep. Analog synths are more visually appealing, too. Lately, I’ve become more open to digital stuff. You can get so many sounds out of way smaller devices with digital.

We’ve been using this thing Simmons made called a Multi-Mallet a lot on the songs we’re writing now. It’s like a 90′s yamaha fm synthesis keyboard but with a xylophone-like controller. It has some interesting sounds, and looks cool. We use it on almost all of our new songs.”

Brian:

“Yeah, we like to think that we are using the best of both worlds. Jason uses all older analog synths, I use a mix of old and new analog and digital sounds from all sorts of different things we find, and I use them for the drums and backing sounds. I also use samplers to run everything live, and without that new stuff, we wouldn’t be able to perform this stuff we’re writing live.

Oh, and my favorite gear right now is my Moogerfooger trio (Freqbox, Ring Mod, & MURF), the Simmons Multimallet Jason already mentioned, my Casio CZ-101, and the Alesis D4 drum module.”

Alec Empire:

” What are 5 favorite records? And why?”

Brian:

“Devo – Oh No, It’s Devo – This was the first Devo record that I got, so I think that’s the best way I can pick a favorite Devo album. Devo is the band that got me into synthesizers. If I never got this record and got so into Devo, I probably would have never been so interested electronic music, or started this kind of band with Jason. Devo rules!

watch Devo here

Cardiacs – On Land And In The Sea – This is probably my favorite Cardiacs album because I love every song on the album. It basically has everything that I would ever look for in music in one album. Organs, synthesizers, horns, weird rhythms and rhythm/tempo changes, lots of percussion, a great vocalist, and amazing song writing.

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Doc At The Radar Station – The drumming on this album is insane. A lot of the time when I listen to it I try to only listen to the drums, and I try to think of how I could do anything at all like that with our rhythms. I also love how heavy it sounds without having anything really that heavy going on. The two guitarists are sick on this album. The horn, mellotron, marimba, and gong seal the deal for me. What a perfect combination of sounds. I wish there were more bands like this!

click here for BBC documentary on Beefheart

Nirvana – In Utero – I used to love Nirvana when I was a kid, and then I got back into it even more in the past few years. We started listening to it a lot on one of our tours and decided to try to do our first cover song when we got home. We wanted to do the song “Very Ape” because we thought it sounded strangely like some of the stuff we were writing. Doing that cover first as an instrumental made me appreciate the songwriting so much and helped me understand some better ways of approaching how we wrote our songs. Then a year later when we re-recorded the cover with vocals, that being my first real attempt at vocals in Yip-Yip, it made me see how great his vocals and lyrics are. But yeah, the whole rest of In Utero is awesome too, and has been a huge recent influence on us.

The Beatles – Abbey Road – Believe it or not, I never really listened to this whole album until this year. With almost any Beatles album, you’ve basically heard every song somewhere before, but I never listened to the whole albums before. There are so many different kinds of songs on the album, and a lot of them are short and to the point. Every songs has this “thing” that happens that just totally makes the song. There’s a lot of great sounds and effects, and the recording is kind of perfect. The vocals are also really great, and with us trying to do vocals now, it’s interesting to listen to stuff with such great vocals and great vocal effects and harmonies, and try to some how apply it to the weird stuff we are doing.”

click here for Beatles – Abbey Road (all DHR records from 1994-2000 were mastered there by the way)

Jason:

“Emerson, Lake, and Palmer – Tarkus – The first side of this record kills. There’s a lot of crazy synth sounds and prog shredding.
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 – Equinox – Mostly I like this record because i bought it at a thrift store without hearing it. I bought it because it has an attractive cover with attractive people on it. The record is great and I wasn’t expecting that. I like the girls’ voices and the music is pretty. Accidently finding a great record is one of the best things in life.

click here for Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66

Roger Miller – Dang Me – Simple, silly music. Most of the songs on this album are less than 2 minutes and none are longer than 2:30. They are all funny, silly, and/or endearing.
Devo – Duty Now for the Future – Devo is one of the best bands on the planet. I think this is my favorite album of theirs. I can’t say why, but i like it more than Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo.? Like Brian, the first Devo album i purchased was Oh No, It’s Devo and that one will always be special to me because that’s how i got into them. But Duty Now has more interesting time signatures and real drums. They sound more like a punk rock band.
Todd Rundgren – A Wizard, a True Star – Great songwriting, great sounds. Todd Rundgren is a wizard.”

click here for Todd

Alec Empire:

” How do you see the future of music? I mean musically, not the “industry” -no one seems to think about the music anymore, everybody is just about how and why the industry is in a crisis. But what about the music itself though?”

Brian:

“I think there will be less and less full bands as people figure out neat ways of using electronics, samplers, or computers with what they are doing live as a band with just a couple of people. Not that a full band who is great is a ever bad thing, but it will be easier for kids to start bands and keep them going because they won’t have to work with so many people.

I don’t know how some of the full bands we know do it, everything would be so much harder if there were more people in our band. Musically, I think right now it seems like there is a huge merging of all music in popular music and a lot of indie music too. It’s all kind of coming together, which can be neat sometimes, but sometimes just bad.”

Jason:

“I think it’s about time for a musical revolution. With the physical and sonic limitations shrinking to almost nothing, it’s going to be more about songwriting and how people use the crazy sounds that can now be created so easily. Once people start to figure out how easy it is to start a band, there’s going to be a glut of mediocre bands. The next few years are going to be interesting. I think it’s starting already.”

Brian: “Calm down, Jason.”

Alec Empire:

” Who is responsible for your artwork, design?…everything also looks really cool. Is that an important part for you? When I talk to graphic designers or artists, they miss that challenge to make
something visual which represents the music.”

Jason:

“Brian does all of the illustrations, I do all of the digitizing and digital work on them. We design everything together. We come up with ideas for how things should look and I make them look that way.
Brian: Yeah, the art side has always been a big part of what we are doing. Before we started the band, I wanted to be an artist, but after we started the band, I realized that doing it with the band would be a better way to get my art out there anyways. We like bands who do their own artwork, it’s like an added bonus. Sometimes, like this past year, the art part calms down while we try to push the music stuff to a new level, but we always get back to it eventually, like when we finish recording. I’m sure we will start messing with art for the album, new music videos and maybe a zine/single thing. We are already working on new costumes for our next live shows.”

Alec Empire:

” What have you got coming up in the future? Tours? Different plans?”

Brian:

” We are about to start recording this album we’ve been working on, it will probably take us a couple months to finish that, and hopefully by then we will find a label to put it out. By the time we are done recording, we will be ready to start playing live again because we will have learned all the parts from recording it. We were hoping to do a tour in the fall. Maybe we will get to go back overseas like we did last year. I think a lot of this stuff will start coming up once we get this new stuff out there a little bit. We can’t wait to go on tour again!”

Jason:

” I’m ready to start playing shows again soon. I’m excited about bringing this new stuff out on the road. We still have a lot of writing, tweaking, practicing to do before we’re ready for a tour. We’ve been working on this set of songs for over a year now and it is leaps and bounds beyond anything we’ve written before. I want it to get out there as soon as possible, but i want it to be perfect when it does. We really need to bone up if we want to finish it this year.”

Brian:

“Nice call back.”

click here for cool underground live clip

check out YIP YIP on myspace for links, music, tourdates and more

but more important: the YIP YIP website !

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TIME TO STOP QUOTING AND START CREATING!

by Alec Empire

Let me introduce myself; I am Alec Empire and I was born in West Berlin. I believe that I am the only ‘true’ Berliner in the current music scene. As far as I can tell, all the others claiming Berlin as their home, moved there to boost (or kill?), their careers. To be honest, I don’t think it matters that much… or shouldn’t in our age. I find myself talking to people from other continents more than those belonging to the so called local scene (I’m not really sure there is one and even if there is I’m not sure it’s what people would like to believe it is). Whatever, I suppose we all gain from the myth that comes with Berlin. Reality follows our imagination… Let’s hope so.

But it’s not about local scenes or absorbing something intangible from the air in Berlin. If you want to know your future you have to erase your past.
click here for ABC clip

Please excuse my English. I have been touring recently and my crew and band are from France & USA. Somehow we all speak this weird mixture of languages. It’s hard to switch back to normal you know?

I am used to change. Dramatic changes in the case of my country. When I was a child I always sensed that post-World War II vibe – even decades later. Everybody has seen it in a film or read a book; but there are aspects Berliners have never really talked about in public. For example: how many women were raped at the end of the War? We can barely imagine that deep pain and its consequences on society. Then there’s the GDR and the Wall finally coming down. On the surface Berlin looks cool; parties, clubs like nowhere else in the world but to me it always feels like children celebrating themselves, dancing on a mass grave, not knowing, innocent… The beginning of Lord of the Flies.
click here for deleted scene clip

Where I come from, the majority is a potential threat to the individual. The silent majority can decide over life and death of real people, just because they ignore political news on that day of the football match.
watch clip
watch next clip here

Change… Some feel threatened by change and others actually fear it and would become über-active just to stop it from happening. It makes them so nervous. I associate change with new opportunities and taking chances.

But I believe things are really changing. Right now! For the past nine years the music scene has reminded me of a dying dog, bleeding to death, bleeding dry and trying to bite its attackers who stand just out of reach, watching…

Hopefully by now, the majority of people have understood that doing nothing is the most powerful and damaging action they can take these days. Not buying a car, not buying music, not voting. Years ago I went on what most would call a ‘date’ and the girl didn’t know anything, she looked good, but that night I realized I was bored with that shiny surface of everything in our society. When I first heard John Coltrane I knew instantly that there was so much more than I could understand on the first listen. Music can store information and emotions that words and images fail to describe.
watch John Coltrane here

With most music that came out during the ‘Bush Era’ you could dig and dig and discover absolutely nothing. The past nine years have been a black hole – we can admit it now that this era is coming to an end. Musicians were scared, scared of not selling, of not being ‘accepted’. The social networks reflect that perfectly. Become popular at all costs. Lie, fake your profile (I am not talking about making it look the best it can be, but pretending you are someone else), use bots to get that snowball rolling, survive the download madness. If you are reading this and don’t know what I am talking about, compare the past few years with the 40′s or 50′s.

The music scene has been doing the same as the financial world; the exact same. Investing in non-existent capital, trying to create ‘value’ out of thin air. And most people have been busy making sure that they are on the ‘right’ side of things, where most people gather, than listening to their inner voice. Because being alone or out of step seemed to be the worst thing that could happen.

It was safer to quote others. Just don’t take the risk to be the first to try something that you might regret later. That is the worst environment for true creativity.

It has become obvious that capitalism has not brought us what it promised. Short term thinking, maximizing profits only works for a little while and then the whole system collapses.

I am fascinated how the game industry tricked kids into buying Guitar Hero. Do you want to play the guitar? Press this button. Pop Idol (American Idol) – it’s the same thing. Get to the top without skills and do it fast. The real pleasure of playing an instrument is the learning process, and then applying it. To then face your judge: the mob, the audience, the crowd.
click here for free Guitar Hero excitement in the real world

I learned everything I know about music in the ‘underground’ scene. This is where people helped each other. If there is a great musician, who is so innovative that non musicians fail to see it, then everyone helps pushing, giving credits until it is understood (The Crystal Castles hypocritical slogan on the NME cover last year ‘we get sounds that nobody else gets’ while stealing them without crediting couldn’t describe better what I am trying to say here).
click here for copyright private investigators

In the past, major record labels couldn’t live without the Indies, because they were unable to discover the new talent which had the potential to shape the future of music. It strikes me they have learned to love each other. Shrinking sales have made majors adapt marketing techniques which were first explored by the Indies, and the lines have been blurred so much sometimes it’s difficult to tell them apart. It’s like a boxing match where both contesters are just hugging each other. Boring to watch. No tension.

This is about to end now. I love how blogs challenge the traditional music press. The information is going up so fast, you are forced to think! Is that really true? Is that some bullshit hype? Who paid for that???

New music pops up here and there and by the time the machinery wants to grab it to package it and sell its tiny little soul, it’s already gone.

Philosopher Gilles Deleuze comes to mind… Imagine a tree with Red Hot Chilli Peppers sitting on top, Metallica and all the other mega bands just below. In the past every band wanted to climb that tree and take their place, like the monkey chief. In the future there won’t be any trees, friends, there will be only grass. And a lot of it. Fifteen minutes of fame reduced further to the length of a mouse click. In a globalised world, pop music like we used to define it, has no future.

What an exciting opportunity this holds!

www.eyho-blog.com

A Day in the Death by Andrew Strasser (Bad Brilliance!)

nothing beats Destroy All Monsters on a Sunday evening….

click here to watch

propaganda makes us feel good

click here to watch

as your habbit grows….it’s going to happen…

we are so blog fatigued…it’s summer and hot in Berlin-West…why work…on anything….did you get the new update for the iPhone? Make sure to catch Patrick Wolf at Melt Festival (go there, watch him, then leave because the rest is the horror, the horror, spend the weekend in Berlin, wayyyy better)

see you next week at the shows!

*** love,

Alec Empire

www.eyho-blog.com

+++Breaking News:
ALEC EMPIRE joins NINE INCH NAILS on European dates!+++

+++Legendary band FAUST asks Alec to come out and rock the electronics at KLANGBAD FESTIVAL! (August 8th, alongside Dalek, Unit M?bius, Cluster, Harmonia and more!)+++

+++In case you have missed it:

Check out link for Alec Empire’s remix for Patrick Wolf single “Hard Times”
click here!

Alec Empire and Nic Endo did an exclusive performance at Artrocker Festival:
click here to listen to audio +++

After the exciting start in May “Past – Present -Future Tour 2009!” we announce new dates!

(Did you miss any of the May shows? Read review of London show here, Patrick Wolf came on stage during the set and Nic Alec went to play “Vultures” and ATR’s “Revolution Action” )

23 Jun 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Malta // Poznan (PL)
24 Jun 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ O2 // Prague (CZ)
26 Jun 2009 Alec Empire @ Fusion Festival! // L?rz (D)
20 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Vrahon Theatre // Athens (GR)
24 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Syma Sport and Event Centr // Budapest (HUN)
28 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Nimes Festival France // Nimes (F)
30 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ La Riviera // Madrid (ES)
31 Jul 2009 Alec Empire live @ BT 59 // Bordeaux (F)
08 Aug 2009 Special ALEC EMPIRE DJ performance @ Faust?s “Klangbad Festival”! // Scheer (D)
27 Aug 2009 Alec Empire DJ @ IKRA // Moscow (RUS)
10 Sep 2009 Alec Empire solo live @ GOGBOT and ATOMPUNK Festival // Enschede (NL)
26 Sep 2009 Alec Empire live @ Ososphere Festival // Strasbourg (F)
02 Oct 2009 Alec Empire solo live @ De:sonanz Festival // Skopje (EJRM)
15 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ La Faiencerie // la Tronche (F)
16 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Petrol // Antwerp (B)
17 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Indiego Glocksee // Hannover (D)
20 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Grend // Essen (D)
21 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Underground // Cologne (D) Tickets available at TICKET 69
22 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Logo // Hamburg (D) Tickets available at TICKET 69
23 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ K17 // Berlin (D)
24 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Gladhouse // Cottbus (D) Tickets availbale at EVENTIM
27 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Lucerna Music Bar // Prague (CZ)
28 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Stadtwerkstatt // Linz (A)
29 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Szene // Vienna (A)
30 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Paradox // Ingolstadt Tickets available at TICKET 69
31 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Lagerhof // Leipzig Tickets available at TICKET 69

+++After getting really exciting reviews Alec Empire’s “Shivers” is out since a few weeks. (there are too many out there to link, but check NME, click here )

note: digital version on iTunes includes bonus concert release “Live At ?bel Gef?hrlich Club 2007, feat. Robbie Furze/The Big Pink on guitars”
Beatport version has all instrumentals for all DJs.

+++Click here for Hellish Vortex link to purchase limited edition physical copy :

+++Check out lead track “Control Drug” on Big Stereo

+++The Hellish Vortex in the studio right now:

Massive collaboration Nic Endo / Alec Empire and CX KIDTRONIK (DJ of Saul Williams and Kanye West!!!) http://www.myspace.com/cxkidtronik

+++Alec Empire collaborates with MOTOR!

http://www.myspace.com/motor66!

+++more news soon!+++

Visit EYHO all over the net for updates, audio files, pictures and videos:

EAT YOUR HEART OUT BLOG
FOLLOW ALEC EMPIRE ON TWITTER
ALEC EMPIRE
EAT YOUR HEART OUT website
NIC ENDO
MYSPACE
YOUTUBE
LAST.FM
DAILYMOTION
ATARI TEENAGE RIOT

make sure you subscribe to EYHO Blog! it’s free!

Alec Empire interviews new New York based producer Bad Brilliance!

click here for QUACKHEAD

Alec Empire:

“Bad Brilliance – you are from New York, Brooklyn. Were you born there ?
tell us about the city. How is it these days? Is the energy back? Story over
here in Berlin goes that New York and L.A. are the cities of the next decade
(while London and Berlin will be crossed of the map)….”

Bad Brilliance:

“I was born in Brazil, raised in Rio de Janeiro until I was 9. Now I live as a full time artist in New York, i hate offices and jobs.
New York has a lot of energy, it just isn’t where you would expect to find it.? In the summer it’s kind of explosive, but it’s also important to ask a cab driver where he likes to party and not just rely on whatever activities are targeted at young people.

As far as the cities of the next decade i think they already are facebook, twitter, pitchfork, you tube.

People are not living in a physical location anymore, they are living on the internet.? Someone in New York would have gone out to an event on a tuesday night ten years ago, but this year they have the option of sitting at home on the internet and working on their fame.? It’s somewhat dark.”

Bad Brilliance with Sophia Lamar

Alec:

“Is there a genre definition for your sound? Is that Hip Hop? Do you even
care about genre definitions these days?”

Bad Brilliance:

“According to me the genre of my music is Rap – more of the fast and dirty version of hip-hop.? Whenever you hear someone say that they are interested in HIP HOP over Rap because it has more integrity, that is the opposite of what I am going for.? I am interested in that sound accompanied with the least integrity.? Just the pure syrup.

I am also fascinated by Hyphy and other variations of rap/hip hop.? I think that genre’s have a place in the discussion of music because all of these obsessions have to be organized.? People have to be funneled into their obsessions with certain sounds.? It’s intense how there are extreme reactions for or against certain genres.? To me it’s like saying that you hate dinosaurs because they are too trendy.? It’s just a specie or creature with certain properties based on a previous creature.

At the same time, i think that the genre of POP is the most powerful and it’s intense how it changes and also amazing the effect that subgenres have on it.”

Alec:

“The image many Europeans get from the US is that all genres are very
divided and don’t really cross. Many wouldn’t never believe that a guy like
Andrew WK would appear on a track like “Quackhead”. Please describe your
scene.”

Bad Brilliance:

“The thing that everyone has to understand is that people are more complex than you would imagine.? I’m obsessed with rap, but when I hear Brazilian music from my childhood it makes me want to cry with joy and love.? If you feel like you have Andrew W.K. figured out based on his product then you would never know how excited he is about Baby Birdman, or Gucci Mane.? Genres are only divided in Middle Schools where music is an intense reality for the inexperienced.? That might also be the best time in someone’s life to enjoy music.? The strange thing about Hip Hop or Rap is that it has transcended it’s own genre by being a complete lifestyle, clothing, speech, if you are African American it’s impossible to avoid it.

click here for BB on YouTube
My scene… is me in the shower blasting HOT 97 every day before i get started with my work – I am often photographing fashion shoots and album artwork, that is how Andrew W.K. met me. You can roughly see my work at www.andrewstrasser.com .? It’s very heavy on the lighting.

There are also other artists that I work with, I do album art for Girl Talk, he is also obsessed with rap/hip hop, and when I go on tour with him to do stage visuals the tour bus is always blaring rap and hip hop.? Essentially it’s white people who are jealous of rap.”

Alec:

“Santos Party House – a new club…how is it? Are you playing there as
well? Andrew posted us the link….what do you think of the New York club
scene?”

Bad Brilliance:

“Santos Party House for me is a club and also a home. ? I can land form a flight and immediately head to Santos.? If it’s a friday night things can get very intense, I have seen P Diddy and Ciara there before, and my sister saw Busta’ Rhymes and LL Cool J.? Also you can totally run into Bjork or Thurston Moore on a Tuesday.? I designed the website for Santos, so it’s pretty easy for me to walk to the front of an extremely long line and get in.? Also in costume I have great success getting into the most exclusive clubs in New York – there might be someone in a suit begging to pay 10,000 G’s for bottle service and they will let Bad Brilliance float through the door.

The New York club scene is very exciting if you are visiting.? Otherwise it’s all about specific weeklies etc. There is an entire economy around weekly events in the gay world, I call it the Gay Economy, and I have sent you a design for that term that I created”

Alec:

“You mentioned to me via Twitter that one of your first shows was with
Digital Hardcore underdogs Ec8or years back. How was that? What did you
think of this sound back then?”

Bad Brilliance:

“I was obsessed with DHR in high school, I wanted to be on <20, and I made little songs here and there.? My favorite was Bomb 20.? I remember there were other people floating around that had a similar style, this one guy TRS-80 had? a website and the shit he did was amazing,? prank phone calls.? Anyone who tried to contact him got a very cruel treatment from him. He was not interested in scenes.? Also there was another guy Combat Drug.

There were many people that were circling around the DHR style and vibe, and it was one of the more intense times in my life, and it was all on the internet.? I remember installing a red light bulb in my room so i could live in a DHR music video that I had seen on AMP on mtv at 3 AM and my mother came crying and screaming to take it down.

When I was in Cleveland going to Art School, I found out that I could open for Ec8or at a strange place called Speak In Tongues, sort of a bombed out hole in the wall.? This was amazing news for me, it was like opening for the Smashing Pumpkins in my mind.? The other band that played was Black Dice, they saw my show.? It was just a fat little boy sitting behind a computer playing music that sounded like this http://www.imeem.com/badbrilliance/music/zWlJ-rjj/andriu-ill-never-forget-cherry-cherry-island/
It was a combination fo DHR and being completely bored in the American suburbs.? I was living in Poughkeepsie, NY at the time. It is a totally fucked place, very trailer park oriented.? The mall is a way of life, with coffee and grease stains on everything.”
click to watch pioneer duo Ec8or

Alec:

“How do you record your music? Is that a bedroom thing or what is going on?”

Bad Brilliance:

“I record most of my music on my laptop on my stomach laying in bed.? My goal is to have the most portable set up. I want to have an entire studio in a bag.? All I need is my laptop, soundcard and microphone and I can make radio hits if needed.? The only thing stopping me is my mind. “

click for BAD BANK

Alec:

“What’s the idea behind Bad Brilliance? On your website there are many
pictures showing you in your outfit harrassing people at the New York
Fashion week haha…Do you perform in these clothes? Do you walk around in
the street of Brooklyn like that? Do you ever get in trouble?”

Bad Brilliance:

” Bad Brilliance began as a reaction to my work in the field of New York society photography.? I was an underpaid worker labeling names on the photos of New York society people for a website, so that magazines could pick them up.? It was a wonderful time but at the same time I learned a lot about the business, it was a big McDonalds to me.? So I created a conceptual society person.? He has his name on his face so you know who he is.? That is the Bad Brilliance of it.

As soon as I began photographing myself I was flown out to Amsterdam, that’s when I knew I had created the ultimate socialite.? An evolution.? I was invited to fashion week once, but was not allowed to wear my costume. I was invited as Bad Brilliance and received a call to attend in normal clothing.? It was a Diesel runway show, I brought Andrew W.K. along to that and it was quite wonderful.? I get dragged about, one time I witnessed a porno shoot in my costume.? I took my little red wind up toy car and let it drive under the bed where people were boning.? Also I attend different society events. I am greeted with love and hate, some people are so excited and I am asked to take a photograph with someone every 30 seconds, otherwise someone comes up to me and whispers something very dark and hurtful into my costume.
I never get in trouble, but often I am escorted out of an event by the PR people and their goons.”

Alec:

“What are your next plans?”

Bad Brilliance:

“My next plans are to get the music rolling along.? I need to start recording seriously on microphone.? I have an EP planned out with Andrew W.K.’s Skyscraper Music Maker, and with his partnership with Cargo Records.? It will be 6 songs and the goal is get every moment of it to sound as heavy as possible.? I’m very excited to be working with Andrew, he is one of the most amazing people you will meet.

Aside from that I am working on doing a residency in Miami as Bad Brilliance.? Miami is a great place for my costume.? All the rappers live there or have summer homes there, and also the women are beautiful and I relate to any city that reminds me of Rio in it’s superficiality and beach culture.”

red carpet to nowhere is his upcoming ep on andrew wk’s record label

GET IT!

check out Bad Brilliance on Myspace!

official website! click here!

www.eyho-blog.com

]]> http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/06/09/alec-empire-of-atari-teenage-riot-interviews-upcoming-new-york-producer-bad-brilliance/feed/ 8 http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/05/28/revolution-patrick-wolfs-new-video-hardtimes-is-out/ http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/05/28/revolution-patrick-wolfs-new-video-hardtimes-is-out/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 11:03:27 +0000 phenomenonRZ22 http://www.eyho-blog.com/?p=2141 PATRICK WOLF’S NEW VIDEO “HARDTIMES” !

click here to watch

Patrick Wolf shot this one in New York just a couple of weeks ago. Very much influenced by cult movie Liquid Sky.

Liquid Sky Trailer click here to watch

This film has probably influenced more music for the past decade than any other film. From DJ Hell to Nic Endo. Samples turned up on many dance tracks. You can tell if someone doesn’t know this film, has not studied it…it separates the wolves from the sheep.

if flash player doesn’t show click here to watch

It’s great that Patrick just doesn’t go retro with his style (like most the others who wave the Liquid Sky flag), he reinvents it, creates completely new music… well done.

2009 is the year to bring back lyrics about issues like “revolution”. (while payments for corporate managers keep rising and musicians and workers lose their jobs)

support mp3 blogs like Big Stereo instead of Pirate Bay.

also make sure you check out new website of the Wolf

http://patrickwolf.com/

make sure you describe to EYHO Blog – it’s free

CLICK HERE ! ! ! !

check out live footage when Alec Empire & Nic Endo brought Patrick Wolf on stage for their London show May 1st! click here to watch
AND THEN THEY EVEN PLAY ATARI TEENAGE RIOT classic 1st time after 10 years!!! together!

click here & see Alec do the New World Order Jesus Christ Pose Crowd Surf::::: click here

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