block 4 stops shipping

Due to the new regulations in EU concerning packaging recycling (PPWR, which we welcome) and the need to register in any EU country for a fee to report packaging (EPR, impossible for us), the ever rising postage costs while lowering the quality of service and the random tariff of the day we decided to stop any shipping. Every sale was actually a loss already (we were never in for the money) but now it doesn't make any sense anymore. We concentrate our physical sales via distributors and shops and of course you can buy our records on our events and concerts. Digital downloads remain available through Bandcamp.

Notstandskomitee remixes AU2PILOT

Notstandskomitee made a remix for Aalborgs electronic act AU2PILOT, released on the album Fatamorgana - Remixed on the label NOIZ, available as download or CD-R.
https://autofilter.bandcamp.com/album/au2pilot-fatamorgana-remixed

new Notstandskomitee album this year

Seems that Malte Steiners Industrial / IDM project Notstandskomitee has enough tracks together for a new album. block 4 suggests a CD this year. Not sure if we make it before the summer. Notstandskomitee is now focusing on the creation of the technical platform for upcoming audiovisual concerts.

Meanwhile check out the backcatalog:

https://notstandskomitee.bandcamp.com

new Aalborg mix tape on Noiz

The new Aalborg based label Noiz released a mixtape, inclusive tracks from Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen and Elektronengehirn:

Also check out the related exhibition at XM3 if you are in Aalborg or listen to the new Webradio:

https://xm3.gallery/xm3radionoiz/

Elektronengehirn: Hardware reviews

The new Elektronengehirn album Hardware was reviewed on Nitestylez and in Vital Weekly issue 1424

new Elektronengehirn album Hardware

Elektronengehirn released a new album Hardware on block 4, as download and first time for Elektronengehirn since the 2001 album e/a, in physical form as CD, as hardware.

Malte Steiner initiated Elektronengehirn in 1996 as an experiment to create music exclusively using software-based sound synthesis. Elektronengehirn is an old-school term from the 60s for computers, when they were referred to as electronic brains. What sounds trivial today was, back then, a pretty radical idea, especially when one lacked access to the computational resources of institutions like universities. Computer sound synthesis for the masses was in its infancy, and not much was possible in real time. Initially, Steiner used Csound in non-real-time mode to create complex soundscapes. Later, with more powerful computers, he also employed Pure Data and Max/MSP, which both run strictly in real time.

Meanwhile, block 4 studio added more and more hardware, like the ever-growing Eurorack Modular system since 2002. It became silly to ignore all the equipment and not incorporate it into the electro-acoustic world of Elektronengehirn. With the album 'Hardware,' it was time to break with the original concept and combine all the possibilities: software and hardware, digital and analog, virtual and physical.

Side-Line reviews

Side-Line made nice reviews the block 4 releases THX 1971: Minimal ist meine Wahl and Notstandskomitee: The Doomsday Layout

An interview with Malte Steiner is in the works.

Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen new CD and concert at Lasher Fest

block 4 released the new album compounds by Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen as download and limited edition CD. The album consists of tracks created and produced between 2015 and 2023 in Fljótstunga & Seyðisfjörður (IS), Berlin (DE), Aalborg (DK), and Helsinki (FI). As an album, it moves across the conceptual, to intensity, noise and silence where each composition embody multiple entities, as compounds, in both their sounding and wording.

Madsen performs a concert at the Lasher 23 Fest at Musikkens Hus Aalborg (DK) with condensation , an electroacoustic noise performance on the 16. September, 18:00.

The Doomsday Layout review

Nice review on Nitestylez of the current Notstandskomitee album The Doomsday Layout:

http://www.nitestylez.de/2023/07/notstandskomitee-doomsday-layout-block4.html

new Notstandskomitee album out

The new Notstandskomitee album is out. The Doomsday Layout, available as download or limited edition CD in Digipack. Dystopian, between IDM and Industrial. The soundtrack for these times.

THX 1971 Minimal ist meine Wahl released

block 4 presents the latest tracks of the German Minimalsynth project THX 1971 from Augsburg, either as download or limited edition (300 copies) 12" EP Minimal Ist Meine Wahl with 45rpm. Minimal melodies, synthetic sounds, robotic lyrics. Can't get more minimalistic.

https://block4label.bandcamp.com/album/minimal-ist-meine-wahl

Elektronengehirn releases another exclusive track

Elektronengehirn contributed the exclusive track Steam Solenoid Valve to this compilation, it is track 6:

https://splittingsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/decade-va-ssr-rr-0227

Elektronengehirn on compilation

Elektronengehirn contributed to this electroacoustic compilation, the exclusive Machine Expressions, track 11.

The next Elektronengehirn concert is 24. March at Oksasenkatu 11, Helsinki FI

https://mahorka.bandcamp.com/album/intent-2023-sehnsucht

Notstandskomitee remixes TET

If you happen to like EBM you might enjoy the remix Notstandskomitee did a while ago for the Hamburg act TET Travailleur En Trance, which they now released along their single Cybertronic Man, its the 3. track, the Augmented Body Mix:
https://tet-ebm.bandcamp.com/album/cybertronic-man-digital-12

TMS first official album ntsc

For the end of the year here something special, the first official album of the noise project TMS by Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen and Malte Steiner. Originally produced in July 2017 it was played fully at the US TV show Mysteries Of UB, but went into development hell after that, the planned release on another label never happened so finally block 4 stepped in. TMS moved on and recorded many more pieces and we have exciting news soon.

https://tmsnoise.bandcamp.com/album/ntsc

new Notstandskomitee track released

Notstandskomitee submitted track 14 of this free compilation, the exclusive track World Without Balance

new Notstandskomitee album out

A new Notstandskomitee online album is out on the Brazil netlabel Plataforma Recs. Hiding In Plain Sight contains 17 new tracks from 2011-2022

https://plataformarecs.bandcamp.com/album/notstandskomitee-hiding-in-plain-sight

new Elektronengehirn composition on compilation

Elektronengehirn has submitted a new electroacoustic composition based on processed Japanese TV shows from the 70s to the Cut-Up compilation, its track 59, TohoBattler.

The full compilation:

https://thechurchofnoisygoat.bandcamp.com/album/cut-up-a-music-compilation-in-honor-of-william-s-burroughs

Vital Weekly reviews Alles Muß Raus

Vital Weekly reviewed Akustikkopplers album Alles Muß Raus in their issue 1337 and featured it in their podcast .
http://www.vitalweekly.net/1337.html

Unboxing Akustikkoppler

 Only a few days left to preorder the new Akustikkoppler album Alles Muß raus on 12" Vinyl for a reduced price. Some copies already have been sent to DJs and reviewers, and they love it. Baze.Djunkiii from Hamburg made even an unboxing video: