Staalplaat
Staalplaat is a record label, an e-zine, a publishing house, a radio program, a record store, and a mail order and distribution company. Since the early 1980s, the Berlin- and Amsterdam-based company has maintained a consistent focus on experimental artists, earning a reputation as one of the most respected and admired labels of its kind. As with so many independent labels, Staalplaat's success hinges on its integrity and continued ability to stimulate its audience. The label's website says it best -- "Where most organizations measure their success in terms of sales or riding the crest of the latest trends, Staalplaat was created to discover the rough diamonds, to take risks, and embrace all surprises." Be sure to check out some of the labels distributed by Staalplaat -- Korm Plastics, Fire-Inc., God Factory, and Multimood Records.
386 DX
386 DX stakes its claim to be "the world's first Cyberpunk Rock Band." While you might scratch your head and wonder what the hell that means, once you hear the music, you'll laugh out loud and know exactly what the "band" is talking about. You never knew music this bad could be this good.
The Best Of
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2001
Michel Banabila, Hannes Vennik, and Bobby
Michel Banabila, Hannes Vennik, and Bobby are interested in the dynamics of chance. They derive their collage-based experimental downtempo from a system of drawing cards at random from a full deck. Put these tracks on shuffle and hit repeat. You won't be disappointed.
Cards On The Table
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2001
Berliner Theorie
Sam Auinger and Rubert Huber push the boundaries of radio, art, and music with Berliner Theorie. It seems they've discovered just the right mix of ambient noise, tape loops, and electronics.
Live
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2000
Goem
While it's easy to fall into a trance while listening to Goem, it wouldn't be right to classify their music as trance. Repetitive, shifting rhythms carry you through a sonic assault on the cerebral cortex.
Mort Aux Vaches
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2001
Mathias Grassow
Mathias Grassow's compositions are grounded in pagan theory, which regards music as an emotional state rather than a tool for entertainment. Whether or not you sympathize with the spiritual aspect of his music, it's not hard to sense its presence in the layers of sound on each piece.
Himaval
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2001
Local Area Network
Like twins separated at birth, Otto Müller and Rupert Huber purposefully isolate themselves from each other as they create the disparate elements of L@N's electronic compositions. When the musical babies are reunited, the result is better than any film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito.
Twoinone
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2001
K.K. Null
Sit yourself down with a cup of tea and check out what one of the forefathers of noise is up to these days. K.K. Null should be a welcome guest in the homes of all extreme noise heads.
GeV
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2001
