Title: Destiny Drive

Media: Red Vinyl, ltd. Edition (300 / 200 2nd edition)

Synopsis

One of the longest active bands to emerge from the UK industrial scene of the late 70’s, Konstruktivists have spent more than three decades creating some of the most

unique and challenging electronic music.

Founded in 1980 by Throbbing Gristle/Whitehouse associate Glenn Michael Wallis, the band has featured numerous musicians during the band’s existence, and has

operated mainly as a duo for much of the past twenty years with Mahk Rumbae (Oppenheimer MkII / Ghost Actor).

‘Destiny Drive’ was written and recorded between 2013 and 2014, and is the first Konstruktivists album to be released on vinyl since 1985’s ‘Glennascaul’.

The album contains seven completely new songs, exciting and enthralling, pulsating in darkness, combining abstract, rhythmic electronics with Glenn’s unique, surrealistic vocals and lyrics.

It is also the first vinyl release on Bleak, a Vienna based label releasing experimental electronic music.

Stream here

Tracks

1. Side A
   1. Is This You
   2. Lone Groover
   3. Persona Non Grata
2. Side B
   1. In Orange
   2. Static Automatic
   3. Psykho Politicx
   4. All That You Are

A1 – Is This You

A2 – Lone Groover

A3 – Persona Non Grata

Title: White Stained Covers

Media: Cassette

limited edition of 100 handnumbered copies, 2014

includes download code + 3 buttons

In 1993, a group of electronic troubadours set about writing and recording a tribute to their favourite band, Whitehouse. amongst them, ex-Whitehouse member Glenn Michael Wallis, founder of Industrial pioneers Konstruktivists, former stagehand for Throbbing Gristle. the recordings were given away with the book “Still Going Strong”, a collection of interviews, reviews and newspaper snippets about Whitehouse and their legendary live actions.

Created, edited and published by Mark Crumby’s IMPULSE label, it has become a massively sought after collector’s item. the book, that is. not the tape. the tape never got the attention it deserves, and everything around it seems to be embarrassing for the involved persons.

It took 20 years to unveil the mysteries to it, to identify the names and persons behind this labour of love. while considered a parody by many, including William Bennett, we feel that this highly underrated work by dedicated artists should be brought to a new generation of Power Electronic kids.

Split release with [aufnahme+wiedergabe]

Title:Why be Blake when you can be Bleak? – The Bleak Compilation

release status: available

“Why be Blake when you can be Bleak?” is a compilation featuring not only netlabel artists, but also contributions from renowned artists from the Industrial/Experimental genres, and plain legends from the early 80’s Industrial scene.

The compilation strives to provide a “cause and effect” overview of Avantgarde art, especially from the viewpoint of Industrial/Experimental and Electronic music.

All artists have agreed to provide their tracks for free download, which is very uncommon these days, given the fact that non-mainstream artists probably suffer the most from illegal file sharing, and usually hesitate to give away albums for free.

The result is a download package in the size of a 3CD-compilation, containing early unreleased tracks as well as exclusive versions of new material.

The list of contributing artists is a mixture of Industrial dinosaurs and young or new obscure artists from all over the world.

Proving that original, or “old school” Industrial is still as influential and exciting as it has been since the very beginning in the late 70’s and early 80’s, The Bleak Compilation continues the tradition of compilations like “The Elephant Table Sampler”, “Three Minute Symphony” or “Ohrenschrauben/Ohrensausen”, presenting a mixture of difficult, at times disturbing and confusing music, totally apart from any mainstream intentions.

The painting on the cover is by Jonathan Canady, an american musician (Deathpile) and artist, whose work is so close to what Bleak stands for that we couldn’t resist asking him, and we are happy he agreed!

The list of artists who agreed to contribute is nothing less than amazing:

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words, Konstruktivists, Attrition, Mushy, Cultural Amnesia, SLEEPCHAMBER, The On/Off Corporation, Wave Tank, John Zewizz, Perikomo, Josco, Das Fleisch, FRzO, MRT, Portion Control, The Altai Chamber Orchestra, Coil, Choronzon, r.A.C.K, Cultural Amnesia, Red Chamber, Bath feat. OROBL, 53, Nocturnal Emissions, Background Projection, Paluch Y, Josco, Critical Theatre, Pure, Josef Nadek, Job Karma, Firnwald, Sean Derrick Cooper Marquardt, Cezary Gapik, Stormhat, Dr. Nachtstrom

We hope that with this compilation we also draw attention to our own Bleak artists, who deserve to be presented to a wider audience.

Bleak would like to thank everyone involved.

No single track downloads, please download the complete album.

Here are the tracks:

cd1, 16 The Altai Chamber Orchestra (AT) – Law (International Audio Losers Version)

cd2, 13 Pure (AT/GER) – Mladost

cd3, 07 Dr. Nachtstrom (AT) – The Second Coming

Title:Live In Vienna 2009

release status: available

Konstruktivists – Live In Vienna 2009

“Live In Vienna 2009” is the recording of a live show Konstruktivists played in Vienna on October 9th 2009, invited by Klanggalerie and Bleak, together with Nocturnal Emissions.

This show also marked a reunion for Glenn Wallis and Mark Crumby, as the latter has been living in Vienna for nearly a decade then and therefore left Konstruktivists earlier.

Konstruktivists was formed by Glenn Michael Wallis in 1982 out of the ashes of Heute. Heute were a kraut rock influenced trio using electronics as well as conventional guitars and bass. Around this time – in the late 70’s/early 80’s Glenn Michael Wallis was heavily involved with Throbbing Gristle, the U.K. pioneers of “Industrial”. He acted as control agent for them – which involved anything from checking out venues to acting as bouncer/heavy.The first Konstruktivists album “A Dissembly” was issued in 1983.

This was quickly followed by their seminal LP “Psykho Genetika” after signing to the newly-formed Third Mind records. At this point Glenn also moonlighted as a part-time member of Whitehouse – playing live with them in several countries and participating on their LP “Great White Death”.

Over the next two years, two more albums followed – 1984’s “Black December”, and 1985’s “Glennascaul” – was recorded and produced Chris Carter.

Konstruktivists also played extensively both home and abroad and appeared at the UK Electronica Festival in Sheffield, September 1984. From the latter part of 1985 to 1990 there was a five year hiatus in Konstruktivists actvity. During this period recordings were still made but no records or live appearances occured.

A 12″ called “Ikon” and an album “Jihad” were recorded but not quite finished. “Jihad” is still not released to this day.1990 saw the resurrection of Konstruktivists proper, with a new line up including Joe Ahmed and Lawrence Burton and a variation in sound.

They signed to World Serpent and released a CD single “Tic Tac Toe” which was well received (especially in Europe) but due to bad promotion failed to sell as many as expected.

A new album was recorded in 1991, but it took until 1993 before “Forbidden” was finally released. Again this suffered from poor publicity and sales – leading to Konstruktivists and World Serpent parting company. Around this time there was yet another line up change.

Konstruktivists forged a link with Impulse Magazine, and before long, it’s editor Mark was drafted into the group. Over the next three years a hive of activity ensued with the setting up of a new label, Jara Discs, live shows in London, Cambridge, Austria and Holland, and lots of new recordings!During 1995 the Konstruktivists line up was augmented by the sax player and percussionist Dr R Alcapone Shiells. In 2000, Mark left the band to move to Vienna, Austria,and Glenn Wallis became the sole member of Konstruktivist.

Since 2004 the band are active again as a duo of Wallis/Shiells and new member Priogette Cassese.

artist link: Konstruktivists

Parts of the Konstruktivists back catalogue and re-issues can be purchased from Klanggalerie