The compilation was inspired by the concept and initiative of Easterndaze festival as for collective collaboration bringing together three different art projects but similar mindsets, geographically, virtually and symbolically. Formed in Montreal, 2012, Total Black is a record label presently based in Berlin releasing noise, industrial, power electronics, and experimental music.
Published November, 2018
Two noteworthy compilations have popped up in the space of a month showcasing the best of Polish underground/bedroom electronics. Although it’s slightly ridiculous to group musicians according to their passport - there’s no such thing as the Sound of Poland, or the Sound of Hungary, these two compilations are a vigorous example of the thriving state of this tiny, but increasingly exciting scene.
Published June, 2017
“PL2UA compilation is an expression of solidarity and support of Polish musicians for people who suffer as a result of clashes in the Ukraine. By providing their music in digital form, the artists want to help those in need and those that require support.
Published February, 2014
In spite of the increasingly weird political situation of Hungary, the absurd new laws and changes in constitution, nationalism and other xenophobias, its underground music scene has been blooming, largely unaffected by the cuts in arts funding. Plenty of new ensembles, projects and labels have come out in the last two or three years, most notably imprints and crews surrounding them, like Farbwechsel and Last Foundation.
Published July, 2013
Do artists who live in one geographical area have more in common than those across borders but with stylistic affinities, especially at times when anything confined to the national level seems obsolete? This is the question we also have asked numerous times during our travels. Two compilations are trying to prove that there is still place to highlight local productions, especially if there are certain parallels in their sonic output and a shared physical interaction and context.
Published December, 2012
If there is any place in the world where the overuse of “swag” has lead to something productive it must be Bulgaria. Marked by its history of 500 years under the Ottoman rule, followed by a fair share of Communism, the country is now an absurd amalgam of past, present and future.
Published September, 2012
One and a half years after VA - Easterndaze Vol 1, we are back with another selection of our favourite sounds from this region. It doesn’t aim to be an all-encompassing, comprehensive survey of the current state of sonic production in these parts of the world, but an offering of the stuff we think deserves recognition and stands out for various, individual reasons.
Published May, 2012
Gazsi Rap Show and ∑BOL∆ ∆P∑, two protagonists of our impending release party in Budapest, have teamed up to deliver an AV invite. Reblog this video on tumblr until Friday noon, and win a pair of combo tix (valid for 2 ppl) for our compilation release party in Budapest AND the Blackbird Blackbird gig on Sunday, 13 May also in Budapest.
Published May, 2012
Published April, 2012
A new compilation by Strefa Szarej, a label and a cultural organisation run out of Cieszyn in Poland near the Czech border tries to reflect the music production of the country’s neighbouring countries - Czech Republic and Slovakia (and even Hungary). Genre-wise, the focus is of course on the fringes of the music production of the respective countries (otherwise we wouldn’t be writing about it:), but it varies from weirdo electronic (notably miss Dolly Rambo, Hungary’s foremost art bruteish pop star) through post-dance through psychedelic and mellow at the end with Fuka Lata, Sangoplasmo’s Lutto Lento and their epic 17-minute track, Grobbing Thristle and their haunting ode, I Love 69 Popgeju, Moduretik, Stroon, Piča z Hoven, IP (Identity Problem) or Dead Janitor.
Published March, 2012
Coinciding with the release of Stone Throw’s highly anticipated second volume of their Minimal Wave series, the new compilation by the Viennese collective/label Future Echo charters the minimal/wave/postpunk/industrial electronics sonic territories. In contrast to Veronica Vasicka’s compilation, however, The Future Echo Tapes mostly features contemporary projects that try to reinterpret the characteristic 80s sound.
Published February, 2012
A new compilation put together by Nikola Vitkovic (as his independent endeavour) strives to highlight the buoyoant music scene of the troublesome period of Serbia’s history - the 1990s. It seems that the old maxim about art thriving in the age of general gloom is at play in this case as well.
Published January, 2012
What is the relevance of local scenes in a globalised culture? I would argue that it´s increasingly important. A similar conviction is probably held by the guys behind Local Records, a Bucharest based record label which also functions as a promoter of Romanian independent artists.
Published December, 2011
The Polish label Audiotong with all its various activities has been intent on fostering the local scene and exposing it to the world. Through compilations of Polish musicians (prepared for the Wire magazine) or individual releases, Audiotong has proven that contemporary Polish seen is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Published September, 2011
When we first heard Piresian Beach in the autumn of 2010, we were amazed by her fuzzed-out lo-fi sound incorporating elements of surf-rock, punk and rock'n'roll into her trademark seductive compositions. What began as a surprising discovery has also stricken a chord with the sensitivities of Hungarian youngsters using the microblogging platform tumblr.
Published June, 2011
Our project will culminate with the compilation which is gonna be out vv soon on the Polish label Audiotong featuring some of our favourite tracks by musicians we met on our East European journey. In the meantime, get lost in Slovak artist Jarmila Mitrikova’s psychedelic cover.
Published December, 2010