Violet Winter- Abuse Me Music Video

Photo courtesy of Lisa Marie Ogle

So, once in a while, we get to shamelessly promote ourselves at Front 312. Okay, so we do it all the time. We are promoters as well as DJs and musicians, after all. Recently, I directed a music video for up and coming Chicago band Violet Winter.

The video draws on a bizarre list of my influences from Fritz Lang, to Chris Cunningham, to The Red Shoes. Feel free to draw your own conclusions about the storyline.

Secret Service- Flash In the Night (Mr. Automatic Edit)

For the uninitiated, 80's band Secret Service enjoyed very little popularity in the United States when they released their biggest hit, Flash in the Night. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it until I attended a recent screening of the Swedish vampire film, "Let The Right One In". Not one to be content with merely playing a track out, I decided to keep the more sinister elements of the song and remove the filler, otherwise known as "verses" or a "chorus".

I like sharing, and since I probably will not find a legitimate way to make money off of this edit, here it is for your listening and DJing enjoyment!

Secret Service- Flash in the Night (Mr. Automatic Edit)

Zola Jesus Video for "Night" Turns Goth Aesthetic on Its Head

We have been waiting for this video for quite a while now at Front 312. I am so glad to see Zola Jesus really pushing the limits of what has been traditionally referred to as goth. Sure, the band has been doing that with their sound ( I initially thought I was hearing the Cocteau Twins), but their latest "Stridulum EP" and resulting music videos have taken a gigantic leap from their demo recordings.

The music video is a blend of influences ranging from the gaudy and audacious (see Disco) to the work of neon artist Dan Flavin.

Click below to watch the music video for "Night".

Italo Disco Computer Love Mix Now Available!

Mr. Automatic feat. Le Sprite- Computer Love Mix

1.  Space- Carry On, Turn Me On (Bottin Remix)
2.  Cyber People- Void Vision (Jake Bullit Edit)
3.  Telex- L'Amour Toujour (Razormaid Mix)
4.  Doctor's Cat- Feel The Drive (Inst.)
5.  IMS- Runaway
6.  Fun Fun- Happy Station
7.  Mr. Flagio- Take A Chance (Extended Mix)
8.  M G- When I Let You Down
9.  Stopp- I'm Hungry (Bootleg Original Mix)
10.Electra- Are You Automatic (Cosmic Cuts Edit)
11.'Lectric Workers-Robot is Systematic
12.Secret Service- Flash in the Night (Mr. Automatic Edit)
12.KOTO- Visitors (Mr. Automatic Edit)
13.Fancy- Lady of Ice (Yes, we went there)

Although we here at Front 312 so very often focus on dark, dark dance music, occasionally we like to break out the classic jams.  Le Sprite and I are starting a new bi-monthly this month called Computer Love, a night of Italo Disco at Rodan.  The event will be April 29th, but to get a taste of what we are all about I decided to make a mix devoted to my love of melodic synths, cheesy FM stabs, and vocals that make little to no sense.

I originally found out about Italo Disco from talking to Detroit Techno and House DJs about the old party scene.  Back in the day, high school and backyard parties embraced music by Parliament, Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, Telex, Capricorn, Fad Gadget, Kano, Yaz, and Prince among others.  The Italo Disco played along with this other music would go on to influence the creation of Techno, from the fake accent and fashion references of "Sharevari" to the distopian future depicted by Juan Atkins in "Alleys of Your Mind".  Meanwhile, in Chicago Italo was beginning to be played at venues such as The Music Box and The Warehouse.  The last venue ended up being the most critical in this scenario, because Italo and similar music began to be labeled "House Music" specifically by the now defunct record store Imports, etc.

Most of the influence in this mix comes from old tapes of the Hot Mix 5 on WBMX that I have found posted around the internet.  Taking that as my jumping off point, I utlized a combination of vinyl and Ableton live, adding in some of my own re-edits as well as a few from other producers, and later Italo tracks that depict a more clean and pro studio sound.

So, feel free to download this, pop it into your ipod, roll down your car windows, and go cruising down Lake Shore Drive.  Trust me, that's the only way to listen to this mix.


Mr. Automatic feat. Le Sprite- Computer Love Mix

Led Er Est Takes Us Back to the Beginning

I have lately cited Led Er Est as being part of the new movement of dark dance emerging from New York City.  Their label, Weird records, has a roster of talent that includes Xeno and Oaklander, Martial Canteral, and Automelodi.  All of these bands hearken back to the early days of dark synthpop and the development of dark wave.

Led Er Est itself is a three-piece, consisting of SHAWNNoEQ SAMUEL KkLOVENHOOF + OWEN STOKES.  The band emerged initially as an experimental act, but their most recent release has taken them in a slightly different direction.  The screams, yelps, and droning synths are still all present, but this release sees them taking a similar road to Cabaret Voltaire in the late seventies.

Their full-length LP, Dust on Common, is a collection of dark disco.  Port Isabel, probably their most well-known track, is a dance-floor nightmare.  It is simultaneously haunting and infectious.  Take a listen in this video clip from a recent performance:

Absolute Body Control: The EBM Blueprint

Before performing in "The Klinik", an influential second wave EBM act, Dirk Ivens was working on a project in the vein of Suicide and DAF called Absolute Body Control.

Pre-dating the move to synthesizers for inspiration, Dirk had been in a handful of new wave and punk bands. The project originally feature Mark De Jonghe (synths) and Veerle De Schepper (backing vocals), though Mark was replaced in 1981 by Eric Van Wonterghem.

The project released a number of cassettes, but only one 7" (Is There An Exit?) and no studio albums during its brief period of musical output. In retrospect, however, their music sounds very forward-thinking in its approach. Their cover of Brian Eno's "Baby's On Fire" both pays tribute to the original while breaking new ground in what would eventually become EBM. Even the name of their group, Absolute Body Control, indicates that they were aware of what was coming very soon around the musical bend.


Absolute Body Control-Baby's On Fire


Absolute Body Control-Figures

Zola Jesus

I normally don't post about music - I stick with sartorial musings, generally - but I've stumbled across a musician that is so spectacular that I must share her with you all. Her name is Zola Jesus, and she sounds like a cross between Diamanda Galas, Elizabeth Fraser, and Karin Dreijer - if their collective music was trudged through a pile of molasses.

Zola Jesus is the work of Nika Danilova. What's amazing is that she's only 19 and she's already come into her own. From what little I've been able to gather about her over the internet, I've learned that she's a classically trained musician and comes from Madison, Wisconsin. It's true... the cold, gray flatness of the Midwest brings out the spookiness in all of us. Her music is terrifying, arresting, lush, and beautiful all at the same time. She screams and wails and sings with passion and pain, really lovely stuff. I highly encourage you all to check out her 2009 LP The Spoils, released on Sacred Bones Records. Certainly one of my favorite albums that came out in 2009. I haven't seen in records stores, but I was able to purchase from the iTunes music store.

Zola Jesus will be performing at the Empty Bottle on February 13th, 2009, and will be an in-store at Permamant Records that same day. She will also be performing at Beat Kitchen on March 13th, 2009. Her myspace is here, where you can hear a few of her songs. "Sink the Dynasty" is my personal favorite.

DAF: Der Raeuber Und Der Prinz

I'm not sure at what point it became uncool to deal with homoerotic themes in industrial music and ebm, but I am going to guess it happened when they started throwing distortion and cowboy hats into the mix.  I was not around, so I really have no way to know first hand how it happened.  All I know is that it's all right to reference DAF if you are into "electro" but not okay if you are talking about industrial music.  I have been ridiculed several times for being into DAF, with the reasoning of the opposing party being pretty much rooted in American misconceptions about masculinity.  Of course, the opposing party was also usually wearing really wide-leg pants with cyber-goth dreads.

What I don't quite understand is this...

Why is it okay to like Nitzer Ebb, but not okay to like DAF?  Before they turned to synths, DAF were an intense band that were hardcore before hardcore even existed in the US.  The entire second half of their second album from '79 involves a performance where they yelled at the audience for a good thirty minutes because the audience were attacking them and throwing things at them.

Regardless of what the haters might think, this music video from 1981 is pretty awesome, and extremely creepy.  I am amazed it was ever played on MTV.

Also, check out this live clip:

Franz and Shape Remixed II

It is not easy to explain to someone what my DJ set sounds like these days.  I can play french house, throw down banging electro, or go into a classic italo disco set.  With our monthly, Front 312, there is often the temptation to go into an all-out Wax Trax retrospective.  This is something I want to avoid, since DJs Jenamax, Greg Haus, and Peter Propaganda regularly throw classic Wax Trax nights around Chicago.

I have been struggling to find a sound that defines our night.  Recently, I have found a new compilation of remixes of material by Franz and Shape.  It is available on Beatport now, and I think it really defines the sound of Front 312.  Since so many party goers have asked about this track, I feel that I should finally let everyone in on my little secret.  Check out this remix of Franz and Shape by producers Joe and Will Ask? and I think you will find yourself unable to stay in your seat.

Franz and Shape- Lump feat. Shrubbn!! (Joe and Will Ask? Remix)

Remember, if you like this and are playing it out, buy the whole comp on Beatport, and support good music!