Dienstag, 20. Februar 2024

Music to get tied up to: BDSM and Fetish tracks in the Hardcore Techno genre

Hardcore Techno is - more or less - a non-erotic audio variant of BDSM; as the listening experience is usually described as pain, torture, torment, an ordeal for the mind and the senses by those outside its circle; yet its fans feel pleasure, joy, fulfillment, ecstasy, while listening and celebrating Hardcore Techno.

Despite these similarities, Hardcore tracks whose definite theme is BDSM are actually quite rare.
So here is a list of tracks (in no particular order) that can be associated with BDSM and related fetish topics; directly or indirectly, through track title, vocal sample, or sentiment, serious or not-so-serious. And in some cases just through a mental relation.

Because of this, we do not want to imply that any of these tracks or artists actually did want to send a BDSM message with their tracks; we don't know the artists' intent. It could be so, yes, but it could also be just a gimmick, or a completely random connection (though many cases seem to suggest either the former or the latter).

We hope these tracks evoke feelings of pain&pleasure amongst our audience, too, and, who knows, maybe some of them are suitable for your next session with a special person?


1. LFO - Tied Up
2. No Name - Latex
3. Neuwerk - Black Domina
4. Phoenix - Dominated
5. Hanin Elias - Tie Me To The Wall


6. Human Resource - Dominator
7. Lords Of Acid – Rough Sex (Beltram Whip Mix)
8. Formalities - Submission
9. The Shizit - Gak Bitch
10. Senical - Wanna Beat my Lover


11. Random Rampage - Submission
12. Sieste - Kitty Whip
13. Rave Creator - Me, The Master
14. Masters Of Rave - Pump It (Like A Master)
15. Inferno Bros - Slaves To The Rave


16. Lenny Dee & Ralphie Dee - Power Dominion
17. E-De Cologne - Slaves
18. DJ Alex - In Control
19. Masters of Torture - Power of Yoga
20. Nasenbluten - Feel Disciple


21. The Prophet - Dominatin
22. Noface - Torment
23. Titanium Steel - Slam!
24. DJ Buzz Fuzz - Power Punch
25. The Kotzaak Klan - Locked Inside

If you're in the mood to add your own favorite tracks on this topic - then please don't hold back in this regard!

Donnerstag, 25. Mai 2023

New E-zine

Our fanzine is now mostly defunct.
But why not check the new E-zine "The Hardcore Overdogs" with a similar concept / content?

Beyond the penis: An alternative look at sexuality expressed in Hardcore and Gabber tracks of the 90s

One of the many things that has often been criticized about the hardcore and gabber scene of the 90s is the sexism, misogynism, queerphobia expressed in some of the tracks of that era, both in well and lesser known ones.
Lyrics like "Bitch, do you wanna be my mistress?" or "Happy is for homos!" can be seen as very problematic today. This resulted in some very heated debates, with some claiming this was just pure provocation or nonsense from a drug-fueled era, with minds being completely hazy all the time anyway, and that one shouldn't look for any deeper meaning in this, while others say these lyrics are meant to be taken at face value.
We will not get into this particular discussion here. Let's just say that if tracks with lyrics like this will not be produced anymore, we don't think there is a lot that the world would miss about them.
We will sidestep this debate, and take a look at - and try to uncover - something different, that is often blotted out by the aforementioned debate.
Which is that there were indeed tracks with a subtext or content related to human intimacy (aka sexuality) that don't come from a male-dominated, misogynist perspective.
And, if one looks closely, there were a lot of tracks and releases like that!
So here, we will feature some of them.

Just a word of warning here. These tracks can be interpreted in many ways, we don't know what the artist had in mind, their true intents, and so on.
Maybe some were serious, others tongue-in-cheek, or had no real meaning connected to them at all.
We don't want to suggest that the artists we mention had this or that intent, or whatever.
We are just giving examples of how these tracks can be interpreted, without saying our interpretation is the right one.
We don't want to imply the artists here are queer or activists or into BDSM or something else. Not least because, honestly, we don't know it.

You catch our drift?

But let us begin.

Female Empowerment

Let's not forget that in the very male and machismo dominated world of 90s gabber, there indeed were female artists, and they truly had something to say, too!

Cumshot - Urogenital Groove


This duo had only very few tracks out, but they were superb nonetheless.
This is a quite noisy early breakcore affair here. 

Hanin Elias - Tie Me To The Wall


Hanin needs to be mentioned here, of course. If I remember correctly, she stated that the intent of the track (and video) was to criticize sexism, objectification and attempted subjugation of women in the music industry (and the techno underground).

Brides Make Acid - Fucked All Night


The queens of acidcore chanting "... I just wanna get fucked all night". This can be interpreted in two ways, of course. Getting completely wasted and / or high in a hardcore rave party context. Or, well, as in having sex.
But it's a bold, provocative track and concept, in both ways.

Mouse - Lick My Pussy E.P. (Underground Perversions Records)


Stella Michelson with a very clear instruction. I see this title as a clever subversion of all the "Suck my cock, bitch!" track variations by all-too-male gabber producers.

No Name - Kamasutra


It's not clear to me how the title relates to the track, apart from that the sound is very twisted and contorted, too. But it's a great piece of music.

Conclusion

A common theme in the above-mentioned tracks seems to be a very hardcore, provocative, defiant take on human intimacy (aka sex), at times mingled with a bit of BDSM.

Non-misogynous

Not all male tracks have to be misogynist, either.

Marble Cybos - I'd rather get fucked by a vibrator


Very early hardcore track on the "Influence Recordings" label.
I always liked the "I'd rather get fucked by a vibrator than your cock" sample, as it reverses the usual gabber machismo by degrading and insulting males, not females, instead. 

Phoenix - Dominate


Titled "dominate" and featuring a "female dominatrix sample" (more or less. It's a female vocal taken from a BDSM themed track.), the males are definitely not in power here, and have to be content with being subs for the moment.
Well, yeah, that's one possible interpretation. but either way, it's a sex-themed sample that is not macho or against women again, and this is what we wanted to point out.

Gender and roles

One might think the 90s scene was very hetero-normative and binary, "gender solid" instead of fluid. It was not. And it seems it's not easy to find tracks that are beyond these concepts. But then, there were many of them.
Here are just two examples.

Deadly Buda - Themes For Androgenous Super Heroes


The intent or thought behind this track and EP are unknown to us. But, well, it's an example of a more androgynous-themed title, isn't it?

Chicks With Dicks - Musik Ohne Eier EP


While this is not really gabber, it's done by a very well known hardcore producer.
"Ohne eier" translates to "without balls" (aka testicles).

(Again, we don't want to imply the artists mentioned here are androgenous or transgender / transsexual in real life, etc.. Not that this would be a problem, though.)

Asexual

The Stunned Guys - Love Really Sucks


Apart from music that doesn't come from a macho perspective, or is critical of it, there were also tracks that expressed a dislike or disinterest towards human intimacy (aka sex) in general.
We don't think this is really the case here, but the lyrics of the tracks are witty and at least go in that direction.
"...please don't make me fuck you, honey!".

Lbgtqia+ spectrum

Slab - Anoint Me With The Black Sperm Of Beleth


Is it "gay" to be anointed with sperm provided by a demon in a ritual? What if you say "no homo" afterwards?
Aleister would probably approve!

Various Artists - Join The Queercorps EP


One of the only "openly queer" projects of the 90s it seems. I don't have much information on this venture. It's amazing music, though!

Summary

So, these were just some examples of tracks which show that the history of hardcore techno is not made up just of angry bald-heads on too much amphetamines, coke and testosterone, and that take a refreshing view on human intimacy (sex).
This was our little trip beyond the "penis perspective".

Did you like our picks? Do you know more tracks? let us know!

Freitag, 1. August 2014

Anarchist Techno

there have been attempts to strip techno, hardcore, and similiar music, of all politics in the last years. while techno in the beginning had strong roots in the working class, in countercultural movements, in freaks and outsiders, and in many cases in overt politics, this had tried to be removed eventually. and totally.
politics, anarchism, are now despised in techno. most people who listen to it don't want to hear anything about it. they hate it, it annoys them, they dislike it. if it's any politics related to "the left" or anarchism, though - right wing politics are accepted in the hardcore mileu, and eagerly passed on. it is said that "the music" and "the party" should be enjoyed for what it is, and not be about "politics". as if music could exist in a vacuum! you won't solve the troubles of society, or of your live, by merely escaping into music - not in this way, at least. and apart from that, politics and these escapees have a common goal - anarchism shows you how to escape your troubles and those of the social, and not just for an hour by an ecstasy fueled high, but permanently.
but we also see a typical 20th century dichotomy here; that of party, fun, fulfillment, highs vs boring grey "politics" - but this should be left in the 20th century. dreams, social reality, politics, and thrills don't have to be opposites, contradictionary terms anymore.
so leave the unpolitical dancefloorhead behind - on to the future!
so the situation right now is, that techno is indeed a completely depoliticised scene (apart from the right wing politics i mentioned). it's funny that in rock, punk, guitar hardcore it is still possible to put a political message across, and people accept it and appreciate it and receive it, and in techno this is almost impossible anymore, in a genre that used to be so ahead of the others.
so, let's get active. switch this. create political techno again. create anarchist hardcore again.
i know a lot of you are out there. there is a lot you can do. first, realise that we anarchist types are not some isolated flakes in the electronic / hardcore world. spread the message. get involved. do some tracks, do vocals, start a zine, anarchist techno parties, whatever. the possibilites are plenty. your imagination is the only limit. so let's get up! take a stand for our beliefs.
create anarchist techno.
the "unpolitical dancefloorheads" can stay in their consumer techno amphetamine hole for a while longer. we don't care. but we want to create political, social and - dreamer music again.

Art And Utopia

there are people who suggest music to me, various styles, the established genres, the "established niches"; they say the music is really nice, good produced, exciting, well-made, interesting, enjoyable; good to party too, good to chill too, or good to listen to in other occurances.
but, when i listen to this music, i ask myself, what has this music to do with me, how does it relate to me, how does it relate to my live, my heart; to my dreams, my desires, my thoughts, my wishes; how does it enable me to change my life, to rise above the circumstances; how does it enable me to reach utopia; how does it enable me to reach my dreams? and does it give me new dreams, now wondrous thoughts, adventure, the wonderful?
there is music like that. there was music like that. but most music, today, or maybe in the past too, is not like it. but there also is different music.
the hippies thought their music could change the world. to overthrow the establishment. to create an utopia. the punks thought they could fight society and win.
where are these artists now? where are the bands? is there an artist who honestly, deeply thinks his music could change society from the bottom up? to reach utopia? that, by his music, he could create a better world?
no, current music, current artists, are devoid of these things. because these ideas and ideals are dead for them. because any ideal, that is not "money" or "success" is dead to them. soulless music by soulless artists for soulless consumers.
who still thinks there is a revolution, of society, a political and cultural revolution, in the west possible by music and counterculture? no one? if not, why not?
or if that is too "political" for you - then, to make a better world, on a large scale, by music and art?
or at least to change your life and that of others - to a wondrous, sweet, beautiful, perfect thing?
no, these ideas seem to be gone. because people are without vision and concept now - or rather, without knowledge and insight. these ideas are still true. the ideals are still true. you can reach utopia, a revolution, anarchy - if only for yourself. it is possible.
i painted a bleak picture - i am sure there are some artists out there who still do it for the "cause". and i know there are at least still listeners - the word "listeners" is to passive, i say activists - who believe art can bring a change, and believe in revolution and anarchy, or at least in utopia, and in ideals.
and we might very likely grow in numbers soon.
the point is not to give up - but to hope, to be sure, and to be active.

True Summer Of The 90s - Fuck Arte, Let's Dance

in response to some of the misrepresentations of the 90s techno, hardcore and rave movements of the 90s as shown on the arte TV shows around the "summer of the 90s".

on the weekend 26/27.07.2014 arte tv showed their series "summer of the 90s", with also a focus on what they thought was the techno scene of the "90s". though, mysteriously, they seemed to most part to completely forget the rave, hardtrance, gabber, speedcore music that ruled the 90s in europe during that time.
while obviously speedcore was more an underground phenomenon, gabber, hardcore and rave enticed millions of people during these days. and speedcore, if not as famous, was important for several subcultures too. but for arte this obviously never existed, never did take place, instead for them the sound was all some sort of plaything of now hipster and chic "dance" producers who they interviewed in their expensive suits.
fuck you arte, yes, fuck you.
this is to show some true music "of the 90s".
shouts out to all ravers, gabbers and hardcore freaks, from back then, and from the current days.

chapter 1: hardtrance and rave

rave peaked around the years 1993-1995. millions loved these sounds and partied to them. notably for rave and hardtrance were complex synth-driven melodic and harmonic structures, undermined by powerful and frantic beats. almost a combination of 70s synth avantgarde with a jackhammer sound.

tracks:

legend b - lost in love
quench - dreams
genetic waste - palace of wisdom
state of mind - our destination

chapter 2: hardcore and gabber

hardcore and gabber didn't stand back in popularity compared with rave. every second teenager loved that sound (i suppose? at least everyone around here) and the largest raves and techno events usually had a hardcore floor too.
when techno got "chic" around the mid of the 1990s, the "scene" was quickly to jettison this hardcore heritage though.

tracks:

strontium 9000 - dynamic fall out
chosen few - after hourz
wedlock - ruffneck
wedlock - void sector

chapter 3: speedcore and noizecore

both a reaction to the commercialization of hardcore and rave, and also a feat to take it to the further extremes, speedcore remained underground, but had a dedicated following in the 90s and let to some wonderful productions.

tracks:

noize creator - gangsta
s 37 - crush your mind
dj tron - fuck that happy shit
rage reset - unknown structure


Dienstag, 15. Juli 2014

The Onslaught Of Anti-Intellectualism In Art

there was a sudden change in music in the 90s. mid 90s. i just had gotten into breakore, dark ambient, industrial hardcore. alien sounds, experimentalism, shrill FX. cold, mysterious, odd vibes. space sound.
then, it started to break down. generally, not unusual for a subculture. each has its time, i guess. but there was something that - caught my awareness. that made me worry.
suddenly, almost everyone i know, as an artist, as people involved, or as friends, abandoned the alien soundscapes of this music. to be exact, they went pop. and this did not only happen in breakcore, or dark ambient, but many other genres to.
80s were in, suddenly. cheesy 70s too. and so on.
i, back then, felt this was more than just a case of bad luck, of chance, or just another meaningless, "postmodern" phenomen. i felt i, we, were fighting a war, and we just had lost, and were now lone soldiers trapped in nowhereland. because the change was so total. so deep. in so many eras, at so many points at the same time. i back then felt that it was part of a larger problem. a larger danger.
and not until now, i realised the true extent of what happend.
it was the onslaught of anti-intellectualism in art.
techno, breakcore, hardcore, and related genres, to the mid 90s, was music for the head, on so many levels. first, directly, of course. it was music to feed your mind. to work on your intellect. to make your conciousness fly. to get into a headtrip. but it was also on a "productional" level intellectual, the way it was made. always full of ideas, experimentalism, bold new steps.
the 80s nostalgia and the rest, that replaced it, or merged with it in the mid 90s, was the opposite. simple melodies. simple lyrics. simple song structures. music that no longer dared your mind. that no longer induced deep, long, complex thoughts. but rather, that quenched these thoughts. vigorously.
and this is why people liked it. don't listen to some complicated acid hardcore structure by some freak somewhere. kick back with some abba song about love. hey it's got a simple tune, you could whistle it along. don't think too much. just relax and enjoy.
and this was part of the anti-intellectual turn of tides in almost all music fields.
the focus was now on everything simple. easy to digest. that doesn't upset you or makes you worry or wonder or ponder. melodies you already known a lot of times. themes that you heard thousand times before.
oh there are only the same four chords in most tracks? yes, but aren't they sweet sounding? doesn't strain your brain too much, eh? just relax. forget the intellectual.
even in the realm of "experimental electronica", this anti-intellectualism set in. genres like IDM were created, with the same mind-numbing, brain-killing major scale octave and perfect fifth based melodies over and over again. music for elevators.
so, as i said, these were not isolated phenomenas. the anti-intellectual swing was almost total - or was it actually total? almost everyone followed this notion suddenly. there was no real experimentation, no real intellectualising of music going on anymore. and people openly rejected the intellectual. yes, they were quite open about it. their "point" was, music that is abstract, for thinking, intellectual, is "boring". the focus should be on emotion, or maybe dancing - not on thinking. as if these were contradictional. you can dance till you sweat to some of the most intellectual music. and you can cry your heart out to honest emotions of intellectual music. fuck, i'd say you only can do this to true intellectual music. some of the classical, or modern, or non-modern composers come to mind. j.s. bach music isn't less sweet because his fugues are deeply mathematical and intellectual, or is it?
so, there was really an ideology, a cohesive movement, behind this anti-intellectual turn. repeated in magazines, blogs, reviews over and over again. always the focus on "simple tunes", simple structures. always the focus of emotion over intellect, of body over intellect. i shouldn't need to mention that "emotion", and "body" over intellect is one of the core motions of anti-intellectual ideology? one of its core concepts.
people were deeply, deeply afraid of intellectual music suddenly. they couldn't stand it. it scared them. they couldn't understand it. complex melodies, different song structures, amorphic music, music that broke the rules, the concepts, and got rid of them. it gave them the creeps. they clang so desperately to the traditional, boring, lifeless musical structures.
it should be noted, that the anti intellectualism in music, was not a standalone phenomena either. it tied in to a much larger, maybe much, much dangerous anti-intellectualism, that got viral and extreme somewhere towards the end of the 90s and the beginning of the 2000 years, in almost, or rather, in all areas of life.
so this, together, is part of a very dangerous, very worrying trend, that could become even more complete in the future.
but, it is no reason to give in to defeat. it is not something that has to be accepted. it should be fought, and it can be fought. in fact, a lot of us gave in to some sort of shock, became inactive, or gave in, in light of this happening. it is time we gather ourselves again, and stand up, and move on, and take a stand. a stand for the intellect, for the mind.
create intellectual music again. truly intellectual music. that at the same time, of course, can be deeply emotional, and having an impact on the body. truly complex, complicated, creative, daring, visionary, idealistic music. that breaks everyones rules, moves on from any concept. that questions all authority in music - and overcomes it.
it is time to take a stand. so let us do it.