Christoph de Babalon "Brilliance" from 'If You're Into It, I'm Out of It' on DHR
Tonight's show will focus on the chronology of one label and its artists. Though not traditionally thought of as a noise label, Digital
Christoph de Babalon "Brilliance" from 'If You're Into It, I'm Out of It' on DHR
Tonight's show will focus on the chronology of one label and its artists. Though not traditionally thought of as a noise label, Digital Hardcore Recordings was instrumental in exposing me to a darker genre of electronic music than I had previously thought existed. I've been thinking a lot lately about the label, its short(ish) life span and what direction it led me in my musical development. While plenty of it is dated, some of it really stands up to the test of time, as a document of a period of time as well as the beginning of the evolution of some artists that still continue to produce odd, diverse and experimental music.
Just a little background for those of you unfamiliar with DHR. The label was started in 1994 by Alec Empire, frontman of Atari Teenage Riot and solo artist with an extensive discography. The genre of digital hardcore is wider than just the label, but most of the well known acts were affiliated in some way with DHR. DHR's first compilation cd release was "Harder Than the Rest".
Shizuo "Anarchy" from 'Harder Than the Rest' on DHR Cobra Killer "Wound Water" from self titled album on DHR
Shizuo was David Hammer, with Annika Trost providing vocals. Annika went on to perform in Cobra Killer with Ec8or's Gina D'Orio. Cobra Killer's first album is characterized by lo-fi sound quality, looped samples, and distorted vocals. Cobra Killer's more recent album, 76/77, has a cleaner sound, with more emphasis on the vocals than the samples.
Ec8or "The Whack" from 'World Beaters' on DHR Patric C "Enter Your Name" from 'The Horrible Plans of Flex Busterman' on DHR
So the other half of Ec8or, Patric Catani, made an album for DHR in 1997, based on a fictional video game in which the goal is to beat the evil boss, Flex Busterman. Patric C has gone on to make all kinds of music under various pseudonyms.
A lesser known band featured on a couple of DHR compilations is Killout Trash, who released this amazing track on a split 7" with Melt Banana. Released as a joint effort between kool.POP and Rodel Records, it is called Most Wanted World Wide, and it is recommended listening for anyone eager to drop a great track at their next party--to get the party started.
Killout Trash "I've Got Straight Edge" from 'Most Wanted World Wide' on kool.POP/Rodel Atari Teenage Riot "The Virus Has Been Spread" from '60 Second Wipe Out' on DHR Alec Empire "Fire Bombing" from the Destroyer DHR
Where would DHR be without ATR? That's right, it wouldn't exist. That track is from a later release, mostly because the really good tracks on the early records drop too many F bombs.
Hanin Elias "Girl Serial Killer" from 'In Flames' on DHR/ Fatal Nic Endo "White Heat" from 'White Heat' on DHR/Fatal Carl Crack "If You Mess With Me!" from 'Black Ark' on DHR LTD
Alec wasn't the only one to go solo, actually all of ATR released records under their own names. Hanin founded Fatal records, which according to the label's website, will cease to be this year. The label released a handful of records separate from the early records on DHR that bore the Fatal logo. Hanin Elias's myspace page reports that she is quitting music and moving to the islands. One of the Fatal releases on DHR was Lolita Storm, the message is pretty self explanatory.
Lolita Storm "Meat Injection" from 'GFSU' on DHR
Alec released several records on Mille Plateaux, and later started a sublabel of DHR called Geist, rereleasing those records in addition to records by Hanayo and Nic Endo.
Alec Empire "Lash the 90ties" from 'Generation Star Wars' on Mille Plateaux/Geist Christophe de Babalon "My Confession" from 'Seven Up' on DHR
Christohpe was always a personal favorite of mine, it's a more subtle Alec Empire to me. I'm not sure if he's still making music.
I remember a story that Bomb 20 wrote to Alec Empire and told him he didn't know what he was doing, and that he could do better. So Alec said bring it on. He did, and DHR released it. Years and years now of listening to this record, and I can only identify a handful of the samples. He's still making music, having released a record in 2003 on Make Some Noise Records.
Bomb 20 "Ultimate Supremacy" from 'Field Manual' on DHR
The final show ATR played was documented on the limited release "Live at Brixton Academy." For those expecting the same sound and aesthetic as previous shows and recordings, this shows a complete departure.
So the where are they nows. Alec still makes music, his last album was Intelligence and Sacrifice. This song shows a distinct departure.
Alec Empire "Addicted To You" from 'Intelligence and Sacrifice' on DHR
Annika and Gina are still rocking hard. Cobra Killer "Mund Auf, Augen Zu" from '76/77' on Monika Records Trost "In Diesem Raum" from unknown on Four Music
And Patric C is still bringing the party. Sonig 57 "The Booty Bank" unknown excerpt, Candie Hank excerpts
Full Playlist
Christoph de Babalon "Brilliance" from 'If You're Into It, I'm Out of It' on DHR Shizuo "Anarchy" from 'Harder Than the Rest' on DHR Cobra Killer "Wound Water" from self titled album on DHR Ec8or "The Whack" from 'World Beaters' on DHR Patric C "Enter Your Name" from 'The Horrible Plans of Flex Busterman' on DHR Killout Trash "I've Got Straight Edge" from 'Most Wanted World Wide' on kool.POP/Rodel Atari Teenage Riot "The Virus Has Been Spread" from '60 Second Wipe Out' on DHR Alec Empire "Fire Bombing" from the Destroyer DHR Hanin Elias "Girl Serial Killer" from 'In Flames' on DHR/ Fatal Nic Endo "White Heat" from 'White Heat' on DHR/Fatal Carl Crack "If You Mess With Me!" from 'Black Ark' on DHR LTD Lolita Storm "Meat Injection" from 'GFSU' on DHR Alec Empire "Lash the 90ties" from 'Generation Star Wars' on Mille Plateaux/Geist Christophe de Babalon "My Confession" from 'Seven Up' on DHR Bomb 20 "Ultimate Supremacy" from 'Field Manual' on DHR Atari Teenage Riot side a from 'Live at Brixton Academy' on DHR Alec Empire "Addicted To You" from 'Intelligence and Sacrifice' on DHR Cobra Killer "Mund Auf, Augen Zu" from '76/77' on Monika Records Trost "In Diesem Raum" from unknown on Four Music Sonig 57 "The Booty Bank" unknown excerpt Atari Teenage Riot side B from 'Live at Brixton Academy' on DHR
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