wearemusicperformers · 11 months ago
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shamelesslimitless · 1 year ago
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It's almost as if there were a © Linda Fox (Doom Chakra Tapes, Vancouver), Adelheid X (Doom Chakra Tapes, Berlin) & Seb Sounds (First show in 5 years!) show at Loophole on Oct 4 and this post is pushing you to go.
Flyer by i: deflektorschild.digital
Please come.
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thesunlounge · 5 years ago
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Mazzo - Dark Clouds Above the Roses (from Sound for Gardening, Doom Chakra Tapes 2019)
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We welcome Düsseldorf's suavest, Lucas Croon. He has kicked off 2019 with a double whammy of hot new music: an EP for Themes for Great Cities and a forthcoming 12″ for Aiwo rec. Lucas is also a resident DJ at Salon des Amateurs, so that’s voll sexy. Additionally, we have the amazing Frinda di Lanco joining us - one of our favourite Berlin DJs. Having caught her sets on our beloved Cashmere Radio and at the Warning party at about:blank in September, we are mega-excited to have her play for you.   As always, Parrott and Tinning assist with the warm up and rave down, drinks tickets (limited) and half-time oranges. RSVP1: https://www.facebook.com/events/349844799183697/ RSVP2: https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1207806 Flyer love: Big shouts to DJ Deflektorschild of Doom Chakra Tapes!
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maimagazineblog · 6 years ago
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MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE: BAD HAMMER - ‘PATIENTS’
Berlin’s softrock duo Bad Hammer is roaming Berlin’s beautiful graveyards in their new song “Patients”.   
This is the first single off their upcoming album “Extended Play” out in March on Doom Chakra Tapes. Johannes��� epic guitar riff and vocalist Lisa Klinkhammer’s haunting melody make this song a perfect fit for a goth party on a yacht to celebrate your best homies’ mortality.
For more Bad Hammer follow them on:
Facebook
Instagram
And for more album release info head here
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themurphyzone · 7 years ago
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Secret Santa Ch 3
I can’t believe how random the last chapter turned out to be.
Ch 3: Zack
Zack could have easily bought Mort a bag of rocks and the guy enjoy it. But he was a lot more thoughtful than that. Maybe he wouldn’t go to the same lengths as Melissa was with her gift, but surely there was something he could buy that was better than a cheesy Christmas card with a candy cane taped inside.
“Mort, you keep forgetting to check your signs,” Bradley frowned, handing the math worksheet back.
Mort shrugged. “Not really. I know I’m a Libra.”
“I meant on the homework,” Bradley scoffed. “I could care less what zodiac your birthday falls under. That stuff isn’t even true.”
Mort never seemed to be affected by Bradley’s sour mood. At least, not outwardly. Besides Melissa, he was probably the only other person with the ability to hold a decent conversation with Bradley for an extended amount of time.
“Oh. Well, thanks. I was wondering why half of these problems had no solutions,” Mort said as erased his answers.
Bradley rolled his eyes, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. “It’s the stupid mistakes that net you a less than perfect score.”
He left the library, slamming the door behind him, much to the librarian’s disapproval.
“Wow,” Zack said. “Who spit in his milk?”
“Anyone would be upset if they were cursed with a bad hair day because Jupiter was in the third house,” Mort replied. He glanced up, licking his finger and sticking it in the air. “Do you feel that? Suddenly the atmosphere doesn’t seem as doom-and-gloomy as before.”
Unfortunately, Zack was not nearly as adept as reading the atmosphere.
Zack leaned over the large posterboard, carefully tracing over the title with a blue marker. Melissa reviewed her notes over Macbeth, highlighting certain lines in the book that she’d carefully picked out.
“This is torture,” Zack groaned. “How is anyone supposed to understand Shakespeare? There’s too many thees and thous and thys!”
Melissa recapped her highlighter, setting it aside. “Did you buy a copy with the modern translation next to the original text?”
“No, I checked mine out from the library,” Zack muttered.
“And there’s your problem,” Melissa replied. “But getting back on track, we’ll start with the hallucination of the dagger. What’s taking Milo so long with the snacks?”
Five minutes later, Milo came up with two large bags of chips and a pretzel bowl. He was covered in scratch marks from head to toe. “Sorry it took so long,” Milo said. “A squirrel got into our kitchen, and boy was it hungry. Good thing I always keep some pistachios nearby!”
“You didn’t miss much,” Melissa said. “Zack’s still copying the quotes. His handwriting is larger than mine.”
“Not nearly as neat though,” Zack said, moving on to the last quote. “And I was thinking of getting something like fortune telling for Mort. He has that weird thing about chakras and zodiacs.”
Milo glanced over what they had so far. “Can I do the drawings?” he asked.
Melissa tossed him the pencil. “Do it with pencil first. I want this to look good.”
“No problem!” Milo said, his tongue sticking out slightly as he worked on the rough sketch of a dagger dripping blood at the bottom. “Fortune telling, huh? Maybe I can do some fortune telling to give you an idea of what to get Mort!”
“You know how to tell someone’s fortune?” Zack asked.
Milo nodded. “My dad’s coworker’s sister’s friend’s barber’s cousin’s mother is a psychic! Dad took me to visit her once and she gave me a crystal ball so I can practice on my own!” He pulled a crystal ball and a bandana with hoop earrings attached out of his backpack.
“I guess a break couldn’t hurt,” Melissa said, moving the posterboard and snacks aside. She closed the blinds, which dimmed the light in the room.
Milo tied the bandana around his head, setting the crystal ball on a stand between the three of them. He lifted his hands, but was interrupted by a loud scream from downstairs.
Zack didn’t understand what this was supposed to accomplish.
“MILO!” Sara screamed, the door bursting open as she stumbled into the room. “Oh thank the gods of Yalkelvik, you have your fortune telling equipment out.”
“Hey, Sara! I was just about to help Zack decide on his Secret Santa gift to Mort!” Milo exclaimed. “What’s up?”
“You have to help me! It’s a crisis!” Sara begged.
“You don’t mind me helping her first, right?” Milo asked.
Zack waved him on. “Go right ahead. So what’s wrong?”
“Well, you know how the new Dr. Zone Funko Pops were released yesterday?” Sara chewed her lip nervously. “Neal was going to buy me one for Christmas but then Kris wanted me to go to the mall with her so we’re meeting up in two hours and we’re definitely heading to one of the small stores in the main area of the mall where they sell the Funko Pops and I have zero self-control so I’m probably gonna end up buying one-“ she took a deep breath “-and I don’t know which one Neal is going to buy me and I don’t wanna unwrap his gift and say ‘oh I already have this one’ and I just need to know ahead of time which one he’s buying so I know not to purchase it!”
“That does sound like a conundrum!” Milo hummed.
Zack leaned over to Melissa. “He understood all that? She lost me after Christmas.”
“Now gaze into the mists of...” Milo threw his arms out for dramatic emphasis. “…THE CRYSTAL BALL! MWAHAHAHA!”
Milo’s evil laugh was very unconvincing.
“Wait, no that’s the Saturday morning cartoon villain voice. Should I try again with the mystical fortune-teller voice?” Milo asked.
“Just help me decide,” Sara begged.
“Moment’s gone anyway. First, the spirits require something of value. They accept electronics,” Milo said.
Sara handed her cell phone over, and Milo hid it under the tablecloth. “Spirits, I ask you to reveal the Dr. Zone Funko Pop that Neal is planning to buy for Sara Murphy! I must ask all of you to scoot back. They like personal space.”
Sara and Melissa moved back. Zack leaned closer, trying to see what Milo was looking at, but Melissa yanked him away from the crystal ball. “It’s not like anything was there,” Zack said.
“The spirits have decided!” Milo exclaimed. “They’re sending their spooky spiritual waves into our world to link me with Neal!”
Neal appeared in the crystal ball, looking incredibly confused. “Wait, Milo? Where’s Sara? Nice hoops, by the way.”
“Thanks!” Milo exclaimed. “Sara-“ Sara made wild hand gestures. “Er-I wanted to know what Dr. Zone Funko Pop you’re buying her for Christmas so I don’t accidentally get her the same one.”
“Princess Shirazi,” Neal replied. “She kinda reminds me of Sara. You know, with how excited she gets when there’s something she’s really passionate about. Um, you aren’t going to mention that to her, right? Cause it’s kinda embarrassing when I say it out loud.”
Sara blushed, stifling her giggles with one hand.  
“By the way, Sara mentioned she was going to buy me one of the new figures that got released from Space Adventure. And I’m going to the mall in a few hours with Wally and I really need to know which one she’s getting me because Wally’s gonna pressure me into buying me one and I’ll give in like always so…yeah. I need some help,” Neal finished lamely.
Sara wrote a name on a piece of paper and passed it to Milo. Milo grinned. “That’s funny! My sister says she was going to the mall with Kris in a few hours too! What a coincidence! Oh, and she was planning to buy you the Lump Sharkboard figure.”
“Thanks so much,” Neal sighed. “I was worried for a second-wait, did you say she was going to the mall with Kris? Gotta run, I am totally not finding my trenchcoat from my last cosplay to go incognito so she doesn’t recognize me!”
“Bye!” Milo exclaimed.
“So the crystal ball actually worked?” Zack gasped.
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Gullible. He put Sara’s phone in the crystal ball. It was pretty obvious.” She reached inside the tablecloth and extracted the cell phone, giving it back to Sara.
“Sara?” Zack asked, waving his hand in front of her face.
“I’m going to put on oversized sunglasses and a floppy hat so he doesn’t recognize me,” Sara said as she hurried to her room.
Was this what teenage romance looked like? In that case, Zack decided he wanted to maintain his sanity for a while longer.
“They’re made for each other,” Melissa quipped.
“I know right!” Milo exclaimed. “Okay, Zack. Your turn now. Same procedure as before.”
Zack emptied his pockets, only finding a penny inside. He sheepishly offered it to Milo, who refused to take it.
“They have bad inflation in the spirit world,” he said as if that explained everything.
Starting tomorrow, Zack planned to refuse all offers to connect to spirits and psychics.
Zack took off his shoes instead, which Milo accepted. “So what do the spirits say about Mort?”
“Tarot cards,” Milo replied. “They say you need to give him tarot cards so they can tame his moles. I can’t tell if they mean the animal or the spots on skin though. Oh, wait a moment. Sorry, claim his soul. Maybe this was a bad idea.”
“How about I just get Mort an 8-ball instead?” Zack asked. “That’s probably a lot safer and soulsucking risk-free.”  
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mattshorrorstories · 4 years ago
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The Ritual
  It all began with my curiosity to uncover the secrets of the universe. I was raised Catholic and the mystical side of God always fascinated me to a point that it consumed my every thought. I could not escape this idea of a separate reality that governs our realm of existence. I began reading books on mysticism, divination, tarot, Jewish kabbalah, clairvoyance and the most foolish of them all was The Lesser Key of Soloman.  
        I began by trying to expand my mind with the use of psychedelics and other nefarious substances. With the use of these potent plants I began to realize that the world is just energy that can be taped into. My conscience is something real and can be made better like my living body. With this knowledge I then started my descent into madness.
        Most of time for the next year was spent studying my text. I became familiar with eastern mysticism focusing on my chakras and trying to open my crown chakra. I meditated for days at a time with uncovering the power of mantras. Then came western hermeticism. Alchemy research began with uncovering all the power of herbs and metals and their connection to the world. Slowly but surely, I was becoming something dark.
       In my journey to become a magician I knew I needed to see the Eternal plain to expand my mind and uncover how magic truly works. To do this requires me to Astral project my body to reach said plain.  Every night I would meditate before bed and every night slowly but surely, I felt my soul start to leave my body inch by inch.  
          One night was different from the rest I fell asleep quicker than normal. I immediately felt my soul leave my body I was above my body watching myself sleep. Then I was somewhere completely different I was in the realm I've been searching for my whole life. It was a mystical place full of energy bursting at seams. The realm was just an island it had the shape of a U. There seems to be a large structure on the right side. It was close to dusk and the sky was painted in reds and pinks with clouds like streams in the sky. In the middle there’s a cross shaped like an upper-case letter T. A large crow with the bloodiest red eyes and black feathers darker than the night was, perched on the left side of the cross. On the ground surrounding the cross black vines spread on the ground outward, they seem to be like veins with blood circulating from the ground.
       The right side of island has a huge pillar made out of marble. There is a staircase that wraps around the pillar with a snake made out of gold as the handrail. On top lies a huge pyre lit on fire, the fire is purple and seems to emulating a glow that draws you toward it. On the left side of the island seems to be a forest that feels full of evil, at this point I've began to wonder if this endeavor is a safe venture. Then a large voice was heard over head saying a phrase I could not understand and it that point I saw in my mind's eye the big bang the creation of the universe. A Large flash of light and different particles colliding together and plants and stars forming. After wards I awoke in my bed, I felt new and a sense of understanding and power consumed my soul and my mind. I then wanted to try my new approach in my spells and then needed to see once a for if this is something that works or was it all for nothing.  
         To begin where this story truly starts, I performed my first ceremonial spell. It was a full moon and clear night. I choose a spell from the Lesser Key of Solomon that involved summoning a spirt to attract wealth. I began with drawing a circle with the sigil in the middle and five black candles surrounding the circle. I lit incense and said the incantation followed by the phrase the voice had said during my astral projection. Shortly after all the candles went out all at the same time and the room became black, not just black but darker than black. I felt fear like nothing I've ever felt before. At that moment I wished I never ventured down this path and prayed to God for his love, but he forgot who I was. The room was filled with something inhuman, a force our minds can’t comprehend. I couldn’t move like something held me in place. I felt a hand squeeze my neck and began to suffocate me. As I was being choked to death by something, I couldn’t see all I could think was why does this thing smell like rotten eggs. Then it had let me go and was gone in a moment's notice. I looked over at the incense and the face of a classic devil appeared in the smoke; the face stayed suspended in the air until I put out the incense. Then at that moment the candles became lit again. Three loud bangs came knocking at my front door I ran to see who was there and big surprise no one was there.
       I was petrified, filled with a sense of impending doom. I quickly cleaned up the area washed the floor where I drew the sigil and put away the candles and incense. The rest of that night I couldn’t sleep I was filled with fear and excitement all at the same time. I had so many questions: Was this real, who was that figure, is my wish going to be fulfilled will I become wealthy, am I in danger? So, I just laid in my bed pondering all these questions.  
     The next few days after nothing happened but all that time, I felt fear. Something was watching me, secretly in the shadows waiting to pounce. I came to the decision to throw all my books and other occult items in the trash and began trying to cleanse my apartment. Then on the third day I had a terrible nightmare. A Huge figure appeared before me as huge spider creature with three heads in the middle was the ugliest evil looking man, I've ever laid eyes upon. His eyes where black and he had a sneer across his face. Either side was a frog and a cat. On his head laid a crown made of obsidian and a ruby in the middle. This was the figure that had tried to kill me, I can see his true form. I woke up at three forty at night with sweat drenched all over my bed. I was utterly terrified. I Couldn’t fall back asleep so I turned on my light to find all my occult books and stuff placed back where they were before. I flung out of bed in a panic. I felt trapped and was in a state of shock. I have gazed upon pure evil and this nightmare wasn’t ending.
      I couldn’t fall back asleep so I wondered did I fail to do something with the spell, what did I miss? So, I did research in my books which smell like sulfur now. It appears I didn’t translate the whole spell; I missed the part where I needed a human sacrifice. So, this means that now my soul was being used for the spell not someone else's. I know I'm done for now, there was nothing to do. I’m as good as dead  
        At work I was exhausted. I couldn’t tell anyone my problems for fear of sounding like a mental patient, I was alone. A new development become apparently clear to me when I couldn’t read the checks coming through the printer, I am a cook. The letters turned all around the paper and I felt I was in a haze like a sick cloud hanging above my head. I was confused and disoriented. I told my manager I was sick and went home. I was too afraid to go back to my apartment so I just drove around for hours. I ended up back at my grade school chapel, I went to Catholic grade school. It was six pm and mass was about to start. I wanted to go inside, I thought it was safe but when I see the huge cross on top of the chapel and heard the organ playing music, I felt a burning sensation and I became violently upset. I could not bring myself to even stand on the holy ground. I thought what is going on why can’t I bring myself to go to mass then I felt a wave of energy come across my body and I blacked out. Next thing I remember I was back at my apartment and it was 12pm, I lost six hours I can’t recall. I was completely naked with blood on my hands, did I do something I can’t remember did I hurt someone.        
     My apartment was a disaster, furniture was flipped over all the cabinets where flung open, pictures where thrown from the wall. There's was vomit and excrement on the floor the smell was terrible also the smell of rotten eggs seemed to go from corner to corner. I would see a dark cloud out the corner of my eye I spent the rest of the night cleaning my apartment. I ended up getting a few hours of sleep before my next shift.
          Work seemed to be better than yesterday. I was cutting peppers when my mind slipped into a void. I awoke at the hospital with chains around one of my wrists and my other hand was in an utter state of agony. I was alarmed at the amount of blood on the dressings and screamed in horror. The nurse followed by a cop ran into the room and she shot me full of Ativan and I calmed down. I asked what had happened and she told me that I cut of three of my fingers in Pieces. She proceeded to explain that my coworker found me cutting my fingers off with an abnormally wide smile on my face. When my coworker asked what I was doing she said I let out an unworldly noise that set her in a panic-stricken state, she passed out. I told them I didn’t remember doing that and asked why I had a chain on my wrist they said it was for self-protection, so I didn’t hurt myself also I was under investigation for murder of a homeless man.  
        “Was that me, where did those six hours go two days ago what did I do” I thought. I read a headline on the paper earlier at work that said: homeless man sliced to bits; occult murder puts fear into community. The flowing article explained how the man was sliced into five pieces. The head was separated along with each arm and leg. The eyes where scooped out and a large sigil was carved onto the man's chest. I asked the detective why I was under investigation and he said, “get some rest we will talk in the morning.” At that point the Ativan had taken effect and I was spinning into a deep state of sleep.
        In the morning the detective had woken me from my slumber with an array of questions; “Where were you two nights ago, why where you screaming at church goers that night, do I have connections with Satanist.” All I said was “lawyer,” and the detective said, “you better get one we will be back.” I was scared not only is an inhuman spirit taking control of my body now I got cops trying to lock me up.
       The next few days in the hospital where a blur drifting in and out of conscience I hardly remember a thing. I looked up to see on the tv it was Wednesday three days had passed. I only remember about a days' worth of time. When I beeped for the nurse for water no one came to my aid, so I tried to get out of bed when I noticed my feet where tied with leather wraps to keep me in bed. One of my hand wraps was loose-fitting and I got my hand out. So, I got loose and undid the straps. I got out of bed too find all the nurses in a huddle with a look of terror on their faces. One of the nurses saw me and looked away like she pretended not to see me. I asked what was going on I’m dying of thirst. All the nurses looked at me and one said, “looks like your back to normal.” “What does that mean” I said. She said, “go back to your room I’ll be there shortly” and So I went back and when the nurse came, she came with a doctor and a security guard.
       “What going on I don’t remember the past two days what did I do, why am I tied up,” I said? The nurse and security guard proceed to tie me back up tighter than before to the point where it hurts. The doctor proceeds to explain I've been a terror, and everyone is petrified of me. He says my room no matter how hot they put the temperature up its always cold to point where you can see your own breath. The nurses swear that there in something on the floor that came with me. Vomit and excrement appear all over the floor. Patients have bruises and scratches that come out of nowhere. The staff knew it wasn’t me because I was tied up but they knew whatever was doing this was with me. They said I was talking in a language no one knew and a shadow was coming in and out of my room. They also said I slashed my wrist and almost bleed out but magically it healed within a day that’s when I noticed the scars. The doctor said I was being discharged that day they have had enough of me.
     After I left the hospital and went to my apartment, I saw that a car was following me and I noticed it was the detectives. I went in my apartment all the while my head was spinning with questions, I heard a knock at the door. Then I blacked out. I came back into reality and there was blood everywhere. I saw the bodies of the detectives completely decimated. Blood was everywhere, there wasn’t an inch of my apartment that didn’t have blood on it. Their heads where cut off and their bodies where skinned. I was mortified I puked at the sight and knew my life was over. I checked my phone and saw a day had gone by. Then I heard “police open the door!” I was trapped. They burst in and arrested me. All the officers seemed to be in a state of shock of my apartment and started beating me to pulp. They arrested me and placed me in the back of a squad car. They took me to county and placed in a jail by myself.  
        At this point I was broken I know what was coming, my life has been invaded by something inhuman. I know my time is limited before this thing takes over for good. Or I die on death row.  My skin in falling off my body, I’m starving there's bruises all over my body my teeth are falling out and I'm missing three fingers. I barely remember my days and when I'm not in my body I have vivid nightmares of hell and torture. God has abandoned me I'm done.
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shamelesslimitless · 1 year ago
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The Last Human Memory - Official Investigation
Find out the answer on Oct 4 when © Linda Fox (Doom Chakra Tapes, Vancouver) make his return to Loophole, with support from Adelheid X and Seb. 
R S V P
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thesunlounge · 5 years ago
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Giraffi Dog - Waves (from G-Dog presents Tracks of Life, Doom Chakra Tapes 2019) 
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thesunlounge · 5 years ago
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Bad Hammer - Patients (from Extended Play, Doom Chakra Tapes 2019)
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thesunlounge · 5 years ago
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Reviews 304: Mazzo
Though most of the attention was given to Sacred Bones’ loving reissue of Mother Earth’s Plantasia, there was another release this year also focused on using soothing sonics to help plants grow and gardens flourish: Mazzo’s Sound for Gardening. Released on Doom Chakra Tapes Worldwide, this cassette sees 3D artist, virtual sculptor, and musical producer Mazzo combining stargazing new age and paradise dancefloor magic while employing a conceptual split across two sides of tape. On the A-side, seaside house anthems, airy electro vibe outs, and slow motion boogie cruisers intermingle with spiritual ocean sonics…resulting in a truly transcendent stretch of balearic beat. Then on the B-side, Mazzo gives over fully to cosmic aquatic mesmerism, letting ambient Italo dream textures intermingle with Berlin school sequences amidst immersive starscapes of kosmische synthesis. There are moments throughout the tape where it feels as if the soul is afloat in some etheric ocean, wherein rainbow currents eddy around coral crystals and sparkles of gold cause mirage-like hallucinations. Other times it’s like being transported to some fantasy 90s dancefloor…a mass of bodies moving in spiritual ecstasy beneath a shimmering canopy of stars. And threaded through every moment are atmospheres of harmony, peace, and universal love, with the music functioning not just as a balm for plant-based beings, but also for the human spirit.
Mazzo - Sound for Gardening (Doom Chakra Tapes Worldwide, 2019) In “Cloud Mattress,” spiritual choirs sing from a sea of deepest blue…their voices rising to the clouds. Balmy chords float the soul and sea-crystal melodics flutter up above as the track glides on sparse percussion in the style of Sth. Notional’s “Yawn Yawn Yawn,” and during sparse rhythmic drops, pianos move between echoing chords and starbeam descents. The three-dimensional bass pulses of “Purple Waves” lead a reverential house body groove, with kick, hats, and snare locked into a four-to-the-floor jack pattern while claps and electro-toms morph through the spectrum. Dolphin tracers and immersive pad layers fade in as we ascend towards anthemic brass chord fanfares, which give Mazzo’s balearic beats a glowing aura of disco soul sensuality. Tom fills rocket through the stereo field and introduce a virtual marimba solo, with melodies splashing through tidepools in a way not dissimilar to A Vision of Panorama and Miskotom, and everything breaths through a paradise haze, as ethereal currents of light sparkle and the titular purple waves carry the spirit towards beachside dancefloor transcendence. Tambourines echo and ambient pads flow through pooling liquids in “Water Based,” with claps cracking through the layers of cinematic majesty. Island breeze hand percussion spreads across the mix as it generates a gaseous jazz bop while music box melodies dance alongside spiritual pan-pipe enchantments. Elsewhere, the mystical sea spirits from “Cloud Mattress” resume their harmonious choral drift…their voices suffused by golden string warmth…and after a quiet pause, the track rushes back to life with a more defined structure, now seeing glowing arps of ocean glass ascending into reverberating dream textures and fusion synths bending into whalesong psychedelia over a kick drum heart throb.
Despite it’s name, “Mowing Machine” evokes for me some refreshing sailboat cruise across sparkling blue waters…a seaside boogie glide rendered in slow motion with synthfunk basslines and swinging machine drums holding down a sensual body groove. Syncopated toms blast through the stereo field and pan-pipes are repurposed into jazz scats as cosmic oscillations swirl, carrying with them visages of dancing butterflies. The sensual, almost clavinet-esque bassfunk motions are spectacularly tracked by sparkling xylophones…like splashes of equatorial light descending in tandem with the liquid groove. After a glorious stretch of beatless ocean ambiance, featuring aqueous voices intertwining with synthetic hues of blue, the groove rushes back in, now with ultra-chilled fusion solos swimming through a sunset sky. And so it goes for the rest of the track, with Mazzo alternating between blissed out solo synthesis and deep sea dives into mermaid choir mystery. A-side closer “V70” heads immediately into a dreamcloud electro headspace, with airy breakbeats vibing out and panning pads stoking hallucinatory visions. Claps cracks in counterpoint to the rhythms, electronic rimshots blast across the stereo field, and insectoid oscillations ride unseen currents towards a sunset horizon while layered bass syncopations and jacking sequential bursts bring touches of future funk and sci-fi boogie. The rhythms disperse at some point, leaving space for psychosonic bubble tracers, melodies of glowing glass, and pads that swell into a gentle smolder before blowing waves of tropical warmth across the mix. And as the heady electro groove resumes it’s starlight dance, fusion scats, soul-funk solos, and rainbow dashes of light are woven together amidst a wobbling tapestry of vocally generated sea-foam.
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The B-side opens with “Clear Sky Cold Wind” and its environments of lapping water, which set the stage for shadowy pad swells and synthetic bass waves. Crystalline chords melt over the billowing currents of synthesis and each pulse of melodic air hits with more strength than the one before, as the notes trail out ever longer through psychotropic fx chains. Those now familiar mermaid choirs join the beauteous float as a galactic arp fades in, with the mixture of emotional ambient darkness and glowing kosmische reminding me of the works of Råd Kjetil Senza Testa. The Carpenter-esque bass synths of “Swarm” generate ominous atmospheres as the Berlin school evocations of the previous track take center stage, with layered sequences weaving a polychrome kosmische panorama. A momentary bassline drop out sees the sequential patterns transforming into themes of flower kingdom prog majesty and when the throbbing bass pulsations return, they bring with them a pillowy kick beat…like pulsing Italo magic repurposed into a mechanized krautrock lullaby. Sequences and arps are filtered into a dazzling displays of synthetic light, alternately bouncing like a balls of cosmic energy, snapping through gemstone refractions, or smearing into drunken delirium. Later, the track breaks down into a false ending that sees progressive electronics mutating into aquatic bubbles strands while sirens sing songs of enchantment through a wah-wah soundbath. And as starscape sequences low pass filter back into shimmering resolution, they carry the spirit with them on waves of anticipation until the kick beat drops and the Italo bass pulsations resume their slow motion hypo-jam, now with epic spaghetti western themes flowing forth on spaceage crystals…the effect like racing across a paradise vista in some futuristic rendering of the wild west.
In “Water Flow,” cold industrial breezes blow over a vortex of darkness while percussive sparkles transmute into frozen mist. String synthesizers and phaser organs whoosh across the stereo spectrum, bringing kosmische atmospheres yet again…though this time evoking the earliest days...think Schulze’s Cyborg and Tangerine Dream’s Zeit. Arps dance star-to-star, pads evoking oboes and bassoons swoon through heart-wrenching descents, ghosts scream amidst fields of cyborg computations, and seabirds fly through the celestial ether, with wing motions causing ripples of laser light to spread in every direction. As well, during particularly spellbinding moments, tremolo picked guitars howl into the void, causing my mind to drift towards Manuel Gottsching and those early Ash Ra Temple B-sides. Sound for Gardening ends with “Dark Clouds Above the Roses” and its flutey bubbles, rattling percussion fx, and shards of sonic ice cycling in a sea of abstraction…with everything modulating in ways that defy logic. Sequential synth patterns skip across clouds as the track evolves into funereality, with tambourines clicking through pools of reverberation and kick drums stomping into the night. It’s a magisterial dirge for forgotten seafloor kingdoms….a sad yet radiant waltz through a paradise of shadow and sorrow…with synthesizers joining together for massive melodies of solar melancholy. The sparse rhythms drop away at times in favor of polysynth prog leads and later, ethnological hand drums bop through bodies of water as star-crystal electronics play schmalzy melodies of new age spirituality. There’s a touch of Vangelis to it all…of floating off towards a cinematic horizon, with ominous clouds gathering and somatic arps filtering sofly amidst the subsuming atmospheres of dreamtime romance.
(image from my personal copy)
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thesunlounge · 5 years ago
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Reviews 279: Bad Hammer
No release this year has taken hold of me quite like Extended Play, an ethereal, atmospheric, and lush collection of shadow pop epics written, performed, and produced by Lisa Klinkhammer and Johannes Badzura, otherwise known as Bad Hammer. I was first clued into to duo by Doom Chakra Tapes, who released Extended Play on cassette at the end of March, and as I found out later, this release was paralleled by a vinyl version on Klinkhammer’s and Badzura’s own Italian Island imprint. Now having spent a lot of time with both versions, I am overwhelmed by how dreamlike and intoxicating it all is, with vaporous synthesis overlaying rhythmic sways, twilit bass ambulations, and baritone guitars awash in spy movie twang and surf rock verb. The vocals move between romantic coos, swooning choruses, paradise whispers, and anthemic chants as Klinkhammer evokes some of my favorite vocal warriors from across the decades, with names such as Grace Slick, Siouxsie Sioux, Julee Cruise, Victoria Legrand, and Ruth Radelet coming to mind across the EP’s five delirious tracks. As well, her voice is sometimes backed by Badzura’s subdued and sleepy-eyed harmonies, and during the epic closer “Lost and Won,” Badzura fully assumes the lead with his deep and sensual croon. Taken altogether, it’s the kind of music that immerses the soul…the sonic equivalent of being surrounded by the ambient blues, glowing pinks, and deep purples of the album cover…a sort of druggy hazy fever dream of entrancing pop and Badalementi-infused nightscape sorcery that I could float within forever.
Bad Hammer - Extended Play (Italian Island / Doom Chakra, 2019) “Patients” begins with soft-focus synthesis billowing like fog and bringing to mind the cinematic hues of Cliff Martinez. The drums glide in with double-time hats and a downer post-punk energy while toms and snares smash around the spectrum and eventually, guitar riffs generate moody tracers alongside brass and string orchestrations that seem to swirl into a paradise haze. A voice enchants…cool yet affecting…and as we move into a sort of chorus, Klinkhammer pleads “follow me to patients night / come with me to patients night” as sensual basslines begin moving through droning pulses and shadowland slides. Fuzz guitars arc across the sky while everything slowly builds, with the vocals growing ever more desperate and searching…calling out powerfully until fading into reverberated ether. And all the while, new age chimes intertwine with glossy melodies while hovering spheroids glow in hues of twilight. Then in “Ghost,” acoustic drums pop under layers of spring reverb while thick and fuzzy synthesizers swell in on waves of sunshine. Sliding six-string leads and golden guitar arps background Klinkhammer’s dreamy singing, which hovers softly in the verse, creating a dreamsway of pastoral pop psychedelia. Once the chorus hits, the song explodes into an all out anthem and it’s impossible not to shout “I SAW A GHOST” in support of Klinkhammer’s majestic croon, with her voice wavering softly through natural vibrato as synthesizers buzz and smolder, bass guitars pulse on the beat, and guitars sparkle and shine through layers of white noise. After a bridge of haunted western slide guitar and surfadelic twang…a moment of post-rock saloon magic leading to whispers and synthesized radiance…we explode once more into the chorus, which eventually climaxes with a brief yet gorgeous solo of desert guitar mesmerism. 
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The downtempo disco rhythms of “Lovezone” flow like a fever dream while guitars glisten and palm-mute, snares decay, and cymbals swell into ether. It’s Bad Hammer outdoing Chromatics in atmospheric narco-pop perfection, with the dreamy vocals like wisps of light as the masculine and feminine unite in spiritual beauty. The mix is minimal and swathed in ethereality while progressively building towards a spectacular climax of moody baritone guitar perfection…a sort of spy flick theme moving through lands of purple vapor and infinite shadow and followed by Klinkhammer’s yearning voice….pleading into the darkness and nearly overtaking the mix through sheer diva power. Later, the duo execute a breathtaking transition and end up in a tribal stomp through realms of daydream heartache. Guitars swell through echo layers, cushiony bass synths float the soul, and vocals bubble into wordless magic, all childlike choirs and cooing comfort. And overhead, Klinkhammer’s lets loose an incredibly soulful and chilling performance…like an angel singing amidst a swirling storm of melancholy magic. In  “Forever,” kick drums, tambourines, shakers, and snares generate an angular sway while FM chords waver over a lowslung bass guitar growl. Guitars slither around the fretboard and work into wonky wailing psychedelia, with everything wavering beneath chorus pedals and flangers. The lyrics speak of a “wooden house near the sea” between apathetic chants of “forever I wait / for you” and the chorus sees six-string and voice ascending together into falsetto strangeness. Sometimes the singing grows operatic and the guitars devolve into mirage renderings and watercolor mutations, with layer after layer intertwining as Badzura and Kinlkhammer swoon together, singing “waiting for you” alongside synthesizers that transmute into feedback.
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Overdriven riffs palm-mute above heartbeat drum pulses, rimshots, woodblocks, and layers of dream synthesis in “Lost and Won,” with everything building in strength. The guitar begins spiraling as new age chimes and synthesized orchestrations rain down and eventually, the six-string erupts into soft-focus screaming, with anthemic leads tracked by ethereal electronics. Further guitars enter, resulting in dueling harmonies, searing solos, and stadium bombast and all the while, the drums continue pulsing while sometimes morphing through dub delays. At some point, Badzura’s affecting voice enters…bleary eyed, stoned out, and evoking legendary frontmen such as Bernard Sumner and Billy Idol…as snares drop and give the beat a sense of new wave propulsion. Burning fuzz guitars subsume the mix with layers of atmospheric sludge and towering basslines support the earworm “lost and won” hook that seems to circle all around the mix. Klinkhammer’s voice hovers around the edge of the stereo field and adds touches of paradise magic while elsewhere, guitars solo like Major Star through overwhelming sub-bass pressure waves before exploding into a maximalist dreamscape of descending harmonic radiance. Though “Lost and Won” is officially the album closer, there’s a secret track that follows seeing bongos and congas pan around the spectrum while minimalistic idiophones conjure a fourth world jungle climate. Bass pulses and soft synth chords give the groove shape as cymbals and gongs crash, with everything evoking the work of D.K. And Klinkhammer sings in pure emotional wonderment, wavering in and our of key irresistibly…the effect like the fragility of a French chanteuse, only as if surrounded by vaporous synth progressions, moon-soaked guitar leads, expressive hand drumming, and swelling metal shimmer.
(images from my personal copy)
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dyingforbadmusic · 3 years ago
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Doom Chakra Tapes is such a great label that publishes all kind of weird lofi elctronica. From goa trance over old school hip hop to extra terrestrial dance music.
This Roman85 tape sounds a bit like early Aphex Twin, but there is other sick stuff like Ghetto Henry's Old School Hip Hop Acid beats.
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I discovered Doom Chakra Tapes through Julian Field. one of the hosts of the QanonAnonymous podcasts, who played tunes on his twitch streams where he presents the most demented influencers of the online conspiracy world.
Some sick Death Dub that reminds me a bit of the mid nineties DJ Spectre and the Crooklyn(?) Illbient collective Dubadelic.
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Shout out to all ghosts and DJ Deflektorschild of Doom Chakra Tapes for the Kunstwerk. ❤
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dyingforbadmusic · 3 years ago
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Roman85 via Doom Chakra Records
Great minimal breakbeats like early Aphex Twin. Great label!
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shamelesslimitless · 4 years ago
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The Bad Hammer scent, song and video that bottled magic threefold thrice hath cometh. 𝕄𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕕 the song is out today: -on cassette via Doom Chakra Tapes backed by remixes from Chikiss aka Galina Ozeran, Giraffi Dog & Sami Toroi + 20 minutes of iPhone recorded studio outtakes; -on sleek and elegant maxi CD via Italian Island; and -on the streaming service of your desire. 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 the scent is out today: -in a laser cut function attuned bespoke BH designed flacon, available for a limited time and in limited quantities only. 𝕸𝖞𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖊𝖉 the video is out today: -across all video streaming services, including YouTube premium, linked below. All this and more at ᴡᴡᴡ.ʙᴀᴅʜᴀᴍᴍᴇʀᴄᴏꜱᴍᴇᴛɪᴄꜱ.ᴄᴏᴍ
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