Pure:
Bodyhammer
Praxis 26CD
1000 copies pressed in 2003.
Double CD in digi-sleeve.
From the press release 2003:
In the course of the last few months a substantial section of the work released by Peter Votava under different names in the 1990’s, before his releases on Mego, Staalplaat and d0c, has been made available again on CD, most notably the retro compilation of classic ironic rave act Ilsa Gold (with Christopher Just, on Mego) and the deep electro-techno soundscapes of Current 909 (on d0c/Atmosfear).
A completely different aspect is presented by this double CD compilation of his hardcore material, released as Pure (or DJ Pure, Information:Overload, Violent Shit, PL and Slab), now available from Praxis as a double CD (Praxis 26CD). Collecting the material previously issued by Praxis itself, Loop, Drop Bass Network, as well as compilation tracks from Tigerbeat6, Biomechanic and a support compilation for the EKH, Vienna’s only squat named after Ernst Kirchweger, a communist murdered by the Nazis, all from between 1994-2001. Almost like a history of hardcore of the’90s from dark acid to harsh noise.
Not only was most of the material released on limited edition vinyl, and now unavailable, all the hits, collaborations and rarities are here, including previously unreleased tracks:
CD1 starting off with the deceptively titled CD-ROM section (not for easy listening) – it’s the audio track of a data CD – but soon delving into the hammering beats of Information:Overload, shifting into the satanic abyss of “Anoint me with the Black Sperm of Beleth” by Slab, before exercising “Analogue Terror” from the Drop Bass Network EP of the same title, already showing the variety of approaches even within the industrial hardcore realm. This is further illustrated by the various collaborations with other activists and hardcore experimenters of the time. Not only is the near-legendary “Violent Shit” EP featured, there are three more, previously unreleased tracks from this collaboration with Ec8or (at the time a Patric C. solo project), as well as the devastating “Killer Bees on Acid” produced with the late Liza N’Eliaz.
CD2 opens with another cult item: “Speeed” by Pure vs. GTI, originally released as a one-sided limited 12″ on Loop, before continuing the journey in carefully chosen order through material defying the borders of “industrial” and “hardcore”.
The bulk of the material was recorded and released between 1994 and 1999 – it appears that Pure decided after his massive “King Kong/Katharsis” on Praxis that he had said what he needed to say in this musical format. This double CD (on which “King Kong” is featured in its full 15 minute glory) is testimony to the insistence, depth and violence as well as the heterogenity of his artistic vision.
Hecate: The Magick of Female Ejaculation
Praxis 35/Zhark LP1
Hecate
The Magick of Female Ejaculation
2×12″/CD – 2000/2001
Hecate’s first full length album, released on vinyl and CD.
A total of 1500 vinyl and 1000 CDs were made.
“After an exemplary series of singles on her own Zhark label, RACHAEL KOZAK aka HECATE has, after a long wait, released her nail-biting debut full-length. RACHAEL KOZAK has an interesting history in relation to what can clumsily be called ” new electronic hardcore.” Originally from Detroit, and having taken classes at the School for Visual Arts with JOHANNA FATEMAN from LE TIGRE (for whom she has done a superb remix), she moved to London and now moves between there and Berlin. Her record draws on the strengths displayed in her eyebrow-stripping singles: completely original breakbeats tearing along at about 180 beats- per-minute, dark, menacing basslines combined with snares and hi-hats that could cut through concrete. Though it’s a cliché applied to one musical genre after another since the early 80s, KOZAK’s music truly represents a punk spirit which has been missing in contemporary music for far too long. I say that not for the sake of sensationalism but for the simple fact that the music on this album is the closest in spirit, though miles away in stylistic terms, to early CRASS records. Put the repetitive, didactic ALEC EMPIRE & Digital Hardcore out of your field of hearing and listen to music that really burns.” (review taken from Tim Haslett, quoted in digitalworldnet catalogue 2003)
Digitalworldnet themselves added:
‘The official release sheet says about that: “Fifteen tracks serve as fifteen channels on a journey through the female psyche experienced through the eyes and ears of HECATE. RACHAEL KOZAK, after releasing records for five years under this guise, has finally completed her debut solo album. As a manifestation of the power of love, life, sex and death, ‘The Magick of Female Ejaculation’ reaches deep into chambers where others fear to tread. Living abroad and traveling for years, HECATE has obviously been affected by the European works of the MARQUIS DE SADE, ALEISTER CROWLEY, DARIO ARGENTO and his involvement with GOBLIN, in addition to a myriad of other historical personas that creatively broke through to new levels of expression. She mixes these energies together with merciless beats and grinding rhythms while adding her own deep rooted emotional intensities – combining all of these to form some of the most haunting yet completely rocking tracks. The level of production on this album demonstrates how in tune HECATE has become with these men’s machines. Subverting the dancefloor with occultist breakcore and one woman’s lust, Praxis and Zhark International have joined forces to bring this album into the material realm, and straight to you.” Yeah folks, as you could read, this record bundles all creativity of all creative forms of expression ever existed… sounds funny? Nope, it isn’t. Please feel free to forget what you’ve read ’cause this release is indeed pretty good and for sure the one release of HECATE you should definitely know.’