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Monday, March 3, 2025
Introduction to the Guidebook
Hello sub-cultural traveler,
and welcome to the unoffischial Fischkopf Records guidebook.
This guidebook serves three (or more) purposes:
-to provide information and resources for those who just stumbled upon this very label - and direly crave for more!
-the "old dogs" who know the tracks, the releases... but maybe are looking for some extra "in-depth" information as well.
Because you can't catch a fischkopf in shallow water, right?
-to generally raise awareness about the fascinating hardcore techno subculture of the 90s (and beyond) and its myriads of artists, labels, locations...
In this guidebook, you can find:
-An extensive introduction to and history of the label
-Reviews and ratings of all the records and tracks released by the label.
-Lots of extra content and information
So... without further ado... go ahead and dive right in!
Credits: This is an unofficial e-book not directly affiliated with the label and its personnel.
We just want to spread the word!
Unless otherwise noted, all texts have been written by Sönke Moehl aka Low Entropy.
Contact: low.entropy.80@gmail.com
Any feedback, criticism, comments, remarks are welcome.
version 0.97
The Story Of Fischkopf
fischkopf first caught my awareness when it was mentioned on the old DHR website ca. 1996 on the haywire tree of sites. they wrote, relating to DHR, that labels with 'similar' ideas had sprung up in other cities as berlin, for example fischkopf in hamburg. it was not long ago that i discovered the hardcore / experimental world, and was completely in love with it, so i was pretty excited; a label from that scene, with that sound, here in hamburg, where i live? i immediately tried to find out more, and got to know fischkopf records operated from a store here in hamburg called container records, for records and CDs of all kinds techno; i think they had one of the largest sections for hardcore only in europe, at least this side of rotterdam. multipara's label discographies webpage - he had one area solely for fischkopf - provided me with further information.
but now, let's cut the introduction, and get to the basics.
fischkopf was started in 1994 by a group of people, including the operator of container records, martin, and people such as DJ Raid. the first release was done by cybermouse. in an interview it was stated that cybermouse caught the interest of the fischkopf crew as he was known for his eclectic taste in music in the container record store. this resulted in fisch 1 - cybermouse - surprise attack. the tracks on this release were done on an amiga 500, and actually first released in a diskmag called neurowaver, before they found their way on this fine 12".
the follow up was christoph de babalon's "love under will" EP. these two releases already set the way of what was to come, with their exotic, experimental approach to music that was not easily found elsewhere.
after the fourth release, the old crew disbanded. DJ Raid and others set out to create their own label (with others), Cross Fade Entertainment. the first release on the, "methods of mutilation", by somatic responses, was actually the first somatic responses EP also. it had originally planned to be released on fischkopf. also planned, but scrapped, was a fischkopf release by alec empire.
gerhard storz, called hardy, now took over the business of running fischkopf. the first release under his hands was "shortage of oxygen" by eradicator aka patric catani, one of the masterminds of the experimental and digital hardcore scene back then. what followed were releases by monoloop and lasse steen under the name of p.server, which, with their spaced out jungle and hard acid madness, showed that fischkopf could not be pinned down to one style. in this early period of fischkopf falls also the first outing by one of the most celebrated persons in experimental hardcore: joerg buchholz aka taciturne. with this release, "potpourri" EP, he also had the track which is probably the only one known to gabberists by this label; "der toten". it became a sort of "rave anthem", played on many a gabber party, and is, according to my knowledge, the best selling record of this label.
it also sometimes fetches wondrous prices on the discogs page to sell records.
cue several other later releases, and we arrive at fisch 12, "6 fragmente in der chronologie des wahnsinns". named after an independent movie, "71 fragmente einer chronologie des zufalls", it features hard hitting sonic experiments that were unseen at that point in history. you can find a more lenghty and conclusive review of this record on my blog. let's just add, that is also known to fetch wondrous bids of money on discogs.
by now it should be noted, that at that point, fischkopf had become a sort of phenomen. the "normal" hardcore scene more or less chosed to ignore most of its releases. hardy, in an interview for signal zero said, that it was actually one of his intentions, to make music that was outside the hardcore scene at that point, what he called the pcp and nordcore crowd.
so, fischkopf was actually much lesser known as many of its contemporary labels which sometimes even managed to drop compilations with their stuff in supermarkets and mainstream stores (hey, it was the hardcore heyday back then).
yet, to a smaller group of people, fischkopf was already known as being the source for brilliant, exquisite hardcore creations and sonic experimentation. so fischkopf managed to pierced many a subculture with its sound.
it is only now, it seems, that fischkopf seems to finally get wider recognition (although slowly growing), by the possibilites of the internet - or is it fading into total obscurity? only time will tell.
let's get on.
fisch 14 saw the first and only album by eradicator. tonal assault between 4/4 madness and an industrial record collection can be found here. catani actually got annoyed by the label, as they used a self-made artwork for this, instead of his own cover design.
in this middle period of fischkopf - we are in 1996 - three more important names appear on fischkopf. nawoto suzuki aka burning lazy persons, and the michelson sisters, no name and auto-psy.
lenghty reviews are due elsewhere - let's just say i consider these releases to be amongst the most important at this point of hard electronic music.
fisch 20 had amiga shock force, with an aptly named assault of "psycore kids vs rave fascists."
fisch 23 saw the master release of fischkopf. a compilation with its acts and related artists. everyone always was about the vinyl version; but, according to me, better get the 2xCD, as some of the best tracks are CD only.
again, not the time for a lenghty review, but it is the outing of some of the best artists at that date with some of their best tracks, and spans from breakcore to acidtechno, from all-out noisecore to the most calm ambient.
fisch 24 saw a release by EPC, whose items are the subject of a collectors hunt these days.
after that - it was the end. why and how fischkopf ended is not clear. did hardy fell out with the container records crew? or didn't fischkopf generate enough attention and a clear balance, in the end?
no matter what it was, the shock hit the fischkopf supporters hard.
we're in 1997 now. by the fourth quarter of 1998, a white label suddenly appeared, followed by a regular release.
fisch 25 by mathey olivers. excellent french hardcore with surreal ideas can be found here.
apparenly fischkopf was due to a relaunch? but just as it appeared again so fast, it faded away again - a shame.
the last outing was the white label of fisch 26, of which only a few test pressings seemingly existed. later, it was found out that it was likely done by cybermouse, who has also done fisch 1 - a nice and worthy ending for this great label.
this text only covers a fragment of information (or of "wahnsinn"?) about this underrated, appreciated, fantastic, groundbreaking label. much more is to be found out. it is up to you to find out more - or wait for more information to appear.
but now, let's cut the introduction, and get to the basics.
fischkopf was started in 1994 by a group of people, including the operator of container records, martin, and people such as DJ Raid. the first release was done by cybermouse. in an interview it was stated that cybermouse caught the interest of the fischkopf crew as he was known for his eclectic taste in music in the container record store. this resulted in fisch 1 - cybermouse - surprise attack. the tracks on this release were done on an amiga 500, and actually first released in a diskmag called neurowaver, before they found their way on this fine 12".
the follow up was christoph de babalon's "love under will" EP. these two releases already set the way of what was to come, with their exotic, experimental approach to music that was not easily found elsewhere.
after the fourth release, the old crew disbanded. DJ Raid and others set out to create their own label (with others), Cross Fade Entertainment. the first release on the, "methods of mutilation", by somatic responses, was actually the first somatic responses EP also. it had originally planned to be released on fischkopf. also planned, but scrapped, was a fischkopf release by alec empire.
gerhard storz, called hardy, now took over the business of running fischkopf. the first release under his hands was "shortage of oxygen" by eradicator aka patric catani, one of the masterminds of the experimental and digital hardcore scene back then. what followed were releases by monoloop and lasse steen under the name of p.server, which, with their spaced out jungle and hard acid madness, showed that fischkopf could not be pinned down to one style. in this early period of fischkopf falls also the first outing by one of the most celebrated persons in experimental hardcore: joerg buchholz aka taciturne. with this release, "potpourri" EP, he also had the track which is probably the only one known to gabberists by this label; "der toten". it became a sort of "rave anthem", played on many a gabber party, and is, according to my knowledge, the best selling record of this label.
it also sometimes fetches wondrous prices on the discogs page to sell records.
cue several other later releases, and we arrive at fisch 12, "6 fragmente in der chronologie des wahnsinns". named after an independent movie, "71 fragmente einer chronologie des zufalls", it features hard hitting sonic experiments that were unseen at that point in history. you can find a more lenghty and conclusive review of this record on my blog. let's just add, that is also known to fetch wondrous bids of money on discogs.
by now it should be noted, that at that point, fischkopf had become a sort of phenomen. the "normal" hardcore scene more or less chosed to ignore most of its releases. hardy, in an interview for signal zero said, that it was actually one of his intentions, to make music that was outside the hardcore scene at that point, what he called the pcp and nordcore crowd.
so, fischkopf was actually much lesser known as many of its contemporary labels which sometimes even managed to drop compilations with their stuff in supermarkets and mainstream stores (hey, it was the hardcore heyday back then).
yet, to a smaller group of people, fischkopf was already known as being the source for brilliant, exquisite hardcore creations and sonic experimentation. so fischkopf managed to pierced many a subculture with its sound.
it is only now, it seems, that fischkopf seems to finally get wider recognition (although slowly growing), by the possibilites of the internet - or is it fading into total obscurity? only time will tell.
let's get on.
fisch 14 saw the first and only album by eradicator. tonal assault between 4/4 madness and an industrial record collection can be found here. catani actually got annoyed by the label, as they used a self-made artwork for this, instead of his own cover design.
in this middle period of fischkopf - we are in 1996 - three more important names appear on fischkopf. nawoto suzuki aka burning lazy persons, and the michelson sisters, no name and auto-psy.
lenghty reviews are due elsewhere - let's just say i consider these releases to be amongst the most important at this point of hard electronic music.
fisch 20 had amiga shock force, with an aptly named assault of "psycore kids vs rave fascists."
fisch 23 saw the master release of fischkopf. a compilation with its acts and related artists. everyone always was about the vinyl version; but, according to me, better get the 2xCD, as some of the best tracks are CD only.
again, not the time for a lenghty review, but it is the outing of some of the best artists at that date with some of their best tracks, and spans from breakcore to acidtechno, from all-out noisecore to the most calm ambient.
fisch 24 saw a release by EPC, whose items are the subject of a collectors hunt these days.
after that - it was the end. why and how fischkopf ended is not clear. did hardy fell out with the container records crew? or didn't fischkopf generate enough attention and a clear balance, in the end?
no matter what it was, the shock hit the fischkopf supporters hard.
we're in 1997 now. by the fourth quarter of 1998, a white label suddenly appeared, followed by a regular release.
fisch 25 by mathey olivers. excellent french hardcore with surreal ideas can be found here.
apparenly fischkopf was due to a relaunch? but just as it appeared again so fast, it faded away again - a shame.
the last outing was the white label of fisch 26, of which only a few test pressings seemingly existed. later, it was found out that it was likely done by cybermouse, who has also done fisch 1 - a nice and worthy ending for this great label.
this text only covers a fragment of information (or of "wahnsinn"?) about this underrated, appreciated, fantastic, groundbreaking label. much more is to be found out. it is up to you to find out more - or wait for more information to appear.
Fischkopf Top 148: All tracks by Fischkopf Hamburg listed, ranked, and commented
Here it is.
Every track that was put out by the label Fischkopf Hamburg, from all records they released.
Listed, ordered, with a little comment / short review / description added to each one.
Note that the "chart" concept might be a bit misleading here:
Essentially, we love *all* Fischkopf tracks and think they are great. So, if a track is at number 101 or 124 in this chart, this does not mean it's a bad track - to the contrary!
It's all good stuff (but some is a little better ;)
We just thought the charts format would be a good idea; to present the label's catalogue, increase awareness of its music, and give somewhat of an overview of the material the label released.
(And some of the comments aim to be in the typical tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted attitude, and style of the 90s hardcore fanzines)
But let us begin:
1.Taciturne - Phenprocoumon
very inventive hardcore techno track. a good example of the kind of music Fischkopf Records released. commodore amiga hardcore sound. uses broken, unusual rhythms, not typical 4/4 hardcore techno sequences. very noisy and abrasive. at the same time, a "far eastern" ambient melody is used in this track, which is very calm and soothing. this creates a very interesting clash between the harsh, abrasive elements, and the calm melody.
2.Auto-Psy - Oxyde
A legendary track made by Stella Michelsen. Hardcore Techno. From France. Industrial. Raw. Surreal. Manipulated vocals. Ambient elements. Immortal.
3.No Name - Latex
Aggressive Overture produced by Poka Michelson. Extremely unorthodox. Noisy. Close to avantgarde music. Glorious.
4.Fields Of Defacement - Urticated
Acidcore. Experimental. Project by Lasse Steen. Unusual sound. Hypnotic melody. Very Techno-like.
5.Christoph De Babalon - Babylon 90210
Dreamy. Futuristic. Sci-Fi. Jungle, Breakcore. Done on an amiga 500. By a producer from Hamburg.
6.Amiga Shock Force - Keep Your Enemies Close
By cult producers from germany. Not really hardcore techno. Almost soft, calm. Use of breakbeats. Commodore Amiga sound. Digital, lofi, sizzling. Very good.
7.Cybermouse - My Dorectives
Proto-Doomcore techno track. Very unusual. Entrancing. Techno-style. Drone that gets modulated throughout the track. Mid-tempo. Use of loops. Creates a surreal feel.
8.Eradicator - You're Lieing Pig
The only breakcore track on the "Agit Prop" LP. very lo fi, very thin sound. strange sound fx, bleeps, almost videogame-like sounds. overdriven breakbeat rhythm running throughout the track. sparsely used other elements such as distorted guitars and an aggressive vocal sample. great work by Patric Catani under his "Eradicator" alias.
9.Fields Of Defacement - Bang-Bang (Live In Hamburg 96)
Live recording. Brutal. Acidcore. With gabber and general hardcore elements. Entrancing. Exalted. Shows the power of a hardcore techno live performance.
10.Taciturne - Mourning
Probably the best known track by Taciturne next to "Der Toten". was included in Manu Le Malin's "Biomechanik" compilation. Use of ambient sounds next to a midtempo, industrial hardcore techno drum. very minimal, very few elements, not even hi hats snares or other percussion apart from the drum. crispy noisy 8 bit commodore amiga sound. legendary track.
11.Eradicator - Thou Shall Kill
one of the best tracks on the agit prop LP. fast beats, guitars, synth, noises, and a strange vocal.
12.Cybermouse - Overreacting
electro beats. non four-to-the-floor rhythm. commodore amiga sound.
13.Monoloop - Underwater Trumpet
very interesting. unique early breakcore. drone, ambient sounds mixed with hard and rough breakbeats. very surreal, futuristic. this track could only have been produced in hamburg.
14.Auto-Psy - Neutron
experimental merciless distorted ambient hardcore techno.
15.Burning Lazy Persons - If The Truth Be Known
very brutal. one of the hardest by burning lazy persons. guitars and fast beats.
16.Orderly Chaos - Melt Away Love
pure ambient track. interesting, repeated melody. wonderful track.
17.No Name - Control
one of the most classic and most fierce hardcore tracks. if you haven't heard this one, you are missing out!
18.Mathey Olivier - Residential Volume
heavy and loud drums, noises, funny intro.
19.R.A.W. - Cold War Memory Nightmare
great, great early breakcore. interesting use of sounds and "melody". also a good but haunting cold-war feel.
20.EPC - Where Do You Go?
perfect hardcore track, with radar / space-transmission like sounds. very industrial.
21.Fields Of Defacement - Attached
one of the most bittersweet dark and disturbing melodies in hardcore techno. set to arrhythmic beats and fragile manipulated percussion.
22.Eradicator - Titan
included on the 90s hardcore cd compilation "mururoa test 1". truly experimental hard electronics.
23.Amiga Shock Force - Psycore Pt. 1
slow intro. amiga computer sounds. hissing, noisy, overdriven. surreal feel.
24.Taciturne - In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi
samples the chuch of satan. non 4/4 beats. slow, distorted, noisy. dark and scary.
25.Trash Enemy HQ - Pestilence
truly interesting track. acid sounds. very dark and epic melody. no real hardcore beats and rhythm. close to industrial.
26.Eradicator - Brujeria
perfect bloodthirsty "e-de cologne"-style gabber. shouts and heavy metal guitars.
27.Christoph De Babalon - Pleased With Being Alive
one of our favorite christoph de babalon tracks. pure future and cyberdelic feel. a true classic.
28.Taciturne - Der Toten
the one and only fischkopf track that became a real "hit". was in high demand in the dutch gabber scene and ended up on countless compilations.
as you probably already know this track, I don't need to describe it here :-)
29.Cybermouse - War Is Hell
maybe the most brutal track by cybermouse. early speedcore. very minimal. anti-war message.
30.M.C.P. - Overload 30303
arhythmic hardcore inferno
31.Auto-Psy - If
when i played this track, a guy once asked me "what kind of terrorist music is this?". good description!
32.Eradicator - M.C.P.
samples the movie tron. genuine 90s experimental hardcore.
33.No Name - Ydroid
Slick and without mercy.
34.Taciturne - Haematopan F
hardcore to blow your teeth out.
35.Cybermouse - Gulp
also one of cybermouse's most hardcore tracks. midtempo bounding 909 next to acid sounds.
36.Christoph De Babalon - I Own Death
the first track on his fisch 12". long, long intro. then it unleashes its full force with distorted breakbeats and a powerful melody.
37.Eradicator - Used Against Us (Remix)
Experimental gabber, ambient intro, rough sound, metal guitars. Juno hoover rave sounds. Murderous, nasty, and epic.
38.Auto-Psy - Escape
one of the most outstanding "hardcore" tracks ever. a symphony of drones, fx, noises and bassdrums. over seven minutes.
39.Burning Lazy Persons - Hyper Bitch
an early speed record. brutal and shocking.
40.No Name - Koma
so psycho, so evil, so mean. can you take it?
41.Auto-Psy - Go Out
a submarine is out of control, explosions shake the vessel, metal clanking is heard, and people scream in terror.
then the sounds fade out into the cold dark blue depths.
42.Monoloop - Underwater Feelings (Live Alone Mix)
one of the most interesting tracks on this ep. fake live act. ferocious early breakcore with sophisticated production values.
43.Monoloop - Underwater Feelings
very sweet, very relaxed ambient sounds, mixed with hard breakbeats. pianos, water splashing, whales' whistling.
44.Amiga Shock Force - 24 Hour Connection
another true amigacore classic! ruthless and heavy.
45.Cybermouse - Datenvernichtung
comparable to early french noisecore. nice and evil.
46.Taciturne - Phenylephrin-Hydrochlorid
everyone knows "mourning" and "der toten", but this one is great too. proto-doomcore with a haunting drone, then gets faster towards the end.
47.Eradicator - Worringen
Heavy track with pounding steel drums, noisy synths, screams, everything you need.
48.Eradicator - Fucking Bitch Called Walker
Is that patric screaming?
Menacing uncoventional hardcore gabber techno.
49.Cybermouse - Noishead
Early noise hardcore. The noise treatment for hardcore heads.
50.No Name - 01100010
didn't the german dance act "das modul" have a similar track title?
but this one is hardcore, for sure!
51.Cybermouse - Adrenalin Structure
first track of the first fischkopf release. epic. was first released on an commodore amiga diskette magazine.
not 4/4 hardcore, but wicked and strange electro sounds.
52.Monoloop - Chill Out
breakcore madness in between being chilled (as indicated by the piano) and being killed (as indicated by the screams).
53.M.C.P. - Overload MS 50
very aphex twin like, great experimental hardcore.
54.EPC - Autoplasie
Noisecore for your mind!
55.Burning Lazy Persons - Frd
a hammer coming down on your skull.
56.P. Server - Wires (Break)
a recording of audio wires that have been broken?
57.Fields Of Defacement - Uptight
melancholic melodic hard core tech-no?
58.EPC - R 624-2
Techno chopped up and turned into noise. Very analogue feel.
59.EPC - Persistance
Oh what a beatiful noise!
60.Eradicator - I Cum Blood
Evil experimental gabber insanity.
61.Auto-Psy - Ovoide
first track on this great ep. sounds that invoke the images of a runaway train accelerating straight to hell.
62.Auto-Psy - Andropose
the tranquil intro might give you the impression it's time to relax now, on this ep. but then the beats hammer on.
63.Eradicator - Destroy It Yourself (Remix)
March into hardcore disturbia..
64.Taciturne - Liquid Theatre
strange ambient intro. cult track.
65.M.C.P. - Overload RZ-1
hardcore machines got out of control and force people to dance to their death.
66.Auto-Psy - Clear
"null... null... null..." when i put on this record for the first time, i totally fell in love with this sound and all that followed.
67.P. Server - Ratings (Terror Unit H.Q.)
cool monotonous acidcore track.
68.M.C.P. - Overload Sigma
mental gabber up your cranium.
69.Amiga Shock Force - Sex, Mord Und Kunst
one of the fastest tracks of its era. hyperfast beats next to crazy rap samples.
70.Taciturne - Boys Don't Cry (Revisited)
robert smith would be proud!
71.No Name - Black Dream
help me. i hear voices. they are distorted. just as the drums.
72.No Name - 0.Vin .I
slowing down a bit. but not one bit less relentless.
73.Mathey Olivier - Easy Recording Aera
the last track of the last official fischkopf release. going out with a bang! and it's good-bye.
74.No Name - Kamasutra
i wonder what kamasutra technique inspires one to produce such devilish hardcore from hell like this. but then, it might be better to not find out.
75.Eradicator - Us Against Us
not as good as the revisit, but great nevertheless. tough experimental gabber.
76.Amiga Shock Force - Violent Geisha
mix between breakcore and early speedcore with an amiga feel.
77.Burning Lazy Persons - Poisoned Radio Wave
ooh, painful audio signals and overly distorted hardcore drums. i'm luving it.
78.Eradicator - Streptocock Gee
one of two true breakcore tracks patric catani did for fischkopf. excellent!
79.Taciturne - Praxis Dr. Fischer
Legendary drone-speedcore track. Doctor Fischer has the cure for you! Just go to his praxis.
80.Monoloop - The Dreamer
already a foreshadowing of the "ambient-breakcore" on fischkopf 13. epic!
81.Burning Lazy Persons - Garden Of The Permanent
this is crazy!
82.Burning Lazy Persons - Nakano Shit
man, this is some of the roughest hardcore that i ever heard.
83.EPC - Infectious Properties
these sounds bash right through your skull.
84.Fields Of Defacement - Found & Lost
Stones and flowers on the ground
We are found and lost
But love is gonna save us
85.Burning Lazy Persons - Fake
"die maschinen die maschinen die maschinen"? whatever. this machine kills!
86.Eradicator - Impulse To Destroy
the other "oversize" track on the agit prop LP. fierce drums and percussion. plenty of noise.
87.Eradicator - Distorted
Very distorted indeed! Fantastic.
88.Eradicator - Split Wide Open
Powerful radical hardcore with acid elements.
89.Burning Lazy Persons - Catastro
The overdose of noise and drums.
90.Taciturne - Krach-Aran-RMX
Now this is just krach! But a good one.
91.Eradicator - Cologne Boring M.F.
Hyperfast mental metal hardcore madness.
92.Orderly Chaos - 45m
The so real dark ambient experience.
93.Burning Lazy Persons - Kone Kane Dayone
a very very wild ride.
94.P. Server - Pulley
excellent lasse steen production. has some rave elements.
95.Amiga Shock Force - Mass Appeal Madness
one of the most "poppy" tracks on fischkopf as it samples james brown. crazy hardcore gabber.
96.Jean Bach - Tausend Stimmen
very crazy and over the top track by jean bach. heavy distortion.
97.Eradicator - Destroy It Yourself
Sepultura samples, weird noises, gabber drums - perfect!
98.Christoph De Babalon - Promise, Broken
total future psychedelic breakcore.
99.Trash Enemy H. Q. - Braintraining
noise and distortion with a painful sound without drums or anything else.
100.Taciturne - Avarie De Machine
made up of sounds of heavy machinery? great!
101.No Name - Message
we got the message and the message was clear.
102.No name - Help
get on a hardcore trip faster than light.
103.Eradicator - Starving
epic ambient intro.
104.No Name - Start E·nd
it starts and ends in torturous hardcore agony.
105.No Name - A
"a" total french insane techno track.
106.Monoloop - Second Trumpet
in style similar to the other 3 tracks on fisch 13. has a heavy jazz feel.
107.Shangoe - Army Of Darkness
interesting breakcore out of hamburg.
108.Eradicator - Agitprop Troop
interesting noise experiment.
109.Eradicator - Forkboy
early speedcore track. guitars and hyperspeed drums.
110.Taciturne - Dexpanthenol
riots of noise, distortion, and brutality.
111.Monoloop - Drum Da Style
stylish early breakcore.
112.Mathey Olivier - Second Transmission
mad scientist hardcore.
113.Mathey Olivier - Well Done!
the acid sounds from outer space invade the second part of this great french hardcore track.
well done indeed!
114.P. Server - Epigraph
lasse steen delivers with this great dark acidtechno track.
115.Taciturne - Krank
total "kranker" hardcore!
116.P. Server - Plunger
all power to the 303!
117.P. Server - Psave
legit 90s acid hardcore. rough production values, almost as if mastered from cassette tape.
118.P. Server - Dispatching
hardcore up your acid!
119.Fields Of Defacement - Dark.R
the 808 gets the full-on distortion treatment.
120.Eradicator - Enter Three Witches
one of two "oversize" tracks on the agit prop LP. on four-to-the floor beats. ambient outro.
121.Eradicator - Widerstand
noisy agit prop sounds!
122.P. Server - Banging Happening
gabber-acid.
123.Fields Of Defacement - Corkscrew
Wonderful monotonous hardcore without bleeps or melodies.
124.Amiga Shock Force - Shoot 'em Breax
A perfect early breakcore track. Hip hop and guitars.
125.Cybermouse - Obstreperous
Very experimental techno / hardcore track.
Acid like sounds, great use of percussion, and a sci-fi feel.
126.P. Server - Metal Disposition
acid gabber brutality.
127.Burning Lazy Persons - "R"
vicious nice and nasty track by nawoto suzuki.
128.Burning Lazy Persons - Dorami De Onanie (240 Vers.)
faster onanism.
129.Johnny Ego - Untitled
again an interesting hamburg breakbeat track.
130.Orderly Chaos - Pine
painful sounds and pure ambient.
131.R.A.W. - Sudden Death
the other r.a.w. track from the otaku compilation. impressive as well!
132.EPC & A.N.T.I. - Sharpomatic
noisy hardcore with a total "piss off!" attitude.
133.Burning Lazy Persons - Dorami De Onanie
onanism will give you a mental disorder that allows you to create wonderful nasty hardcore tracks like this.
134.Burning Lazy Persons - Fish Tenpuraaaaa
fish fried well, and served for this solid hardcore dish.
135.Burning Lazy Persons - Mongolian Chop
typical nawoto suzuki. mental and dangerous. awesome.
136.Burning Lazy Persons - Niko Niko Satujin Dan
ooh I'm freaking out.
137.Taciturne - Boys Don't Cry RMX
the original "remix" version. i'm also lovin' it.
138.Taciturne - Evil Dead
a kick straight to the face.
139.P. Server - Intensioner
wonderful acid techno.
140.Eradicator - Liebe Und Verbrechen
very strange and surreal gabber track.
141.Monoloop - For The Lord
monumental, experimental and exceptional breakcore with a runtime of over 7 minutes.
142.Burning Lazy Persons - Rotter…damn
funny piss take on rotterdam hardcore. includes a piano, but not in a typical happy gabber way!
143.Burning Lazy Persons - T.C.H.C.
nasty and nice.
144.Monoloop - Kills Again
a track to die for.
145.Monoloop - Free Man
noone is ever free. except the experimental hardcore resistance! (or, in this case, early breakcore).
146.Taciturne - Nightchildren RMX
lullaby of terror for the night children.
147.Taciturne - Mo Punk RMX
do you feel lucky, punk?
148.Monoloop - She's A Lion
early breakcore from hamburg
So, that's it! Over and out. Did you like our charts? Let us know!
Bang Bang Parties
There were 4 Fischkopf parties in Hamburg in the 90s, all called Bang Bang. The first one was "semi-official" and at only one time I saw a flyer for it.
Fischkopf Complete: All 25 official releases listed, described, and reviewed
This is the complementary feature to the 'Fischkopf Top 148'.
Let us commence:
Fisch001 - Cybermouse - Surprise Attack E.P.
Fisch001 - Cybermouse - Surprise Attack E.P.
A1 - Adrenalin Structure - 10:45
first track of the first fischkopf release. epic. was first released on an commodore amiga diskette magazine.
not 4/4 hardcore, but wicked and strange electro sounds.
A2 - Overreacting - 8:00
electro beats. non four-to-the-floor rhythm. commodore amiga sound.
B1 - Gulp - 7:58
also one of cybermouse's most hardcore track. midtempo bounding 909 next to acid sounds.
B2 - Noishead - 6:50
Early noise hardcore. The noise treatment for hardcore heads.
Fisch002 - Christoph De Babalon – Love Under Will EP
A1 - I Own Death
the first track on his fisch 12". long, long intro. then it unleashes its full force with distorted breakbeats and a powerful melody.
A2 - Babylon 90210
Dreamy. Futuristic. Sci-Fi. Jungle, Breakcore. Done on an amiga 500. By a producer from Hamburg.
B1 - Promise, Broken
total future psychedelic breakcore.
B2 - Pleased With Being Alive
one of our favorite christoph de babalon tracks. pure future and cyberdelic feel. a true classic.
Fisch003 - Cybermouse - Body Pack 95
A1 - My Dorectives - 9:24
Proto-Doomcore techno track. Very unusual. Entrancing. Techno-style. Drone that gets modulated throughout the track. Mid-tempo. Use of loops. Creates a surreal feel.
A2 - War Is Hell - 5:35
maybe the most brutal track by cybermouse. early speedcore. very minimal. anti-war message.
B1 - Obstreperous - 5:30
Very experimental techno / hardcore track.
Acid like sounds, great use of percussion, and a sci-fi feel.
B2 - Datenvernichtung - 7:45
comparable to early french noisecore. nice and evil.
Fisch004 - M.C.P. - Missunderstood Hardcore Machines Vol.1 EP
A1 - Overload MS-50 4:53
very aphex twin like, great experimental hardcore.
A2 - Overload Sigma 5:02
mental gabber up your cranium.
A3 - Overload 30303 4:18
arhythmic hardcore inferno
A4 - Overload RZ-1 4:22
hardcore machines got out of control and force people to dance to their death.
Fisch005 - Eradicator - Shortage Of Oxygen EP
A1 - Starving
epic ambient intro.
A2 - Destroy It Yourself
Sepultura samples, weird noises, gabber drums - perfect!
A3 - Titan
included on the 90s hardcore cd compilation "mururoa test 1". truly experimental hard electronics.
B1 - Liebe Und Verbrechen
very strange and surreal gabber track.
B2 - M.C.P.
samples the movie tron. genuine 90s experimental hardcore.
B3 - Destroy It Yourself (Remix)
March into hardcore disturbia..
Fisch006 - Monoloop – Drum Da Style
A - Drum Da Style - 9:05
stylish early breakcore.
B1 - Kills Again - 7:08
a track to die for.
B2 - She's A Lion - 6:29
early breakcore from hamburg
Fisch007 - P. Server – EP Vol. 1 - Served Strange Effects
A1 - Plunger
all power to the 303!
A2 - Metal Position
acid gabber brutality.
B1 - Dispatching
hardcore up your acid!
B2 - Psave
legit 90s acid hardcore. rough production values, almost as if mastered from cassette tape.
Fisch 008 - Taciturne – Potpourri EP
A1 - Evil Dead
a kick straight to the face.
A2 - Nightchildren RMX
lullaby of terror for the night children.
A3 - Boys Don't Cry RMX
the original "remix" version. i'm also lovin' it.
B1 - Mo Punk RMX
do you feel lucky, punk?
B2 - Der Toten
the one and only fischkopf track that became a real "hit". was in high demand in the dutch gabber scene and ended up on countless compilations.
as you probably already know this track, I don't need to describe it here :-)
B3 - Krach-Aran-RMX
Now this is just krach! But a good one.
B4 - Krank
total "kranker" hardcore!
Fisch009 - Monoloop – Free Man
A1 - Free Man
noone is ever free. except the experimental hardcore resistance! (or, in this case, early breakcore).
B1 - The Dreamer
already a foreshadowing of the "ambient-breakcore" on fischkopf 13. epic!
B2 - For The Lord
monumental, experimental and exceptional breakcore with a runtime of over 7 minutes.
Fisch010 - Eradicator - I Cum Blood EP
A1 - I Cum Blood
Evil experimental gabber insanity.
A2 - Us Against Us
not as good as the revisit, but great nevertheless. tough experimental gabber.
B1 - Brujeria
perfect bloodthirsty "e-de cologne"-style gabber. shouts and heavy metal guitars.
B2 - Cologne Boring M.F.
Hyperfast mental metal hardcore madness.
B3 - Streptocock Gee
one of two true breakcore tracks patric catani did for fischkopf. excellent!
Fisch 011 - P. Server – Second Serve Of Effects
A1 - Epigraph
lasse steen delivers with this great dark acidtechno track.
A2 - Wires (Break)
a recording of audio wires that have been broken?
A3 - Banging Happening
gabber-acid.
B1 - Pulley
excellent lasse steen production. has some rave elements.
B2 - Intensioner
wonderful acid techno.
Fisch 012 - Taciturne – 6 Fragmente In Der Chronologie Des Wahnsinns
A1 - Mourning
Probably the best known track by Taciturne next to "Der Toten". was included in Manu Le Malin's "Biomechanik" compilation. Use of ambient sounds next to a midtempo, industrial hardcore techno drum. very minimal, very few elements, not even hi hats snares or other percussion apart from the drum. crispy noisy 8 bit commodore amiga sound. legendary track.
A2 - Dexpanthenol
riots of noise, distortion, and brutality.
A3 - Boys Don't Cry (Revisited)
robert smith would be proud!
B1 - Phenylephrin-Hydrochlorid
everyone knows "mourning" and "der toten", but this one is great too. proto-doomcore with a haunting drone, then gets faster towards the end.
B2 - Haematopan F
hardcore to blow your teeth out.
B3 - Phenprocoumon
very inventive hardcore techno track. a good example of the kind of music Fischkopf Records released. commodore amiga hardcore sound. uses broken, unusual rhythms, not typical 4/4 hardcore techno sequences. very noisy and abrasive. at the same time, a "far eastern" ambient melody is used in this track, which is very calm and soothing. this creates a very interesting clash between the harsh, abrasive elements, and the calm melody.
Fisch013 - Monoloop - Monoloop III
A1 - Underwater Feelings
very sweet, very relaxed ambient sounds, mixed with hard breakbeats. pianos, water splashing, whales' whistling.
A2 - Underwater Trumpet
very interesting. unique early breakcore. drone, ambient sounds mixed with hard and rough breakbeats. very surreal, futuristic. this track could only have been produced in hamburg.
B1 - Second Trumpet
in style similar to the other 3 tracks on fisch 13. has a heavy jazz feel.
B2 - Underwater Feelings (Live Alone Mix)
one of the most interesting tracks on this ep. fake live act. ferocious early breakcore with sophisticated production values.
Fisch014 - Eradicator - Agit Prop
A1 - Used Against Us (Remix)
Experimental gabber, ambient intro, rough sound, metal guitars. Juno hoover rave sounds. Murderous, nasty, and epic.
A2 - Distorted
Very distorted indeed! Fantastic.
A3 - Agitprop Troop
interesting noise experiment.
B1 - Enter Three Witches
one of two "oversize" tracks on the agit prop LP. on four-to-the floor beats. ambient outro.
B2 - Impulse To Destroy
the other "oversize" track on the agit prop LP. fierce drums and percussion. plenty of noise.
C1 - Split Wide Open
Powerful radical hardcore with acid elements.
C2 - You're Lieing Pig
The only breakcore track on the "Agit Prop" LP. very lo fi, very thin sound. strange sound fx, bleeps, almost videogame-like sounds. overdriven breakbeat rhythm running throughout the track. sparsely used other elements such as distorted guitars and an aggressive vocal sample. great work by Patric Catani under his "Eradicator" alias.
C3 - Worringen
Heavy track with pounding steel drums, noisy synths, screams, everything you need.
D1 - Fucking Bitch Called Walker
Is that patric screaming?
Menacing uncoventional hardcore gabber techno.
D2 - Forkboy
early speedcore track. guitars and hyperspeed drums.
D3 - Widerstand
noisy agit prop sounds!
D4 - Thou Shall Kill
one of the best tracks on the agit prop LP. fast beats, guitars, synth, noises, and a strange vocal.
Fisch 015 Burning Lazy Persons – Fart E.P.
A1 Dorami De Onanie 4:08
onanism will give you a mental disorder that allows you to create wonderful nasty hardcore tracks like this.
A2 Dorami De Onanie (240 Vers.) 3:10
faster onanism.
A3 Kone Kane Dayone 3:49
a very very wild ride.
A4 Garden Of The Permanent 3:05
this is crazy!
B1 Mongolian Chop 3:33
typical nawoto suzuki. mental and dangerous. awesome.
B2 Hyper Bitch 2:29
an early speed record. brutal and shocking.
B3 Niko Niko Satujin Dan 3:43
ooh I'm freaking out.
B4 Fish Tenpuraaaaa 3:29
fish fried well, and served for this solid hardcore dish.
Fisch016 - No Name – Strike
A1 - Black Dream
help me. i hear voices. they are distorted. just as the drums.
A2 - Message
we got the message and the message was clear.
A3 - Help
get on a hardcore trip faster than light.
A4 - 0.Vin .I
slowing down a bit. but not one bit less relentless.
B1 - 01100010
didn't the german dance act "das modul" have a similar track title?
but this one is hardcore, for sure!
B2 - Start E·nd
it starts and ends in torturous hardcore agony.
B3 - A
"a" total french insane techno track.
Fisch017 - Fields Of Defacement – Desorientatet E.P.
A1 - Found & Lost 5:54
Stones and flowers on the ground
We are found and lost
But love is gonna save us
A2 - Attached 3:27
one of the most bittersweet dark and disturbing melodies in hardcore techno. set to arrhythmic beats and fragile manipulated percussion.
A3 - Corkscrew 4:55
Wonderful monotonous hardcore without bleeps or melodies.
B1 - Uptight 4:16
melanchonic melodic hard core tech-no?
B2 - Dark.R 4:32
the 808 gets the full-on distortion treatment.
B3 - Urticated 4:40
Experimental Acidcore by this Lasse Steen project. Unusual sound. Hypnotic melody. Very Techno-like.
Fisch018 - Auto-Psy - Arachnide
A1 - Clear
"null... null... null..." when i put on this record for the first time, i totally fell in love with this sound and all that followed.
A2 - If
when i played this track, a guy once asked me "what kind of terrorist music is this?". good description!
B1 - Neutron
experimental merciless distorted ambient hardcore techno.
B2 - Escape
one of the most outstanding "hardcore" tracks ever. a symphony of drones, fx, noises and bassdrums. over seven minutes.
Fisch019 - No Name – Les Loups Des Trois Lunes
A1 - Koma 5:40
so psycho, so evil, so mean. can you take it?
A2 - Ydroid 6:34
Slick and without mercy.
B1 - Control 4:16
one of the most classic and most fierce hardcore tracks. if you haven't heard this one, you are missing out!
B2 - Latex 3:41
Aggressive Overture produced by Poka Michelson. Extremely unorthodox. Noisy. Close to avantgarde music. Glorious.
B3 - Kamasutra 4:05
i wonder what kamasutra technique inspires one to produce such devilish hardcore from hell like this. but then, it might be better to not find out.
Fisch020 - Amiga Shock Force – Psycore Kids Vs Rave-Fascist
A1 - Psycore Pt. 1
slow intro. amiga computer sounds. hissing, noisy, overdriven. surreal feel.
A2 - Mass Appeal Madness
one of the most "poppy" tracks on fischkopf as it samples james brown. crazy hardcore gabber.
B1 - Sex, Mord Und Kunst
one of the fastest tracks of its era. hyperfast beats next to crazy rap samples.
B2 - Keep Your Enemies Close
Another great track by these cult producers from germany. Not really hardcore techno. Almost soft, calm. Use of breakbeats. Commodore Amiga sound, again. Digital, lofi, sizzling. Very good.
B3 - 24 Hour Connection
another true amigacore classic! ruthless and heavy.
Fisch 021 Burning Lazy Persons – Leave Me Alone E.P.
A1 Rotter…damn 4:24
funny piss take on rotterdam hardcore. includes a piano, but not in a typical happy gabber way!
A2 Nakano Shit 3:53
man, this is some of the roughest hardcore that i ever heard.
A3 If The Truth Be Known 3:02
very brutal. one of the hardest by burning lazy persons. guitars and fast beats.
B1 Fake 3:25
"die maschinen die maschinen die maschinen"? whatever. this machine kills!
B2 Frd 3:28
a hammer coming down on your skull.
B3 T.C.H.C. 4:31
nasty and nice.
Fisch022 - Auto-Psy – Necrophage
A1 - Ovoide
first track on this great ep. sounds that invoke the images of a runaway train accelerating straight to hell.
A2 - Oxyde
A legendary track made by Stella Michelsen. Hardcore Techno. From France. Industrial. Raw. Surreal. Manipulated vocals. Ambient elements. Immortal.
B1 - Andropose
the tranquil intro might give you the impression it's time to relax now, on this ep. but then the beats hammer on.
B2 - Go Out
a submarine is out of control, explosions shake the vessel, metal clanking is heard, and people scream in terror.
then the sounds fade out into the cold dark blue depths.
Fisch23 CD - Various Artists - Otaku - Slick But Not Streamlined
1-01 Taciturne - Liquid Theatre 1:31
strange ambient intro. cult track.
1-02 Taciturne - Praxis Dr. Fischer 6:20
Legendary drone-speedcore track. Doctor Fischer has the cure for you! Just go to his praxis.
1-03 E.P.C. - Persistance 5:12
Oh what a beatiful noise!
1-04 Amiga Shock Force - Violent Geisha 3:14
mix between breakcore and early speedcore with an amiga feel.
1-05 Auto Psy - If 6:09
when i played this track, a guy once asked me "what kind of terrorist music is this?". good description!
1-06 Burning Lazy Persons - Catastro 4:15
The overdose of noise and drums.
1-07 Trash Enemy H. Q. - Braintraining 1:06
noise and distortion with a painful sound without drums or anything else.
1-08 Burning Lazy Persons - Poisoned Radio Wave 4:34
ooh, painful audio signals and overly distorted hardcore drums. i'm luving it.
1-09 P. Server - Ratings (Terror Unit H.Q.) 4:36
cool monotonous acidcore track.
1-10 Shangoe - Army Of Darkness 6:58
interesting breakcore out of hamburg.
1-11 R.A.W - Sudden Death 7:37
the other r.a.w. track from the otaku compilation. impressive as well!
1-12 Monoloop - Chill Out 7:55
breakcore madness in between being chilled (as indicated by the piano) and being killed (as indicated by the screams).
1-13 Amiga Shook Force - Sex, Mord & Kunst 4:17
one of the fastest tracks of its era. hyperfast beats next to crazy rap samples.
1-14 No Name (3) - Y-droid 6:35
Slick and without mercy.
1-15 Orderly Chaos - 45m 4:23
The so real dark ambient experience.
2-01 Jean Bach - Tausend Stimmen 3:19
very crazy and over the top track by jean bach. heavy distortion.
2-02 Taciturne - Avarie De Machine 4:49
made up of sounds of heavy machinery? great!
2-03 E.P.C. & A.N.T.I. - Sharpomatic 6:06
noisy hardcore with a total "piss off!" attitude.
2-04 No Name - Control 4:18
one of the most classic and most fierce hardcore tracks. if you haven't heard this one, you are missing out!
2-05 Taciturne - Der Toten 4:24
the one and only fischkopf track that became a real "hit". was in high demand in the dutch gabber scene and ended up on countless compilations.
as you probably already know this track, I don't need to describe it here :-)
2-06 Fields Of Defacement - Bang-Bang (Live In Hamburg 96) 7:05
Live recording. Brutal. Acidcore. With gabber and general hardcore elements. Entrancing. Exalted. Shows the power of a hardcore techno live performance.
2-07 Amiga Shock Force - Shoot 'em Breax 4:20
A perfect early breakcore track. Hip hop and guitars.
2-08 Johnny Ego - Untitled 5:25
again an interesting hamburg breakbeat track.
2-09 R.A.W - Cold War Memory Nightmare 6:56
great, great early breakcore. interesting use of sounds and "melody". also a good but haunting cold-war feel.
2-10 Burning Lazy Persons - "R" 4:09
vicious nice and nasty track by nawoto suzuki.
2-11 Taciturne - In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi 6:01
samples the chuch of satan. non 4/4 beats. slow, distorted, noisy. dark and scary.
2-12 Orderly Chaos - Pine 5:20
painful sounds and pure ambient.
2-13 Trash Enemy H. Q. - Pestilence 6:15
truly interesting track. acid sounds. very dark and epic melody. no real hardcore beats and rhythm. close to industrial.
2-14 Orderly Chaos - Melt Away Love 5:21
pure ambient track. interesting, repeated melody. wonderful track.
Fisch024 - EPC – Don't Want To Lose E.P.
A1 - Infectious Properties 4:39
these sounds bash right through your skull.
A2 - Autoplasie 6:30
Noisecore for your mind!
B1 - R 624-2 6:04
Techno chopped up and turned into noise. Very analogue feel.
B2 - Where Do You Go? 5:35
perfect hardcore track, with radar / space-transmission like sounds. very industrial.
Fisch025 - Mathey Olivier - Second Transmission
A1 - Second Transmission 6:05
mad scientist hardcore.
A2 - Well Done! 5:05
the acid sounds from outer space invade the second part of this great french hardcore track.
well done indeed!
B1 - Residential Volume 5:14
heavy and loud drums, noises, funny intro.
B2 - Easy Recording Aera 5:28
the last track of the last official fischkopf release. going out with a bang! and it's good-bye.
That's it! Finito. The end. Which Fischkopf record is your favorite one? Let us know!
On the different Fischkopf logos
These are the 4 different Fischkopf logos that were regularly used on the label's releases (i.e. it's the record jacket artwork).
The first few releases seem to have had different "art" / jackets (sometimes just a sticker with artwork / info put on the jacket, instead of full art printed jackets).
The 4th art with the "indigenous man running" seems to have been common on releases starting with Fisch 19, replacing the others.
When I was a teen and started buying Fischkopf records, I had some wild theories on the different covers, such as logo 1 is for regular releases, logo 2 for acid/acidcore, and type 3 for jungle / breakcore releases - because the p. server (acidcore) release used type 2 and the monoloop (jungle) 3 - and it also made sense to me that 2 meant to portray a fish eaten up by acid (yeah, I had a vivid imagination) - and all the others used type 1.
But I later discovered this was not the case. As at the Container Records Store (the Fischkopf homebase), there was no pattern with the covers used (except what I mentioned above about the releases from Fisch 19). Sometimes a record was sold in jacket type 1, and then a different copy of the same release in jacket 2, and so on.
My guess is they just had printed various amounts of the different jackets, and used them as they saw fit and as they were available, putting the copies of a record sometimes in this, sometimes in that jacket, even none Fisch ones.
My guess is they just had printed various amounts of the different jackets, and used them as they saw fit and as they were available, putting the copies of a record sometimes in this, sometimes in that jacket, even none Fisch ones.
For example, when I finally managed to find a copy of Fisch 1 at the store, years after the record was officially released, it was just put inside a plain yellow colored jacket - but that might have not been how the release looked originally.
So, that's some info on the various Fischkopf logos.
There are also some other Fischkopf logo artworks, such as the "severed head" one (above) that is often found on the internet.
Which one is your favorite? Let us know.
There are also some other Fischkopf logo artworks, such as the "severed head" one (above) that is often found on the internet.
Which one is your favorite? Let us know.
Slices of Fischkopf - Reviewing Phantom Releases That Never Happened on the Label
A number of releases had been planned for Fischkopf, but then did not appear on the label for one reason or the other. Here are reviews for four of them.
? - Fischkopf 26
Only a few test pressings exist of this; it was never properly released.
Now let's look at the tracks:
A1 - One of the most fascinating (experimental) Hardcore tracks around! Essentially, the whole track consists of only two elements: a drum machine and a vocal sample.
The drum machine sounds like an 808, but maybe not quite; there is heavy use of all available percussive elements (snares, rim shots, hihats, cowbells...), there is no "909 gabber kick", but everything is so frantic and distorted that it still feels ruffian as hell. And the rhythm is not in a "four to the floor" manner, but completely broken and askew.
the vocal sample gets put through so much effect that it is more reminiscent of the distant whispers of an apparition than a "human voice".
that's all; these two sounds loop, cut out, come back, get manipulated for 7 minutes straight. yet it still feels like a complete track, and one hell of a banger!
A2 - here all the ingredients of all other tracks come together. Broken beats, "hardcore distortion", manipulated percussion, and belligerent acid. sweet!
B1 - my second favorite track, next to A1. while a1 lacked acid lines or synths, this one lacks *everything* else.
it is a strange kind of acid ambient love affair, more or less just a 303-sound looping, rising, disappearing... and sparse use of a drum type sound. reminds me a bit of 303 nation and tracks like "seis".
wonderful.
B2 - the most "normal" track on here (well, not really).
Hardacid / Acidcore that feels like a one-shot jam session with just machines running, getting on, and rioting for more than 8 minutes. a bit like some drop bass efforts maybe, but with a very distinct feel.
Paul Snowden / Christoph De Babalon – We Declare War ( Cross Fade Enter Tainment - Post Primitive 002 )
Paul Snowden, Christoph de Babalon, and DJ Raid were involved in setting up and running Fischkopf Records (I don't know who had which role, though).
Somehow they fell out with the parent label, and Hardy was put in control of Fischkopf.
The three of them then set up their own label, Cross Fade Enter Tainment.
This is the first release, "brutally" split between Paul Snowden and Christoph de Babalon, as both sides sound very distinct to each other.
Word is that CdB's side was supposed to be released as his second EP on Fischkopf; and when that didn't happen, they put it on here instead.
It's actually one of my best-liked CdB "releases". It's in his "early" breakcore style: super fast, chopped up dirty breakbeats joined with cyberdelic, spacey, psychotronic drones, pads, strings... making you feel as if they just had arrived on this planet.
Particular picks for me are "Meet Fate", "Babablon Bitch", and "Residuum (Rmx"), which is even one notch better than the version on his Digital Hardcore Recordings EP.
Paul Snowden's side... oh boy, where do I start! Do you like Hard Acid / Acidcore?
Well, this one release breaks the scales in overdrive, distortion, sheer noize... there is nothing quite like it. It's not "gabber heavy" with deep kicks and such, more on the high and mid ranges.
I remember Paul said somewhere that this was the closest he got to his dream of playing in a live punk/indie band, and I totally get that...
It's a bit like a "wall of noise" type independent rock band which jettisoned all their members and guitars, and then did a record with a 303 and a drum machine...
so, yeah, a wild release in the history of electronic music!
Somatic Responses – Methods Of Mutulation ( Cross Fade Enter Tainment - Post Primitive 001 )
Was on a demo that got sent to Fischkopf Records, and supposed to be released there.
Somehow, it did not happen, and Paul & Christoph decided to release it on their new label instead.
This is the first bona fide Somatic Responses release and EP. It's vastly different from their later style.
Still tied in to the whole Hardcore & Gabber "thing", but in their very own way, and definitely miles away from the cheese that got poured from some (major) labels in that time & genre.
In fact, I think this would fit right in with a "hard / dark / industrial" techno set or party of today - in a more refined and experimental way.
ultra-overdriven bassdrums, undefined noises, layers of abstraction...
the sounds of mutulation [sic!] indeed!
Taciturne – Ebizeme ( Blut 03 )
this was supposed to be on Fischkopf; in fact, some fanzines already had reviewed it as "Fischkopf 25", shortly before the label collapsed.
an album follow-up to his first EPs, and everyone expected he would follow this route; bold big balled "german" gabber and speedcore, like the various *domes and *dromes on benzedrine.
But, non, au contraire!
This is a very strange and mystérieux release.
Certainly no "gabber" traces are left in the bloodstream. It's like... well, what is it like? It defies description... maybe if Einstürzende Neubauten used Commodore Amiga improvisation in their live-sets... or "Euromasters" would have become construction workers banging on their tools; instead of kickstarting Rotterdam Records...
So, yes, this is the best description I can give, it is better to remain tacit (urne) about the rest.
Another stand-out track is the "97 Hammel Rmx" of das Toten, which feels like the logical deconstruction of the original; and of hellraiser and the whole gabber genre, too.
There is likely more stuff "out there" that was intended to be released on Fischkopf but never happened.
E.g. there are rumors that there were plans for an EP by Alec Empire, or that another Eradicator release would have been made if Patric had not fallen out with the label.
? - Fischkopf 26
Only a few test pressings exist of this; it was never properly released.
Now let's look at the tracks:
A1 - One of the most fascinating (experimental) Hardcore tracks around! Essentially, the whole track consists of only two elements: a drum machine and a vocal sample.
The drum machine sounds like an 808, but maybe not quite; there is heavy use of all available percussive elements (snares, rim shots, hihats, cowbells...), there is no "909 gabber kick", but everything is so frantic and distorted that it still feels ruffian as hell. And the rhythm is not in a "four to the floor" manner, but completely broken and askew.
the vocal sample gets put through so much effect that it is more reminiscent of the distant whispers of an apparition than a "human voice".
that's all; these two sounds loop, cut out, come back, get manipulated for 7 minutes straight. yet it still feels like a complete track, and one hell of a banger!
A2 - here all the ingredients of all other tracks come together. Broken beats, "hardcore distortion", manipulated percussion, and belligerent acid. sweet!
B1 - my second favorite track, next to A1. while a1 lacked acid lines or synths, this one lacks *everything* else.
it is a strange kind of acid ambient love affair, more or less just a 303-sound looping, rising, disappearing... and sparse use of a drum type sound. reminds me a bit of 303 nation and tracks like "seis".
wonderful.
B2 - the most "normal" track on here (well, not really).
Hardacid / Acidcore that feels like a one-shot jam session with just machines running, getting on, and rioting for more than 8 minutes. a bit like some drop bass efforts maybe, but with a very distinct feel.
Paul Snowden / Christoph De Babalon – We Declare War ( Cross Fade Enter Tainment - Post Primitive 002 )
Paul Snowden, Christoph de Babalon, and DJ Raid were involved in setting up and running Fischkopf Records (I don't know who had which role, though).
Somehow they fell out with the parent label, and Hardy was put in control of Fischkopf.
The three of them then set up their own label, Cross Fade Enter Tainment.
This is the first release, "brutally" split between Paul Snowden and Christoph de Babalon, as both sides sound very distinct to each other.
Word is that CdB's side was supposed to be released as his second EP on Fischkopf; and when that didn't happen, they put it on here instead.
It's actually one of my best-liked CdB "releases". It's in his "early" breakcore style: super fast, chopped up dirty breakbeats joined with cyberdelic, spacey, psychotronic drones, pads, strings... making you feel as if they just had arrived on this planet.
Particular picks for me are "Meet Fate", "Babablon Bitch", and "Residuum (Rmx"), which is even one notch better than the version on his Digital Hardcore Recordings EP.
Paul Snowden's side... oh boy, where do I start! Do you like Hard Acid / Acidcore?
Well, this one release breaks the scales in overdrive, distortion, sheer noize... there is nothing quite like it. It's not "gabber heavy" with deep kicks and such, more on the high and mid ranges.
I remember Paul said somewhere that this was the closest he got to his dream of playing in a live punk/indie band, and I totally get that...
It's a bit like a "wall of noise" type independent rock band which jettisoned all their members and guitars, and then did a record with a 303 and a drum machine...
so, yeah, a wild release in the history of electronic music!
Somatic Responses – Methods Of Mutulation ( Cross Fade Enter Tainment - Post Primitive 001 )
Was on a demo that got sent to Fischkopf Records, and supposed to be released there.
Somehow, it did not happen, and Paul & Christoph decided to release it on their new label instead.
This is the first bona fide Somatic Responses release and EP. It's vastly different from their later style.
Still tied in to the whole Hardcore & Gabber "thing", but in their very own way, and definitely miles away from the cheese that got poured from some (major) labels in that time & genre.
In fact, I think this would fit right in with a "hard / dark / industrial" techno set or party of today - in a more refined and experimental way.
ultra-overdriven bassdrums, undefined noises, layers of abstraction...
the sounds of mutulation [sic!] indeed!
Taciturne – Ebizeme ( Blut 03 )
this was supposed to be on Fischkopf; in fact, some fanzines already had reviewed it as "Fischkopf 25", shortly before the label collapsed.
an album follow-up to his first EPs, and everyone expected he would follow this route; bold big balled "german" gabber and speedcore, like the various *domes and *dromes on benzedrine.
But, non, au contraire!
This is a very strange and mystérieux release.
Certainly no "gabber" traces are left in the bloodstream. It's like... well, what is it like? It defies description... maybe if Einstürzende Neubauten used Commodore Amiga improvisation in their live-sets... or "Euromasters" would have become construction workers banging on their tools; instead of kickstarting Rotterdam Records...
So, yes, this is the best description I can give, it is better to remain tacit (urne) about the rest.
Another stand-out track is the "97 Hammel Rmx" of das Toten, which feels like the logical deconstruction of the original; and of hellraiser and the whole gabber genre, too.
There is likely more stuff "out there" that was intended to be released on Fischkopf but never happened.
E.g. there are rumors that there were plans for an EP by Alec Empire, or that another Eradicator release would have been made if Patric had not fallen out with the label.
Fischkopf Extras
Some Fischkopf records came with physical extras: poetry, texts, artworks, promo infos, or all these combined, printed on sheets of black and white paper.
They were very elaborate, beautiful, hunting, explorative - because fisch waters run deepest.
Here are examples of these:
They were very elaborate, beautiful, hunting, explorative - because fisch waters run deepest.
Here are examples of these:
History of Hamburg Hardcore
A text originally written for an american underground magazine. mentions Fischkopf, and puts it in the context of the city and scene of hamburg.
Hamburg is a more than 800 year old harbor town in the north of Germany. As such, it was always also a hotspot for a wide range of subcultures, cranks and crooks, rowdy sailors, prostitutes, pirates that found their place in shady pubs, back alleys and similar dark places.I entered Hamburg in 1980 by birth, so I can't tell you much about the 60s or 70s of Hamburg, but in the 80s, it was a place for anarchists, punks, rioters and similar people - creating the current for places of alternate music and political views to be set up. This is a bit of a back story for what happened in the 90s in Hamburg, regarding the then emerging hardcore techno scene.
Fischkopf
Container Records was a record store in the red light zone of Hamburg - the Reeperbahn - one story above a store for alternate clothing. It was focused on techno music only and one of the largest (or the largest?) of such stores in Hamburg. They also were involved in other things, such as running a record label also named Container. And this Container Records had a sublabel called Fischkopf.
The first generation of Fischkopf was a group of people around Martin, the owner of Container Records; I don't know exactly who was directly involved in running the label, but Cybermouse, DJ Raid and Christoph De Babalon are names I heard over the years (please correct me).
Cybermouse got to Fischkopf because it was noted that he bought only the most extreme and obscure records at the store; something that made the crew think he'd fit right in, apparently. So the first Fischkopf record was released, "Surprise Attack" by Cybermouse. They were all done on an Amiga computer using tracker software and a special FX software; actually, the tracks were first released on a diskette magazine called "Neurowaver" (if you don't know what a diskette magazine is, ask Google).
Cybermouse's debut was followed by Christoph De Babalon's debut, the "Love Under Will" EP, named after Aleister Crowley obviously. On it we find some of the most haunting music with "jungle beats" made in this era.
After a few more EPs, the management changed, and Hardy Storz took over. He steered Fischkopf into the direction that brought worldwide acclaim to it. Releasing experimental, intellectual music that at the same time is hardcore techno. In one of the rare interviews with him, he states that he was annoyed by the turn gabber had taken at that time; becoming more dumb, simplistic, macho. And Fischkopf for sure was the opposite of that.
Fischkopf had most of the major players in the more refined hardcore scene in those days on it's rooster: Patric C as Eradicator, Lasse Steen with a variety of aliases, Nawoto Suzuki as Burning Lazy Persons, Taciturne, Amiga Shock Force and EPC, and the Michelson sisters Auto-Psy and No Name. Especially these two female fighters brought some of the most interesting music to this label; tracks that are so complex and structured and finetuned, that the word "hardcore" is almost too brutish for them.
Although the pressing for "Fisch" releases were limited to 500, they quickly got known worldwide in the more underground scenes. After a while also parties were set up by the Fisch crew, again in the red light district of Hamburg. These parties attracted a wide range of performers such as Rage Reset, DJ Entox, La Peste, and many many more. Without going too much into this, let's just repeat Taciturne's summary that the amount of fog issued in these nights in these dark, strobe filled rooms would've clouded a soccer arena.
Even though opposing the "commercial" "Dutch" "gabber" scene, Fischkopf spawned one big hit in exactly that scene; Taciturne's totem which is still sought after, after all these years.
Fischkopf faltered in 1997; the exact reasons are not known, but talk is about disagreement on the direction to take Fischkopf between Hardy and Container; or that Fisch just did not generate enough "dough".
One more release appeared in 1998 (and a test pressing of a "Fisch 26" by Cybermouse), only for Fischkopf to disappear completely after that.
Interesting fact: at one point, Alec Empire and Somatic Responses were planned for a Fischkopf release too.
DJ Raid, who was also involved in Fischkopf, set up this label with Paul Snowden and Christoph De Babalon. The word "hardcore" only vaguely fits here; this is just brilliant, brilliant subcultural music.
The first release was the premier release of Somatic Responses, who took the world by storm in the years (or rather, even decades) that followed. This was still a lot different to their later style: heavy, heavy distorted drums (or noises) in a 4/4 style, with experimental sounds in a vain of early synth experimental music. As fierce as fierce gets.
The second release was done by Christoph De Babalon and Paul Snowden, aptly named "We Declare War". Paul Snowden's site has some of the most distorted acid, and CDB brings us assault troop breakbeat tracks here, going on from his Fischkopf release.
In a rare German TV interview, CDB stated CFET to him is "auteur music", in the sense that the artist take their music in their own individualist direction, regardless of trends. And the releases give proof of that.
Later, we find some fine breakcore releases on CFET.
I can't find much info on this, but according to defunct websites, the CFET personnel was once involved in the "Repulsion Parties", taking place inside the "Rote Flora", the most infamous squat in Hamburg. Line ups included artists like E-De Cologne, Alec Empire and Somatic Responses.
CFET left Hamburg with Jan (CDB) and Paul moving to Berlin.
Listening suggestion: Christoph De Babalon & Paul Snowden - We Declare War
Nordcore
No Hamburg hardcore history text is complete without Nordcore. Nordcore started as "Die Tekknokraten" organizing small techno and hardcore parties, changing the name later. As Nordcore they run a weekly hardcore club called "The Box", in the midst of Hamburg. I think this was one of the only regular hardcore clubs worldwide that existed in the 90s outside of Netherlands and Belgium; the Bunker in Berlin being another important location.
Almost all the big names in hardcore, gabber and speedcore scene played in the box; Speedfreak, the PCP crew including Smash? (sic), BSE DJ team, Laurent Hô, E-De Cologne... And also a lot of the Dutch DJs.
It were speedy times, but The Box had to close in 1996; much too soon!
The parties got bigger though, and Nordcore moved to the Markthalle, usually a location for rock and pop bands, with their "Operation Nordcore" parties, again attracting all the "big name" performers to play.
Nordcore continued their hardcore journey way long into the 2000s in Hamburg; and maybe we will see them resurface?
They also ran a record label, called Nordcore Records; and, beginning with issue 5, compiled the "Terrordrome" CDs, the biggest name in hardcore CDs in the 90s, only eclipsed by Thunderdome.
Listening suggestion: Nordcore GMBH - Hartcore Will Never Die
After Hardy left Container, he set up his own record store, called Otaku Records, again with a "Hardcore" label, called Blut Records; and in many way a spiritual successor to Fischkopf Records.
The rooster was similar too: Taciturne, Nawoto, Amiga Shock Force and EPC. We also find a record that was originally planned as Fischkopf 25 here, Taciturne with Ebizieme.
The sound was taken a step farther in extremism with this label, so be prepared for a noise assault on your ears; but, again, a sensible one.
The record store itself was also a good destination to shop for obscure and not so obscure hardcore, speedcore and breakcore records in Hamburg, with it's own special charme.
Blut never officially ended, but there was no release after Blut 6; a shame!
Listening Suggestion: Taciturne & EPC - Vendetta Vol.1 EP
Hardcore didn't end in the 90s in Hamburg, but that, my child, is written in another tome...
Container Records was a record store in the red light zone of Hamburg - the Reeperbahn - one story above a store for alternate clothing. It was focused on techno music only and one of the largest (or the largest?) of such stores in Hamburg. They also were involved in other things, such as running a record label also named Container. And this Container Records had a sublabel called Fischkopf.
The first generation of Fischkopf was a group of people around Martin, the owner of Container Records; I don't know exactly who was directly involved in running the label, but Cybermouse, DJ Raid and Christoph De Babalon are names I heard over the years (please correct me).
Cybermouse got to Fischkopf because it was noted that he bought only the most extreme and obscure records at the store; something that made the crew think he'd fit right in, apparently. So the first Fischkopf record was released, "Surprise Attack" by Cybermouse. They were all done on an Amiga computer using tracker software and a special FX software; actually, the tracks were first released on a diskette magazine called "Neurowaver" (if you don't know what a diskette magazine is, ask Google).
Cybermouse's debut was followed by Christoph De Babalon's debut, the "Love Under Will" EP, named after Aleister Crowley obviously. On it we find some of the most haunting music with "jungle beats" made in this era.
After a few more EPs, the management changed, and Hardy Storz took over. He steered Fischkopf into the direction that brought worldwide acclaim to it. Releasing experimental, intellectual music that at the same time is hardcore techno. In one of the rare interviews with him, he states that he was annoyed by the turn gabber had taken at that time; becoming more dumb, simplistic, macho. And Fischkopf for sure was the opposite of that.
Fischkopf had most of the major players in the more refined hardcore scene in those days on it's rooster: Patric C as Eradicator, Lasse Steen with a variety of aliases, Nawoto Suzuki as Burning Lazy Persons, Taciturne, Amiga Shock Force and EPC, and the Michelson sisters Auto-Psy and No Name. Especially these two female fighters brought some of the most interesting music to this label; tracks that are so complex and structured and finetuned, that the word "hardcore" is almost too brutish for them.
Although the pressing for "Fisch" releases were limited to 500, they quickly got known worldwide in the more underground scenes. After a while also parties were set up by the Fisch crew, again in the red light district of Hamburg. These parties attracted a wide range of performers such as Rage Reset, DJ Entox, La Peste, and many many more. Without going too much into this, let's just repeat Taciturne's summary that the amount of fog issued in these nights in these dark, strobe filled rooms would've clouded a soccer arena.
Even though opposing the "commercial" "Dutch" "gabber" scene, Fischkopf spawned one big hit in exactly that scene; Taciturne's totem which is still sought after, after all these years.
Fischkopf faltered in 1997; the exact reasons are not known, but talk is about disagreement on the direction to take Fischkopf between Hardy and Container; or that Fisch just did not generate enough "dough".
One more release appeared in 1998 (and a test pressing of a "Fisch 26" by Cybermouse), only for Fischkopf to disappear completely after that.
Interesting fact: at one point, Alec Empire and Somatic Responses were planned for a Fischkopf release too.
Listening suggestion: Taciturne - 6 Fragmente In Der Chronologie Des Wahnsinns
Cross Fade Entertainment
Cross Fade Entertainment
DJ Raid, who was also involved in Fischkopf, set up this label with Paul Snowden and Christoph De Babalon. The word "hardcore" only vaguely fits here; this is just brilliant, brilliant subcultural music.
The first release was the premier release of Somatic Responses, who took the world by storm in the years (or rather, even decades) that followed. This was still a lot different to their later style: heavy, heavy distorted drums (or noises) in a 4/4 style, with experimental sounds in a vain of early synth experimental music. As fierce as fierce gets.
The second release was done by Christoph De Babalon and Paul Snowden, aptly named "We Declare War". Paul Snowden's site has some of the most distorted acid, and CDB brings us assault troop breakbeat tracks here, going on from his Fischkopf release.
In a rare German TV interview, CDB stated CFET to him is "auteur music", in the sense that the artist take their music in their own individualist direction, regardless of trends. And the releases give proof of that.
Later, we find some fine breakcore releases on CFET.
I can't find much info on this, but according to defunct websites, the CFET personnel was once involved in the "Repulsion Parties", taking place inside the "Rote Flora", the most infamous squat in Hamburg. Line ups included artists like E-De Cologne, Alec Empire and Somatic Responses.
CFET left Hamburg with Jan (CDB) and Paul moving to Berlin.
Listening suggestion: Christoph De Babalon & Paul Snowden - We Declare War
Nordcore
No Hamburg hardcore history text is complete without Nordcore. Nordcore started as "Die Tekknokraten" organizing small techno and hardcore parties, changing the name later. As Nordcore they run a weekly hardcore club called "The Box", in the midst of Hamburg. I think this was one of the only regular hardcore clubs worldwide that existed in the 90s outside of Netherlands and Belgium; the Bunker in Berlin being another important location.
Almost all the big names in hardcore, gabber and speedcore scene played in the box; Speedfreak, the PCP crew including Smash? (sic), BSE DJ team, Laurent Hô, E-De Cologne... And also a lot of the Dutch DJs.
It were speedy times, but The Box had to close in 1996; much too soon!
The parties got bigger though, and Nordcore moved to the Markthalle, usually a location for rock and pop bands, with their "Operation Nordcore" parties, again attracting all the "big name" performers to play.
Nordcore continued their hardcore journey way long into the 2000s in Hamburg; and maybe we will see them resurface?
They also ran a record label, called Nordcore Records; and, beginning with issue 5, compiled the "Terrordrome" CDs, the biggest name in hardcore CDs in the 90s, only eclipsed by Thunderdome.
Listening suggestion: Nordcore GMBH - Hartcore Will Never Die
Blut
After Hardy left Container, he set up his own record store, called Otaku Records, again with a "Hardcore" label, called Blut Records; and in many way a spiritual successor to Fischkopf Records.
The rooster was similar too: Taciturne, Nawoto, Amiga Shock Force and EPC. We also find a record that was originally planned as Fischkopf 25 here, Taciturne with Ebizieme.
The sound was taken a step farther in extremism with this label, so be prepared for a noise assault on your ears; but, again, a sensible one.
The record store itself was also a good destination to shop for obscure and not so obscure hardcore, speedcore and breakcore records in Hamburg, with it's own special charme.
Blut never officially ended, but there was no release after Blut 6; a shame!
Listening Suggestion: Taciturne & EPC - Vendetta Vol.1 EP
Hardcore didn't end in the 90s in Hamburg, but that, my child, is written in another tome...
The Commodore Amiga Connection
Fischkopf Records releases that (likely) were produced on an Amiga:
Fisch 01 Cybermouse - Surprise Attack E.P.
Fisch 02 Christoph De Babalon - Love Under Will EP
Fisch 03 Cybermouse - Body Pack 95
Fisch 05 Eradicator - Shortage Of Oxygen EP
Fisch 08 Taciturne - Potpourri EP
Fisch 10 Eradicator - I Cum Blood EP
Fisch 12 Taciturne - 6 Fragmente In Der Chronologie Des Wahnsinns
Fisch 14 Eradicator - Agit Prop
Fisch 18 Auto-Psy - Arachnide
Fisch 20 Amiga Shock Force - Psycore Kids Vs Rave-Fascist
Fisch 22 Auto-Psy - Necrophage
Fisch 24 EPC - Don't Want To Lose E.P.
Of 24 releases (minus the compilation, which is party Amiga and partly not), 12 were produced on Amiga.
If anyone has more information / corrections, please let me know.
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