This month 47 years ago KRAFTWERK released their second studio album KRAFTWERK 2
Kraftwerk 2 is the second studio album that was released under the moniker Kraftwerk. The album was written and performed by founding Kraftwerk members Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in late 1971, with the sessions produced by the influential Konrad "Conny" Plank. It was released by Philips in January 1972.
Hütter later commented in an interview: "Nobody wanted to play with us because we did all kinds of strange things...feedbacks and overtones and sounds and rhythms. No drummer wanted to work with us because we had these electronic gadgets."
Although one should expect the obvious, this album features no synthesizers, the instrumentation being largely electric guitar, bass guitar, flute and violin. The electronic tricks and experiments both gentlemen display here belong to the realm of 1960s tape-based music, with heavy use of tape echo, reverse playback and tape speed effects. Overall, the sound has a rather muted, twilit, dusky feel, similar in feel to "Megaherz" on Kraftwerk's debut album, as Hütter and Schneider explored the possibilities for electronic and auto-mechanical enhancement of their music.
The lengthy, almost side-long "Klingklang" which opens the album is notable for its use of a preset organ beatbox to provide the percussion track. A term which would later be used as their fifth virtual member in the shape of a recording studio.It starts with a clangourous Stockhausen-like metallic percussion montage and gives rise to the unmistakable Kraftwerk sound. Later, the song title also became the name of the band's own self-built studio, in Düsseldorf. "Atem" is a recording of breathing, while "Harmonika" features a tape-manipulated mouth organ.
The cover design, by Ralf and Florian, further hints at conceptual art, being a repeat of the first album's pop art design – except this time fluorescent green replaces the red and the number '2' is added.
No material from this album has been performed in the band's live set since the Autobahn tour of 1975, and to date, the album has not been officially reissued on CD. The band is seemingly reluctant to consider the release as a part of their legacy
In interviews, Schneider described the first three Kraftwerk albums as "archaeology".
KRAFTWERK 2
A1. Klingklang 17:36
A2. Atem 2:57
B1. Strom 3:52
B2. Spule 5:20
B3. Wellenlänge 9:40
B4. Harmonika 3:17
On January 21st, 1993 American Industrial/Metal band Ministry released its third single Just One Fix, taken from the album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992)
The song features samples from the movies Sid and Nancy, "Never trust a junkie" and The Man with the Golden Arm with Frank Sinatra reciting the words "Just One Fix” and “Gimme the thorazine. You don't need the thorazine” from the movie The Trip staring Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern.
The accompanying video was directed by Peter Christopherson (Coil) and features video footage and audio samples of author William S. Burroughs saying “Bring it all down”. Burroughs, who is known to be one of Al Jourgensen’s inspirations, also provided the single's cover art.
It was released as 3-track jewel case CD-Single, Digipack and 12” vinyl by Sire/Warner Bros. Records
Just One Fix (12" tracklist)
A1. Just One Fix (12 Inch edit) 8'13"
B1. Just One Fix (Video edit) 4'24"
B2. Quick Fix 4'11"
Just One Fix (Lyrics)
Never trust a junkie
Blood keeps drifting your way
Certain of its destination
Driving through New Orleans at night
Gotta find a destination
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Life keeps slipping away
Fighting in a war with damnation
Poised, keep cutting away
I'm looking in through to salvation
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Just one fix
Like if I boarded a train
Trying to take in another station
Join us and the choice will be made
Unless we kill the lie as a nation
Just one fix (just one fix)
Just one fix (just one fix)
Just one fix (just one fix)
Just one fix (just one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Just one fix (one fix, one fix)
Songwriters: Barker Paul / Jourgenson Allen / Michael Bruce Balch / Rieflin William
CANADIAN DUO FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM 'WAKE UP THE COMA'
Front Line Assembly will release their first new album in almost six years early 2019. Having rejoined the group in 2016 in a touring capacity, 'Wake Up The Coma' also marks the studio return to FLA of Rhys Fulber, thus reuniting him with founding member Bill Leeb in the duo line-up that has already made so many classic electronic records together.
Musically, 'Wake Up The Coma' sees FLA continue to push the envelope of the electro-industrial genre that they helped to define. It also includes guest vocal appearances from Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost on the strident title track, Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Cocksure) on the David Bowie-ish 'Spitting Wind' and Mindless Self Indulgence frontman Jimmy Urine on a surprise cover version of Falco's 1986 no. 1 smash hit 'Rock Me Amadeus'. A reference to Leeb's Austrian heritage, perhaps?
An initial teaser single from the record entitled 'Eye On You' features Robert Görl of DAF (one of Leeb's earliest influences) and is available now.
Release date: 08.02.2019 - Metropolis Records
Israeli darkwave/electronic artist LIYA is pleased to announce the release of her new digital EP, LISTEN.
For fans of: The Birthday Massacre & Depeche Mode
LIYA TREBITCH is a singer/songwriter from Tel-Aviv, Israel.
From playing the piano and composing since the age of 5, LIYA started making electronic music at the age of 23. Inspired by new wave, synthpop, darkwave and industrial, her music has deep, dark melodies that take you out of your ordinary world. She has also performed extensively throughout Europe and Israel with DJ Yahel while working on her own material.
Now presenting her debut EP "Listen" on Blind Mice Productions, LIYA is a must-hear for fans of the gripping, nostalgic intimacy of THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE to the synth-heavy compositions of DEPECHE MODE.
MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT Reveal New Single, 'The Chains of Fame' Off Upcoming LP
January 2nd, 2019 - "America’s Most Dangerous Kult" has released their newest single, "The Chains of Fame." Originally premiered on MXDWN, "The Chains Of Fame" is the debut track off their upcoming LP, In The House Of Strange Affairs
"A dynamic song, “The Chains of the Fame” feels like a much shorter song than its four minute run-time. Cinematic strings and unexpected audio samples during the bridge of the song lead to a futuristic bridge that make the long-running and mega-influential band sound as relevant as ever." MATT MATASCI
MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT STRANGE AFFAIRS TOUR with CURSE MACKEY!
05/05 @ Beauty Bar - Las Vegas, NV
05/07 @ Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
05/10 @ Dante’s – Portland, OR
05/11 @The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
05/14 @ Harlow’s – Sacramento, CA
05/15 @DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
05/16 @ The Ritz - San Jose, CA
05/28 @ 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
05/30 @ Industry - San Antonio, TX
05/31 @ Elysium – Austin, TX
06/01 @ Numbers – Houston, TX
06/02 @Trees – Dallas, TX
06/07 @The Venue – Denver, CO
06/09 @ Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
06/11 @ Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
06/13 @ TBA - Southern California
06/14 @ TBA - Southern California
06/15 @ TBA - Southern California
