Phragments is a duo from Bratislava, Slovakia. The duo consists of Matej, responsible for the music and Sonic(k), who is responsible for the videos. They started around 2002 and have released 5 CDs so far, 1 EP, 2 live albums and 2 full-length albums. The first full-length was released on their label Construct.Destroy.Collective, the second one on the Israeli label The Eastern Front, the third one is out now on the US label Malignant Records. Their music is best described as a mix of dark orchestral power with industrial machinery. Their music is emotionally heavy and thought provoking. Listeners have labeled it as industrial, martial industrial, dark ambient. They prefer to call it orchestral industrial. Phragments does not support any kinds of totalitarian ideology.
The annual list of experimental, cutting-edge, avant-garde, underground and outsider albums, live recordings, EPs, tapes and net releases from Slovakia’s vital and diverse music scene: let yourself inspire by the rich selection of 2016 records.
This list was compiled by Slavo Krekovic and it is most probably not complete. If you happen to know about anything that should be added, let us know at redakcia(at)34.sk.
Experimental / avant-garde / cutting-edge / advanced songwriting / improvised / post-genre / contemporary classical / outer limits records of 2013 by Slovak musicians:
900piesek – my blood is your wine
Aidan Zaal – Posthumanist Love
Andrej Danóczi – 13 0410
Andrej Danóczi – Krajina bez bieleho bicykla
Andrej Danóczi – Mandragora 1
Angakkut – Unshaped Unspoken
András Cséfalvay – Funeral the Musical and another tabletop opera
Binmatu – Crystylys
Burlas / Kladivo / Zagar feat. Marcela Derevencová – Čierny film
Brada – Dextrin
Daniel Kordík – [Sy][ria]
Drén – …A Anna Naše Svedomie Nebude Čisté
Herzog Herzog – Sitzfleisch.
Jack Jack – Jack Jack 001 + 002
Jacques Kustod – Hit The Lights (reel to real)
Jonáš Gruska – Солнце
Jonáš Gruska – CAA#9
Jonáš Gruska – Site Specific Resonances II
J. B. Kladivo – Nekonečno neostré je z dvier
Martin Burlas – Konečne plač
Noise Mortanna / Phantasm Nocturnes – Two Ways Of Pain Part 20
OMM – */
Phragments – New Kings and New Queens
Poo – Sounds of Mana (Chapters 03-09)
Rentip – Daily Routines
Rentip – Football Faust – original soundtrack
Strom Noir / Spheruleus – Morning
Strom Noir – Tanec Rusaliek
Samčo, brat dážďoviek – SLOBODNY NEZAVISLY ALBUM
Samčo, brat dážďoviek – živšie to už nebude
Samčo, brat dážďoviek – S.W.A.G.
Samčo, brat dážďoviek – Európske hlavné épéčko kultúry
.soundscapes – Tides of Voltage
Stroon – Impermanence
Škvíry & Spoje – Stanica Žilina-Záriečie
Škvíry & Spoje – FonoKlub
Theatrum Spirituum / 777 Babalon – Metacosmic SPLIT
THE S.I.F.O.R.K. – Never Ending Circle Of Inspiration
Totalitny Rezim – Koncert v Praze
Totalitny Rezim – Closed Ward Memories
T.R.I.v.M. – Kiss Of Psychosy
T.R.I.v.M. – Signals
T.R.I.v.M. – Nonseances
Udokier / Noise Mortanna / Taklamakan
Veni Academy – Rolling tones
VooDooMan – Voices from Antidimension
YAO91404D / DRÉN
Zelený Antoin – Zelený Antoin
Members: Slavo Krekovic, Marek Piacek, Oliver Rehak (laptops, electronics)
VOICE OVER NOISE is a trio of laptop musicians from Bratislava. They create sample collages out of “stolen footage” material, instantly building a unique puzzle out of bits of our common past and present. Flow of unpredictable situations where Madonna meets Edgar Varèse, old computer game music sound together with the phragments of J.S.Bach’s. Voice Over Noise are the live Recycle Bin of our pop culture: noisy, energetic, sometimes funny, but also sentimental refreshment of our collective memory.
“VOICE OVER NOISE czyli trio w składzie Slavo Krekovic, Marek Piacek, Oliver Rehak, to kolektyw elektronicznych improwizatorów. Wszyscy trzej używają komputerów oraz syntezatorów i innych urządzeń. Piacek studiował w konserwatorium, Krekovic i Rehak są muzykami, dziennikarzami, muzykologami i kuratorami artystycznych wydarzeń w Bratysławie. Połączyło ich poszukiwanie eksperymentalnych form wyrazu, które kanalizują w kolektywnej improwizacji łączącej wiele wątków z szerokiego spektrum muzyki elektronicznej i konkretnej.” – Musica Genera Festival, Poland
RECORDINGS:
O Art, Where Art Thou? A new album by Voice Over Noise, the ‘live plunderphonic’ trio from Bratislava, is out now on Divis Slovakia (2010), distributed by Atrakt Art. It features mostly material identical to live concert programme performed by the band over the past 3 years, but much of it is also based on live improvisations. Recorded in stereo, no overdubs.
Voice Over Noise track “And You are Asking What About Me” appeared on Short Circuit compilation (Music Centre Slovakia, 2010).
LIVE VIDEOS:
@ Heavy Mental, Fleda, Brno (8.4.2008) / Tribute To Falco
@ Pohoda Festival 2008 (Kdyz se podari / If We Could Make It Happen)
@ Zilina Conservatory Hall 2009 (Voice Over Noise)
