Genre/Influences: Experimental, Industrial, Electronic, Abstract.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: Kryptogen Rundfunk is a Russian solo-project driven by Artem Ostapchuk. He was also running the label Zhelezobeton. He moved to The Netherlands last year and set up a new label Base Station and distribution company Fonodroom. He’s now also ready with a new album of Kryptogen Rundfunk which is the fourth one in the project’s history.

Content: The sound remains easily recognizable although remaining a sonic labyrinth of sounds, noises, field recordings and electronic sound manipulations. The work is dark and very atmospheric but also touching ground with more evasive and even relaxing passages. 

+ + + : Kryptogen Rundfunk sounds like a project operating from a sound lab. The work has been built up with an impressive sound canvas. The analogue sound treatments and Abstract/Experimental character are often reminding me of 80s experiments. But the main strength behind this approach is that it remains pretty accessible and fascinating.

– – – : Some passages are just a bit too Experimental for my taste.

Conclusion: This is a noticeable new work for Kryptogen Rundfunk and I can only wish living in The Netherlands will give more opportunities to this talented artist.

Best songs: “Hypnotoad On Air”, “Too Much Understanding”, “The Dream Of Bonifatsy”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.kryptogenrundfunk.com / www.facebook.com/kryptogenrundfunk

Label: https://fonodroom.bigcartel.com /  www.facebook.com/fonodroom

About Kryptogen Rundfunk

Kryptogen Rundfunk is the experimental sound project of Russian musician Artyom Ostapchuk, started in 2002 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The project works with analogue electronics, radio waves, electromagnetic interference and found sounds. Ostapchuk also founded the Zhelezobeton label, one of Russia’s larger distributors of experimental music, which closed in 2022. He has since relocated to Amstelveen, the Netherlands, where he runs the Base Station label and the Fonodroom distribution company.

Kryptogen Rundfunk’s album chronology includes “Liquid Circuits” (CD, Zhelezobeton, 2017) and “Tales From The Mirrored Spaces” (Zoharum, 2020), described at the time as the project’s third full-length album. “To Dream Is To Destroy”, issued on Base Station, is Kryptogen Rundfunk’s fourth full-length album.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, industrial, dark-ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Next to several split/collaborative releases, Kryptogen Rundfunk has now accomplished its third full length album. Operating from St. Petersburg (Russia) Artyom Ostapchuk set up this project in 2002. Next to his numerous activities in several projects he also set up the label Zhelezobeton. Notice by the way this album is also available as DCD featuring an extra live recording.

Content: The sound universe of Kryptogen Rundfunk stands for a truly sonic fusion. You get the impression listening to a sonic puzzle made of industrial noises, field recordings and the manipulation of sounds played by acoustic instruments. You’re walking through icy atmospheres reinforced with deep, vibrating sound resonances. Some passages have something more electronic-driven resulting in a ‘klinik’-al mood. The album finally ends in an ambient- & noise cataclysm.

+ + + : The work is diversified because of the interaction between the different influences. I enjoyed the low-frequency sound waves mixed with industrial sound treatments. “Transverter Waltz” is a somewhat different cut for being a little bit more electronic. It has been built up with cold electronics, creating a disturbing feeling. The last song “Palus Somni” is a heavy piece, which I especially like for its evolution into a noise climax. Production-wise I would say this album has been accomplished with real professionalism.

– – – : “Tales From The Mirrored Spaces” remains a hardly accessible work for a wider audience, but I’ve some doubts it’s the kind of album meant to please a wider audience.

Conclusion: Kryptogen Rundfunk has something fascinating, being a kind of sonic hybrid between different dark-minimal music styles.

Best songs: “Transverter Waltz”, “Attention Selector”, “The Ritual Of Dissolution”,“Palus Somni”

Rate: (7½).

Artist: http://kr.radionoise.ru /  www.facebook.com/kryptogenrundfunk 

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental.

Background/Info: Porch Nap is a Russian artist hailing from St. Petersburg. Busy exploring acoustic sound treatments and transforming all kind of noises into sounds; Porch Nap has released a few productions on Fulldozer Records (Russia). This album is a selection of tracks that were originally composed in between 2007 and 2017 and which have been reworked while featuring multiple guest artists.

Content: Porch Nap is one of those noise surgeons, collecting sounds and noises that will be next manipulated and transformed into a very experimental- and abstract sound dimension. From long-during and somewhat irritating sonic waves to repetitive electronic loops to dark noises “Antidot” also reveals a kind of primitive technoid approach.

Multiple cuts are featuring guest artists (mainly Russians) such as Fedor Svolotch, Kryptogen Rundfunk, Brompton’s Cocktail, Alexei Borisov and American artist Phillip Klingler (aka PBK). Last, but not least there’s a remix made by Alexander Zaitsev.

+ + + : If you like pure sonic experimentation and improvisation, this is the kind of album that will for sure catch your attention. It all remains an extreme listening although quite diversified. I especially like the somewhat techno-driven “Non-Linear Bass Metronome” and the more accessible “Granular Liminal Beat” feat. Alexei Borisov. This is for sure an opportunity to discover a rather unknown Russian artist totally devoted to experimental sound arts.

– – – : Some sequences are pretty repetitive and becoming irritating after a while. That’s also because of the improvised format of this production, which will for sure remain accessible for a restricted number of listeners.

Conclusion: Porch Nap is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most experimental artists I’ve been invited to discover on Zhelezobeton. I can’t affirm to be fan of such experimental artists although I’ve to admit this album has been preceded by a lot of efforts and sound treatments.

Best songs: Non-Linear Bass Metronome”, “Granular Liminal Beat feat. Alexei Borisov”.

Rate: (5).

Artist: www.fulldozer.ru/artists/porch_nap

Label: www.zhb.radionoise.ru / www.facebook.com/zhbrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, industrial, experimental, dark-ambient, electro-minimal.

Background/Info: David Lynch fans and especially the “Twin Peaks”-ones will directly recognize the legendary extract ‘The Owls Are Not what They Seem’. Russian label Zhelezobeton previously released the sampler “Now It’s Dark”, which already was a tribute to the legendary filmmaker. This new tribute features mainly remixes from these songs. Most of the bands are featured with two cuts.

Bands: Reutoff, Sal Solaris, Kryptogen Rundfunk, Anthesteria, Peter Theremin, Wunderblock, Light Collapse, Povarovo ao.

Content: This is a quite diversified compilation featuring a total amount of 25 tracks. Most of the bands are hailing from Russia. This sampler is an invitation to discover a varied selection of music tracks inspired by the work of David Lynch and transposed into different kinds of music.

+ + + : I like the concept, but the main strength of this album definitely appears to be the discovery of less familiar and simply unknown music projects. The IDM orientated cuts are pretty inspired and I especially want to tip the track of Relic Radiation remixed by Sal Solaris. Another noticeable cut is the one by Povarovo remixed by Bionoid. I also want to mention another track of Relic Radiation remixed by Alex Schultz, which moves into electro-minimalism. The IDM tracks clearly are the best exponent of this sampler.

– – – : Diversity creates a lack of coherence between some tracks. It’s quite strange to hear a totally industrial and experimental cut as an ode to David Lynch while other cuts are definitely more electro- and even dance-like. On the other side it also stands for the work of Lynch, which often is hard to seize.

Conclusion: This is a noticeable compilation, which I absolutely recommend. It will give you the opportunity to discover a bunch of ‘new’ bands, but still many cool cuts. I would like to know what David Lynch would think about it….

Best bands: Relic Radiation, Povarovo, Krytogen Rundfunk, Light Collapse.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.zhb.radionoise.ru / www.facebook.com/zhbrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, industrial-electronics, soundscape.

Background/Info: Kryptogen Rundfunk is a Russian solo project driven by Zhelezobeton-founder Artyom Ostapchuk. He’s also involved in other projects such as Hattifnatter, Govorit Radio Kosmos and Lunar Abyss. “Liquid Circuits” is the second complete album by Kryptogen Rundfunk, which also is the first ones since “22.SZ” (2004).

Content: The sound universe of Kryptogen Rundfunk moves in between industrial music and experimental soundscapes. It sounds pretty ambient-like while revealing a passion for analogue sound treatments. The tracks are supported with overwhelming, cold atmospheres and heavy sound blasts. The tracks have been accomplished by numerous field recordings (or samplings), which sometimes creates an impression of improvisation.

+ + + : “Liquid Circuits” reveals an impressive arsenal of sounds and noises. This artist likes decomposing and recomposing sounds. It creates a kind of noise-scape weaved into mysterious atmospheres. “Iridescence” is a great cut in the genre. The opening piece is another attention grabber, which also accentuates the ambient character of the work giving the impression of moving into a surreal- and somewhat abandoned imaginary world.

– – – : The somewhat improvised aspect of the work is not exactly my favorite and that’s why “Liquid Circuits” will be more pleasing to real experimental lovers in search of improvisation.

Conclusion: Kryptogen Rundfunk is a kind of sonic anatomy exploring a wide range of electronic sounds and noises.

Best songs: “Iridescence”, “Subaudition Coils”, “Vibroseis”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/kryptogenrundfunk

Label: www.zhb.radionoise.ru / www.facebook.com/zhbrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com