Saturday, April 24, 2010

Nexus - 6 - Too Late To Tease Out Now On Black Montanas!


Nexus - 6 - Too Late To Tease
Featuring original mix & remixes by: Equitant, Jonathann Cast.

Preview and purchase here

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Kaball - New Star (The Remixes) Out Now On Black Montanas!


Out Now On Black Montanas!

Kaball - New Star (The Remixes) BM103
Featuring original mix + remixes by Equitant, Darank, Salamander, Strange Connection.

Preview and purchase here

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Interview with Equitant @ EINE TASSE JÄGER

EINE TASSE JÄGER: Interview with Equitant

Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Interview with Equitant

For many, Equitant is known through outstandingly great, monotonic, hard beating EBM tracks "Körperwärme" and "Mekanik". Last year Equitant created a new project, a collaboration with Yasmin Gate, which presented tracks of the same quality. This time with great female vocals, which being a rare thing in old school EBM, Yasmin fits this music extremely well. In both Equitant and Equitant & Yasmin Gate projects you can hear what is some of the hardest beats in old school EBM genre, with a touch of old school techno, and a great deal of hard energy stemming from Nitzer Ebb's "That Total Age" album. Being the only old school EBM artist from the US, Equitant stands out in modern EBM scene with its own well-developed sound, and receives an additional amount of Eine Tasse Jäger worship! It is in order with an interview - and while you read it, listen to Equitant's myspace player - and, oh great Jägerbottle forbid!, try to resist go on looking for a sledgehammer to smash things with, in rhythm. Or (stomp)dance, if that is more your thing. Or just nod your head in accordance to the beats, if you are shamefully lazy.


1TJ: Equitant has existed for a long time, going as far back as 1993. Can you shortly tell the history of this project?

Equitant: Equitant was formed around the same time I was doing another side project band called “Equimanthorn” in 1993. This was very dark ritual style synth music, and very experimental. I wanted to do something on my own with no other members, something that was just a synthesizer and myself. So I set out to write and record a few demos...it was nothing like my music today. It was more or less synth music in the style of Tangerine Dream or Mort Garson, a dark Tangerine Dream with some vocal narrations over the sounds. It was all very “movie sound track” oriented. After 1994 nothing was done with my solo work. It was not until 1999 that I started making electronic music with drum machines, and beats…techno oriented.

1TJ: You were in thrash metal band Absu, which is musically different from Equitant. Did your experience in Absu influence Equitant musically?

Equitant: Not really. Though it did give me the experience of the whole "writing music process”, working with members and the music business in general. Doing extreme Speed Metal/Black Metal is far from doing electronic music. But, the 2 do have some similarities, the heaviness and the aggression; and both are darker forms of music. Those are 2 things very much in common with these forms of music.

1TJ: What music do you listen to, in general?

Equitant: I started out listening to Punk Rock in the 80’s, then discovered metal, then 70's progressive rock/art rock etc. In the early 90's the two that really opened the doors to electronic music for me were Kraftwerk and Laibach. These days it is mainly electronic music that I listen to, electro, EBM, techno, italodisco etc. Any electronic music from the 80’s is always great!

1TJ: What influences the music you create for Equitant?

Equitant: Kraftwerk, Nitzer Ebb, Depeche Mode...the earlier material of these three I prefer the most.

1TJ: You run Black Montanas label entirely alone? Can you tell us about this label in general in a few words? What is its vision?

Equitant: I do run the label alone, and it’s very hard work, but totally worth it. Black Montanas originally started as a magazine in the early 90's, and then became my label for early Equitant demos in 2002. In 2007 it became strictly a digital Internet label. The label provides worldwide digital distribution and representation for independent artists of an electro, techno, EBM and experimental variety. We are distributed worldwide through: Black Montanas Mp3 Shop, The Reliquary and Black Leather Records. You can find all the releases on itunes, amazon, emusic, rhapsody, junodownload + many more. The vision is just to expose people to some very good underground electronic music!

1TJ: How did you come up with the collaboration project between Equitant and Yasmin Gate?

Equitant: Of course I was a fan of her past project "Dirty Princess". I first got in contact with Yasmin through "Red Industrie" (Mexico). They wanted me to do a remix of "Electro Body" that featured Yasmin on vocals. So ELITE! and myself both did remixes for this track and released it on Black Montanas. We wrote the songs from the ground up, since Red Industrie did not send us any samples for the remix, only Yasmin's vocal track. So we gave the song a nice EBM feel. After this Yasmin and I became good friends. I had been working on demos for some new tracks, just a few loops. So I sent these to her and she did the vocals, lyrics and named the song "That's All". I then re-worked and re-wrote the song from these few loops and her voice. We then decided to release it as "Equitant & Yasmin Gate", and not just "Equitant". I also produced a song "You Know What I Want" for her debut album that will be out on Space Factory Records (France). Along with other collaborators: T Raumschmiere, Ikki, Douglas McCarthy, Migue Garcia and Petra Flur. Look out for it!

1TJ: Do you have more future plans for Equitant & Yasmin Gate?

Equitant: We plan to do a new EP maybe this summer, if we are not too busy. Time will tell I guess. We did just release a remix release of artists remixing "That's All" on Black Montanas called “That’s All The Remixes”. Some very good remixes by Adriano Canzian, Mini, The Crime, The Crime & Yan Sizov, Kaball, Salamander, Darank, Fabrique, Cute Heels, Ciudad 70, Strange Connection, C. Denza, Jonathann Cast, Lethargy, Ruben Montesco, The Blisters Boyz, Struck 9, Jauzas The Shining and Heko.

1TJ: And general future plans for Equitant?

Equitant: Right now I am working on a few new remixes. After this I will stop work on remixes and the label to start my 4th full-length album. It will be a long process, at least 8 months to write. So I am looking forward to it.

1TJ: Equitant is more or less the only old school EBM band from the US, that we are familiar with here in Europe. How is old school EBM scene in the US?

Equitant: Heh, I don't know of any good old school EBM from the states. Europe is the capital of this style of music! Texas does have a great EBM label about an hour from my city, in Austin Texas, "Sigsaly Transmissions". A very good label with: AUTODAFEH, K-BEREIT, IMPULSE CONTROL, NTRSN, PORTION CONTROL, RED FLAG, VOID KAMPF, XP8.

1TJ: Are you going to come to Europe to perform live someday?

Equitant: I do hope to come to Europe one day again...the last time I was in Europe was 1997, its been too long.!! Maybe this year I will return once again. I hope so. I have had some offers, but noting for sure yet. Thanks for the interview!

www.myspace.com/equitantmusik
www.myspace.com/blackmontanasnetlabel

So here's a few cups of Jäger in hope of seeing Equitant bring his hard beats to let's say, Familientreffen!

View original post here

Monday, April 5, 2010

Black Montanas / Black Leather

What is Black Montanas ?

The birth of Black Montanas began in 1992 as a music magazine dedicated to the dark extreme music know as “Black Metal”. Founded by Equitant and Proscriptor, the first and “only” issue was well received amongst the worldwide Black Metal underground.

After the first issue was released, Equitant and Proscriptor made the decision to discontinue the idea of a magazine due to endless effort and time it takes to keep such a publication going. The magazine then transformed into a distribution company for Equitant’s early releases from 1992 into early 2003.

Today Black Montanas has transformed once again into a internet label helping to provide worldwide digital distribution and representation for independent artists of an Electro, Techno, EBM and Experimental variety.


What Is Black Leather Records?

Black Leather is an independent music label created in Bogota, Colombia and is dedicated to the production, distribution and promotion of national and international artists from de global electro scene and musical tendencies like EBM, techno, cold wave, minimal synth, new wave, disco etc... BLR offers services like recording, mixing, mastering, and musical production, the distribution and sale of digital audio, graphic design, event promotions, bookings and merchandising. The label has more than 30 digital releases without disrespecting the warm sound and conceptual validity of vinyl. Its objective is to have international recognition by showing new alternatives and concepts related de the management of the independent industry of vanguard electronic music.

Black Leather Records and Black Montanas :

Digital releases from Black Montanas are distributed by The Reliquary (via world wide major digital distributors) and Black Leather Records (via Junodownload)


www.blackmontanas.com
www.blackleather-records.com

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Equitant Interview - H2H4U Radio Show (be.radio France) July 2009


Equitant Interview - H2H4U Radio Show (be.radio France) July 2009

Q1 Could You describe what are Black Montanas visions regarding emerging artists?

(E) Yes, you are right with this vision! And it is certainly is a full time job. I am the only one that is running the label; so I handle everything from the mastering, promotion, cover designs and web design. The label actually started out as a magazine in 1992. Dedicated to extreme metal music known as Black Metal. After only 2 issues we decided to end the publication, due to the endless time and effort it took to keep such a publication going.
I then resurrected the name Black Montanas as a label in 2001. Releasing much of my early Equitant releases as demos.

In 2007 I decided to go further with the Black Montanas vision as a digital Internet label and sign artists I liked and felt needed exposure in the underground electronic scene. We do focus on all forms of electronic music. From experimental, techno, EBM and electro. All of our releases you can find at the Black Montanas mp3 shop. Or any major download sites, such as itunes, rhapsody, emusic, amazon.com, napster etc…we also license some of our releases through the Colombian digital label Black Leather Records. Those can be found at Junodownload.com.

Q2 Equitant is also a DJ, can you tell us more about the general spirit of your DJ Set and the parties where you are invited?

(E) Well, I am not a DJ really. My strength is in producing mainly. When I do play live its a live PA set. Laptop, mixer, a very simple but effective set up. I will play Equitant originals and remixes I have done, plus remixes other artist have done of my music. I have only done one real “DJ style set”. This was last year in Bogotá Colombia, and it was a set consisting of Black Montanas artists only. I would like to do more djing one day, but my heart is just in producing these days. Producing and live PA sets….

Q3 What do you think about MP3 and virtual DJing?

(E) I certainly prefer vinyl djing, but this is a dying art here in the states it looks like. Most of the djs I play with in Texas use this form of “djing”, only using mp3s. I guess it’s a change in the times. mp3s are easy to get, and cheap.

We hope one day to start printing CDS and vinyl with Black Montanas. Though our finances are very limited these days. That is our next goal though, having 3 forms of releases, mp3, CD and vinyl.

Q4 On Black Montanas Label we can find numerous french electronic music artists production, EP, Can you Tell us more about Your French Ear Attraction?

(E) I have been a long time fan of the “French sound”. There is just something about it…
I guess the first French artist I was into was Laurent Garnier back in 1997 with the album “30”. Then I heard some of the early Gigolo releases with David Carretta and Terrance Fixmer. I was really drawn to this sound. It was like none other. I wanted a good amount of French artists on Black Montanas, so we found quite a lot that would join the label, like MILLIMETRIC, NÖVÖ, FRANCK KARTELL, KATELECTRO, OTHER-ASPECT, THE BREAKWATERS, JONATHANN CAST, KORPORATION, JAUZAS THE SHINING etc…

Q5 Can you tell us more about your passion regarding the science of physic and Astronomy? I will love that you describe us the Elite! Sound and Elite! Black Montanas Productions.

(E) Astronomy? Hmmm you must be talking about Starchaser Network. This was really just an image for us; we are fans of space, space travel and science fiction. Nothing more really. Regarding the sounds of Elite! This is pure old style EBM! And the top seller on Black Montanas. His sound is influenced by DAF and other old EBM artists. So far we have released 3 albums with Elite! He has done a few remixes for Equtant and we are planning an Elite/Equitant project together in the future. No title for the project yet though.

Q6 What Is Starchaser Network project? How do you create together? And most of all Do you think we could hear some new tracks with Equitant | Martinis as a singer soon?

(E) The Starchaser Network is a project with my old band mate Proscrptor from Absu (a metal band I was in for 12 years in the 90’s) and a friend from Sweden “Victorious”. It is more or less a project we did just for fun, nothing serious really. Its just electro-trash is what I call it. I don’t think another album will ever be released from this project…we all have 1000 other things going on at this time. So, that one album will be it I am sure.

Q7 Could you describe the spirit of this EP regarding the music but also about your feelings regards society in 2005?

(E) The “Hauptstadt” EP was the fallow up to my album “Konstruckteur” in 2005. I was listening to a lot of German electro/techo like, Alter Ego and Anthony Rother. I used a lot of old analog synths on it; I was going for a very raw sound there, one track is more or less experimental… My sounds have changed very much since then. I still like that old stuff though.

Thank you so much for the interview! Feel free to visit us at www.blackmontanas.com we have 2 new releases out now, Equitant – Dynamism and Red Industrie feat. Yasmin Gate – Electro Body. Thanks!

Thank you Ray for sharing with us your passion and vision...Hope you the best to come.
With much much respect friend.

http://h2h4u.blogspot.com