Archive for the witchcraft tag

Give thanks for Nitzer Ebb!

Ok, so… it’s a bit hypocritical for me to post this, I’ll admit it. I mostly make fun of Nitzer Ebb; I have food related parody vocals for most of their songs. I hardly need to put much effort into it with stuff like this on their Wikipedia page: “Nitzer Ebb began when Bon Harris and David Gooday asked Douglas McCarthy to sing in their band. They shared an interest in witchcraft, talking to trees, and collecting runestones in Chelmsford and Little Baddow”

Talking to trees?

But I can’t deny their influence, which is rampant everywhere from synthpop to Detroit techno and, of course, the industrial and EBM scenes that they had a hand in founding. Their style sounded very dated to me 10 years ago, but now the minimalism sounds fresh–all things come back again, of course.

I choose to post “Let Your Body Learn” from 1987′s That Total Age release because to me, it relates well to new wave [and I'm sure the influence goes both ways]. I’m also including a new track from Neon Electronics vs The Hacker that I’ve been playing alongside various Nitzer Ebb tracks the last few weeks; it’s a fantastic modern example of their continuing impact on electronic music and instantly got a warm reception on the dance floor.

We’re thrilled to be giving away tickets to their upcoming concert on Thanksgiving night. Though lacking in trees, Nitzer Ebb put on a great live show, and I’m sure they won’t disappoint. Opening for them is my absolute favorite local-Chicago-via-way-of-Detroit band Kill Memory Crash, and if you haven’t seen them, get there early–you will be blown away. I’ve posted their song “Demento”, also wearing a bit of Nitzer Ebb inspiration, from their 2004 album American Automatic. They have new stuff and it’s amazing, but still unreleased so you’ll have to listen to my radio show if you want to hear it.

See you on Thanksgiving night, and see you at the Nitzer Ebb show!

Amazon’s Nitzer Ebb Store
Neon Electronics vs The Hacker
Kill Memory Crash on Amazon

Book of Love: Witchcraft

Kafé kasita, non kafela… once upon a time in clubland, Mr. Al Jourgensen of Ministry crafted a fan favorite dubbed “Everyday is Halloween,” an anthem dedicated to the creatures of the night. Although a lasting classic, he wasn’t the only one to cater that obviously to those who loved to dress in magic black.

For the more darkly inclined, there once lived a sugary sweet synthpop outlet from Philadelphia called Book of Love – a band that somehow seemed to fit in perfectly between the likes of Ministry and Bauhaus on the dancefloor. Though perhaps best known for three hits “Boy,” “I Touch Roses,” and “Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls,” the band released four studio albums in total – their second entitled Lullaby featuring the single “Witchcraft.”

Beginning with handclaps and bursting into a thumping beat, vocal delivery is key in this track, sung or perhaps rapped by all three female members of Book of Love posing as the six witches of the song – Enchantra, Endora, Tabitha, Esmerelda, Clara and Hagatha. Still with me? “Witchcraft” is performed as though they are the little gothic girls next door, crafting a potion to capture the one they love. With enough knowing winks to pop culture witchery (Angelique, Barnabas & Josette of the Dark Shadows fame as well as the all too clever “Bewitched” sample) and nursery rhymes to keep you humming for days, it also keeps you wondering what some of these ingredients really are. “Witchcraft” serves as the perfect track for any Halloween party… or for those who need to get all those daily interpretive dance moves out of their system.

official website
Lullaby on Amazon

For extra toil & troubles, try to dig up the 12″ extended version of the song… even more beats, spells & witches to entrance you. Medusa even makes an appearance… what more can one mere mortal do? Stew & brew…