V.V.A.A. "WIDERSTAND" 2CD, 2003 STATEART

This compilation had been long announced and suffered a big delay, but finally, here it is as a closing document of the first label epoch, hence the fact that such a reference like "SAZERO" has been chosen, as an "empty" connection between older and newer releases spirit. An obvious deduction, you may think, but I sometimes like to make this sort of introductions to my reviews, supposing that not everyone must be aware of everything out there in the "Industrial scene". The edition comes in a double transparent DVD case including a 20-page booklet with one page for each band track presentation. The basic theme, as the German title refers, is "Resistance", and from that on, you can develop your own idea of the wide significance that the word contains. For a start, a complete text fills the two first pages of the booklet, a kind of manifest entitled "Postresistance-Here an Now!"- Notes and thoughts of the Post-Resistance-Era; enough food for thought, and a starting point before, or while, listening the double disc. As almost usual, I will dissect the thing entirely, but here goes first the complete list of contributors: Propergol, 4th Sign Of The Apocalypse, Orphx, Allgrena, Control Resistance, Genitor Lvminis, Blood Conspiracy, Predominance, Dream Into Dust, Citadel, Survival Unit, Con-Don, Maison Close and Wutanes Heer. That means a very balanced selection including well-known bands, newcomers and underrated acts that unfortunately are yet to gain the recognition they deserve. What's more, the level is homogeneous during both discs, since all projects are providing high or rather good quality.

First resistance comes in double action by the French Propergol, the only project contributing with two tracks. "Alpha 60" is based on a film from 1.965 (that I haven't seen) by Jean-Luc Godard. "Alphaville" is a city controlled by a massive computer system called like the track title. The composition is basically that computer uttering a "discourse" that is printed in three languages on the booklet. A broken voice that represents the inhumane but, at the same time, also the unavoidable logic surrounded by a good variety of sound artefacts and, basically, an ambience prologue. While that machine dominates the inhabitants of Alphaville avoiding them to think, to love and to communicate due to its perfect logic, another big machine, to which we must resist in some way or another, but without that perfect logic, is trying to control the world citizens on a daily basis. A rare assumption, you would say. If one of the nicest and most elevated ways of "Resistance" is Art (please note the intentional capital letter), now Propergol bursts in an avalanche of hurting noise and desperate voices. This is "Fahrenheit"; a shooting pain piercing your senses and one of the harshest electronics I have listened in a long time. Turn the volume as high as your loudspeakers permits and you will understand. Probably, both "Alpha 60" and "Fahrenheit" are two of the best cuts fitting the main topic. An act of resistance against mediocrity of any kind, simply because the French project is one of the most interesting musical entities nowadays. I can avoid playing "Fahrenheit" repeatedly; it brings the exact dose of rage one needs sometimes and, besides its obvious construction on top with all that barrage of sound, it keeps a coherent base with a half hidden "programming", "rhythmical" loops and "torn up" noise with a minimal cut to really breath. This is what many needed and were waiting for.

But let's continue now with the next, "Black Sheep" by the ever-surprising 4th Sign Of The Apocalyse. This is a project, conceived by the prolific Bryin Dall, of which you may have heard in a good variety of other compilations. I have only listened to those scattered tracks, not a complete album. The case of "Black Sheep" follows a tradition of surrealistic ambience, dark in nature, this is obvious, but conceiving the compositions through a very subjective perspective. This is the uncomfortable piece that anyone would not be able to qualify, or to put inside a sack or genre, and that is obviously positive. There is hardly continuity along the piece, though this is less "chaotic" in comparison with how others of the project are. Selective recorded voices are part of its cinematic function, obscure layers of sound that seem not to have either a beginning, nor an end, and even "adorning percussion" in this case, acting like a soft but permanent machinery. The piece becomes more obsessive, I would say, as it advances, and when an interlude seems to appear, once the "percussion" ceases, it gives more suspense to the whole, even adding some new accompanying sound shapes. A classical piece led by sweet strings also make its performance towards the end, twisting the thing even more. By the way, the track is mixed by Derek Rush of Dream Into Dust.

Now is the turn of Canadians Orphx and the reason why I do not like the current development of the so-called Rhythm Noise genre. This is not because "Black Flag" is bad at all, totally the contrary, if we can denominate such piece like that, Orphx knows how to handle the compulsive beats without falling in the usual mediocrity. Its subversive stimulus and its ritualistic component make this cut unique; moreover, while the rhythmic function is acting it does not appear as empty beats, but as full of "meat" and sequences, and even ambiences. Once the middle is surpassed, the thing changes its tone gaining a new pulse and accentuating the previously named ritualistic component. Even Punk would be an option when considering its reminiscences and Noise, of course, which is prevalent when rhythm dissolves reaching the end.

Allgrena is still a very unknown entity. This is the project of Franz Nigl, a member of the band Rosengracht, and "Protest" is one of the titles included in a single on red vinyl released in 1.997. However, this "Protest" is hardly similar to the original (I wonder even if this is the same track at all). The Austrian handles a good quantity of what seems self made instruments based on percussion tools of metallic sound, or spinning artefacts that create a constant spiralling efficiency. It has a character of reiterative and of progressive impression, where almost all is probably manually played. Interesting. Control Resistance's "Blood In Your Face" is direct action developed by real Power Electronics at its best: distorted vocals, strong electronic reiteration, but a minimalist general construction that increases the straight effect. Less is more in this case.

As a closing for the first disc we encounter a total surprise, a new track by Genitor Lvminis! After their promising "Deam Adessa" 10" released some years ago as the 13th Stateart reference, I hadn't heard of this project again. We have here a first "Resistance" title, silent and passive, with melodies and details playing in the distance. If some would do it through noise, others resist by more psychological means. Later the track increases its shape with militant percussion appearing like a grown toughness. Genitor Lvminis displays the monumental and huge through subtleties and effectiveness, a double-edged efficacy, working in different stages. Maybe more metaphoric and philosophic than others, stressing on the loss of spirituality in favour of a supposedly civilised world, proposing a "Resistance" in order to not lose our most precious values. Really an important track to finish this first part of the compilation.

Blood Conspiracy is a project by Beau Lippincott on vocals and rhythm, Robert X. Patriot on keyboard, and Michael Moynihan on drums. "Wire" is old school influenced electronics, with keyboard manipulation over bass sequences and minimal percussion, together with different voice exposing, some transformed with little effects, others with very nice eighties spirit. "To Tame A Land" is a new offering by the ever evolving and surprising Predominance, and from here starts the most consistent and interesting part of the compilation in my opinion. The Germans submit a composition rather faithful to their latest style, but without being less interesting due to that fact.  Enigmatic and strong ethereal ambient at its best, struggling for the plain infinity with a smart variety of obscure layers acting like eternal circles. Dream Into Dust participates with an important list of collaborators that helps Derek Rush to conceive a magnificent piece. The usual contribution of Bryin Dall is completed here with the classical help of Eddy Malave on viola and cello, and the voices of Bruce Lafountain (The Sword Volvano Complex) and Michael Moynihan; last but not least, the text pertains to Bertolt Brecht, all recorded back in 2.000. Derek surprises us once more with his compositions for compilations. "At The Heart Of The White Rose" is monumental by the action of strong percussion and classical arrangements, adding an Industrial flavour to the whole. The accurate and direct reciting is first the voice of Lafountain, almost solemn like the percussion on this part of the piece. Then, the second paragraph incarnates in Moynihan and his unmistakable way of acting in accordance to a more disturbing and obscure part. The guitars and precious melodies make the rest now, presenting a general complexity that attains its purpose, meanwhile, the lyrics left a trace of a duty that only devolve upon us ("...whose the responsibility, if oppression stays? ours, whose the responsibility, if it is crushed? ours"). This is a last paragraph with nearly imposing voice though bathed by a nice effect. With no doubt, this is one of the best-fitted tracks inside the general topic.

The fourth of this second CD is Citadel, the new creature of Mitchell Altum (ex-Law). "The strongest ally, and greatest enemy, is oneself. Resist inner weakness, to exert outer strength" is the motto of "Radix", an overwhelming composition shaped under the form of heavy Industrial percussion; another focus on the rhythmical noise, with no danceable intention whatsoever. It departs from a growing restrained fury that unleashes exercising the power of the mentioned percussion. They are like an attack of potent firearms. The whole has its varied nuances, it is not only visceral convulsion, but it contains a rather dark and tense ambience filtered through the general pulse. Also, the piece is not continued but have its minimal interludes to recover strength and even disclose more detailed sounds, becoming nearly a barrage of noise, once it starts to reach the end, and before a final action of the remaining varied layers. I really wish to hear more of Citadel, since I am highly surprised by "Radix", mainly due to its intricate elaboration, as a perfect blend of aggressiveness and subtlety. By the way, it seems than a first album will arrive soon. Survival Unit is an act that perfectly fits on this compilation due to the topics and philosophy it has been developing through the years. The work of this Swedish is here titled "Resistance Redefined", and it evolves from its early "experimental" ambience on the way to pure powerful rumbles including a great commanding voice to make the whole totally effective. But you know... to have a high volume is mandatory to understand this absolute new way of Resistance, and one of the best Power Electronics possible nowadays.

Classics like Con-Dom were essential for this reunion. A peculiar and admirable form of Resistance is represented during "I'm Human": the last minutes in the life of a man condemned to death penalty. The gas chamber liberates its deadly content, and very eloquent sound forms perform that, while the man is gasping for air with faltering shouts. The composition lasts exactly the time that David Lawson was alive desperately fighting to keep the final vestiges of his own life. You may imagine the scenery completely, as the piece describes the thing in a perfect way during a little more of eight minutes. Maison Close is a new promising band that recently released a debut album through Nuit Et Brouillard. Their title is "Escape From Freedom" and describes the multiple forms of crimes committed at all levels nowadays, with a great help of the permanent increase of technology and its facilities. Hate and anger is everywhere and take all ways possible, and that is described within a track of pure modern Industrial, a fresh sound indeed. Even though it is impossible to detach completely from a general genre, Maison Close is one of the few projects that can provide the style with certain new ideas. "Escape From Freedom" takes a noisy appearance but included fairly well in a general grey atmosphere that hardly liberates its powerful content. I mean, this not uncontrolled random noise, this is a well-executed thick "ambient" that evolves very well from the beginning to the end. Wutanes Heer closes the compilation with a second "Resistance" title, as Genitor Lvminis did putting and end to the first part. The Italians employ also a mystical procedure as the best tool to confront the imposed state of things: "The only way to survive a world of ruins is to Resist in a fortress made up of ancient values and Tradition". This is quite varied with different sound exposing along the nearly seven minutes. A nice introspective melody introduces the journey, and with a low tone it reaches noise loops as a base and a good variety of elements, broken parts as last remains of a battle, and air raid alarm. It closes as it started, as reclaiming the essence and primordial fight.

There are only a few words left and a conclusion regarding this compilation. This has been successfully conceived as a multi-headed topic but at the same time as if it were a proper and homogeneous album. All bands did their job very well, and the Stateart crew got their purpose since all compositions are varied interpretations of a main suggestive word. This manifold theme left enough room for action for the composers as well as for the listeners, and that's the best thing that can be said about "Widerstand". Moreover, the nice packaging and the unreleased nature of all pieces, besides its "limited-edition-of-only-1.000-copies-without-reissue" spirit makes its purchase essential to Industrial fanatics out there. If you are among those fed up with boring compilations where it is almost impossible to find a complete list of interesting tracks/projects, this is your thing. Try it before it is too late.

F. Paco González

pacogonzalez@sekuenciasdeculto.com