Hiroshimabend

Food for thought…

Indie Musicians Need to Fight Spotify's Royalty Theft As major record labels struggle with "market share erosion" in streaming, Spotify's royalty theft aims to give them your music royalties.

Booking...doing it all myself at the moment...along with (literally) everything else...

If anyone might recommend a decent booking agent in the EU that deals with electronic experimental artists, please send a shout or send them my way (booking email on profile)...

Cheers then!

ODP 070 - Hiroshimabend "Live At XXII WIF"

Recorded at XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival, 3 November 2023, in the Stary Klasztor, Wrocław, Poland.

By all accounts, this release shouldn't have happened...

I lost a channel sporadically whilst performing, which caused parts of some tracks not to be heard completely. Improvisation saved (most of) the show!

The sounds were in fact there, and I was able to salvage the recording, albeit with a miracle assist from Przemysław Skóra, who was in the audience recording the performance.

Zoe Dewitt (Zero K**a), who played put on a legendary performance the next evening, made a special guest appearance near the end for a piece from our collaboration "The Earthenware Virgin".

Despite the fact that I was supposed to have copies of this available for sale on the second night of the festival, this ultra-limited edition of 13 (numbered) has already been almost half sold out already.

Here is your chance to grab one of seven remaining copies...

ODP 070 - Live At XXII WIF (Limited Edition) ODP 068 - Replugged 2023 by Hiroshimabend

Dear Spotify (as if you care)...

All Hiroshimabend releases have been removed from your platform.

While this may be viewed (on your part) as a good thing for, at the very least, freeing up server space for more lucrative content, I can assure you that you will not be able to steal my legal royalties and earnings to pay the same to major labels and their artists.

Maybe that's a bad thing, maybe you have enough dosh to give a toss less...but it is all I am able to do to maintain what semblance of rights I have as a truly independent artist, and not be counted by the many you are screwing over with your new policies and ever-advancing practices.

Eventually, there has to come an alternative that will appreciate the craft of independent artists...maybe teach you lot a thing or two...

Yours never,
Michael Everett
(aka Puppy38)
Hiroshimabend

Fresh off the heels of a great gig...

"Downland" is currently in the recording phase...

t'would be nice to see it on vinyl...but who knows?...

ODP 061

(photo by JanaR)

soon...ish...

Welcome to the sea of milky black ink...Hiroshimabend... This is the official website for Hiroshimabend...

Dear darkness where to start...(long post alert)

Invited back to perform at XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival again, and it was nothing short of brilliant!

Thank you to Maciek and Anna Frett , and the ENTIRE crew at Wrocław Industrial Festival! I have never encountered such an accommodating, professional, wonderful people, who make magic every year.

Special thanks to FM EINHEIT (for sharing your ride to the venue with us)...humbled...and perhaps a bit drier...

I was honoured to be joined onstage by Zoe (Zero K**a) at the end of my set for a track from "The Earthenware Virgin"...a truly amazing moment...

Outstanding performances: Citizen, SECT7, Thighpaul Sandra, Deutsch Nepal, hackedepicciotto, Zero K**a, Puce Mary (goddess), and despite losing a channel with drums for a couple of tracks in my set and having to improvise a bit, I think I pulled it off...I even managed to perform a track by my side project Senestra (sadly without my counterpart Alan)...

I had a merch table set up, with a lot of help from Katja (Only One Left), next to Zoharum, Zero K**a, Fourth Dimension Records (thanx for everything Richo!) and HANDS (some seriously awesome folks). Met a ton of great people and possibly new fans...

After three years of not being able to attend, due to pandemic shutdowns and the like, it was a sort of "homecoming" being back in beautiful Wroclaw.

Good times!

Last, last-minute run-through of the set before packing up and heading to XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival...

and then there's this...

Opiumdenpluto +...burning at -229° C...on purpose... Welcome to Opiumdenpluto, home of works by Hiroshimabend, Puppy38, and more...

Ever since it became „FeeCamp“…

And Discogs is worse now (doubled „Partnership Fee“ with PayPal…

Independent artists are once again left with no viable option to have active participation in the marketplace…

Is Bandcamp as We Know It Over? Following its acquisition by the music licensing company Songtradr, layoffs spell trouble at the beloved online music platform.

See you in Wrocław! (XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival)

WIF XXII : Friday /Piątek 03.11 / Old Monastery
HIROSHIMABEND (usa/at)
🔉Michael Everett, występujący także pod pseudonimem puppy38 muzyk i producent pochodzący z Austin w Teksasie, lecz od kilku lat rezydujący w Wiedniu, od 1998 roku nagrał już ponad dwadzieścia albumów pod szyldem Hiroshimabend, wydanych w niezależnej wytwórni opiumdenpluto. Znalezione dźwięki, nagrania terenowe, industrialne rytmy, rozciągnięte na długiej przestrzeni czasu drony, mroczny, wypełniony niepokojącym klimatem ambient, eksperymentalne hałasy – te wszystkie rzeczy składają się na muzykę projektu. Ambient/avant noise w wykonaniu Everetta to doświadczenie nie tylko dźwiękowe – to psychosomatyczne przeżycie, które budzi różne skojarzenia, które odwołują się do głęboko ukrytych pokładów podświadomości. To muzyka, która potrafi zahipnotyzować słuchacza całą gamą efektów, bogatych struktur i swoją wielowarstwowością. To nie jest zwykły ambient, to nie jest zwykły noise – w utworach Hiroshimabend odnaleźć można zarówno industrialną buntowniczość, jak i swoiste, dziwne piękno.
[[[]]]
🔉Dark ambient/Avant Noise act helmed by producer/designer puppy38 since 1997. Originally formed in Austin, Texas as a trio, consisting of Puppy38, artist Claire Richards and programmer Aaron DuBois, Hiroshimabend is currently based in Vienna, Austria. Aside from various collaborators, such as Zoe Dewitt (Zero K**a, Nekrophile Rekords), Michal Turowski (Mazut) and other guest artists, the only other primary member is Austin, Texas-based guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Evaristo Castillo, who has appeared on many releases, including the epic "xPOL" (an almost three -hour longform work), the award-winning "Rednow Gnir", and a majority of the "Pain Bells" box set, which is a series of all-new original works spaced over the course of 11 CDs.

Listening to the music of hiroshimabend has been likened to swimming in a milky lake of black ink. The scope of sound genres includes Industrial, Post-Industrial, Sound Collage, Broken Beat, Drone, Experimental Electronic, Glitch, Minimal Techno, IDM, Musique Concrète, Noise, Field Recordings, Harsh Noise Wall and Power Electronics,

Hiroshimabend has performed many solo and headlining shows, and has opened for artists such as The Legendary Pink Dots, Skinny Puppy, Becoming /// Animal (side project of Cindytalk's Cindy Sharp), Thighpaul Sandra (Coil), Job Karma, Fetisch Park, and Farbfelde (aka Codex Empire). In Nov 2016, Hiroshimabend played the 15th annual Wroclaw Industrial Festival in Wroclaw, Poland...sharing the bill with such luminaries as DAF, Psychic TV, Asmus Tietchens, Main, Ramleh, Reutoff, Monoton, and many more.

With over 35 studio albums, several live recordings albums – released primarily by the independent label Opiumdenpluto – and appearances on compilations by Fourth Dimension Records and Drone Records, the combination of found sounds, field recordings, industrial rhythms, lingering drones, dark and unsettling ambient soundscapes, plus experimental noises are elements making up the project's aural offerings. Hiroshimabend is not only an atmospheric, sonic experience, it is often psychosomatic, giving rise to a variety of associations that refer to deep layers of the subconscious. It's the kind of music which has the ability to mesmerising the listener with a whole range of effects, rich structures and multiple layers of sound. It is not simply plain ambient, nor is it ordinary noise music – Hiroshimabend's pieces deliver both industrial-like rebelliousness and peculiar beauty alike.
▶️Bilety: https://sklep.industrialart.eu
▶️Tickets: https://shop.industrialart.eu

In three weeks Hiroshimabend will perform at the XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival. This is pretty much what my merch setup will look like...

(It is worth noting that the copy of the "Rednow Gnir" hidden-compartment book/cd pictured here is only for the photo (personal copy). The initial run of limited editions sold out long ago, but I am building two new copies that will be available.)

See you there!...and if you miss out, all of this, and more, is available at www.opiumdenpluto.com

(detailed list in comments)

I will have a couple of copies of this, the limited edition 11-cd box set of “Pain Bells”, at the upcoming XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival, in a special place set up for Hiroshimabend merchandise.

Hope to see you there!

Chuffed to bits for my good friend Diana Rogerson…some great respect for her latest release, „Blue Bottle in a Jam Jar”…CD Version coming soon…

The Best Experimental Music on Bandcamp: August 2023 Mysterious Ukrainian rock deconstruction, abstract campfire hymns, electronic essays made in part with a Nintendo DS, and much more.

Available TODAY!…Ultra limited edition of the live recording by Nocturnal Emissions, Barnacles and Hiroshimabend.

Happy Bandcamp Friday, and thanks for supporting independent artists!

Live in Vienna 9th June 2023, by Nocturnal Emissions & Barnacles & Hiroshimabend 8 track album

Coming 1 September, just in time for Bandcamp Friday...a wonderful recording of the live set this past June in Vienna by Nocturnal Emissions, Barnacles and Hiroshimabend! I only have 24 copies left (each artist has 30 copies available of the total 90 in this ultra limited edition).

https://hiroshimabend.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-vienna-9th-of-june-2023

Here is the official press release:

Nocturnal Emissions, Barnacles and Hiroshimabend
Announce exclusive “Live in Vienna 9th of June 2023”
Collaboration Limited Edition CD Release

Excitement is building among music enthusiasts as pioneering experimental acts Nocturnal Emissions, Barnacles, and Hiroshimabend have officially joined forces to release an extraordinary limited edition CD recording of their historic live performance in Vienna.
The three avant-garde musical projects, each renowned for pushing the boundaries of sound and artistry, came together for an unforgettable evening of sonic exploration to a sold-out crowd at Replugged in Vienna for Klang:30, an international festival celebrating 30 years of the Vienna-based label, Klanggalerie. Their one-of-a-kind collaboration seamlessly merged unique styles, creating an ethereal journey through experimental soundscapes, ambient textures, and thought-provoking audiovisuals.

The Limited Edition CD titled "Live in Vienna 9th of June" captures the very essence of this exceptional performance, preserving the raw energy and spontaneous creativity that unfolded on stage that night. This highly collectible CD will feature an exclusive mix of tracks from the Nocturnal Emissions/Barnacles release “From Solstice To Equinox”, making it a rare treasure for connoisseurs of experimental and avant-garde electronic music.

Nocturnal Emissions, with their four-decade legacy in experimental music, continue to inspire artists worldwide. Barnacles, known for their unconventional approach to blending acoustic and electronic instruments, added a unique dimension to the collaboration. Hiroshimabend, the mastermind behind evocative audiovisual performances, added a stunning backdrop of atmospheric noise elements that elevated the live experience to new heights.

"We are thrilled to present this momentous collaboration to the world," said the representatives from Nocturnal Emissions, Barnacles, and Hiroshimabend in a joint statement. "The Live in Vienna CD is a testament to the boundless possibilities when diverse artistic visions converge. It is a celebration of experimentation and creativity, and we hope it resonates with listeners who appreciate the unconventional."

The Limited Edition is beautifully packaged with exclusive artwork, making it a unique collector's item. Music enthusiasts, collectors, and fans of experimental music will have the chance to own a piece of history and experience the magic of this live performance whenever they listen to the CD.

The official release date is set for 1st September 2023 as part of Bandcamp Friday, and it will also be available for purchase exclusively through the artists' official websites and select independent music stores. As the edition is limited to 90 copies only, fans are encouraged to secure their copies promptly.
Nocturnal Emissions – https://linktr.ee/NigelAyers
Since the late 1970s, Nigel Ayers (b. 1957, UK) has cut a bracing, subversive path through the contemporary underground, bridging DIY industrial enthusiasms with multimedia experimentation to form a singular body of work. Co-founder of the groups The Pump and Nocturnal Emissions (along with brother Daniel Ayers and then-partner Caroline K), Ayers has been a contributor to and proponent of industrial music’s high-water marks, his Sterile Records imprint disseminating not only NE sides but also defining work from Lustmord, SPK, Maurizio Bianchi, and others between 1979 and 1986. In 1987, Ayers inaugurated the Earthly Delights label with the now-canonical Caroline K recording Now Wait For Last Year, and the imprint has since served as Ayers’s primary outlet for releasing new work, whether as Magnetizdat, Spanner Thru Ma Beatbox, or Nocturnal Emissions, a going concern to this day."
“A Cornish cottage industry of ritualised dark ambient, avant garde sonics, frazzled dub and electro-punk karaoke: Nocturnal Emissions is a true hero of the post-industrial underground that spawned Coil, Nurse With Wound, Zoviet France, etc.”

Barnacles – www.greysparkle.com
Active since the middle 90s, Matteo Uggeri has started his musical activity in the field of industrial music (with the monikers of Der Einzige and then Normality/Edge), to progressively move to more melodic-oriented forms. As Barnacles, he's now back into obsessive rhythms and obscure drones, at the point that his music has been described as "panic-inducing in nature".
Under his own name or with the unclassifiable band he founded in 2005, Sparkle in Grey, he collaborated with many other artists, such as Controlled Bleeding, Nocturnal Emissions, De Fabriek, Deison, Telepherique, Bourbonese Qualk/Simon Crab, OvO, and M.B./Maurizio Bianchi.
Since 2019 he’s also part of the duo Starlight Assembly with the British singer of This Mortal Coil and Breathless, Dominic Appleton.

Hiroshimabend – www.opiumdenpluto.com
Dark ambient/avant noise act helmed by producer/designer Puppy38 since 1997. Originally formed in Austin, Texas, Hiroshimabend is now based in Vienna, Austria. Aside from various collaborators, such as Zoe Dewitt (Zero K**a, Nekrophile Rekords), Michal Turowski (Mazut) and other guest artists, the only other primary member is Austin, Texas-based guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Evaristo Castillo.
With over 35 studio albums, several live recordings – released primarily by the independent label Opiumdenpluto – and appearances on compilations by Fourth Dimension Records and Drone Records, the combination of found sounds, field recordings, industrial rhythms, lingering drones, dark and unsettling ambient soundscapes, plus experimental noises are elements making up the project's aural offerings. Hiroshimabend is not only an atmospheric, sonic experience, it is often psychosomatic, giving rise to a variety of associations that refer to deep layers of the subconscious. It's the kind of music which has the ability to mesmerising the listener with a whole range of effects, rich structures and multiple layers of sound.

Live In Vienna 9th of June 2023, by Nocturnal Emissions / Barnacles / Hiroshimabend 8 track album

Happy August Bandcamp Friday!

Now is as good a time as any to hop on over the the Hiroshimabend Bandcamp page and grab some goodies while Bandcamp is waiving (most of) their fees…while you’re there, you might even pick up one of the last few copies of the last remaining copies of the limited edition “Stanford” CDs by Senestra…

Happy hunting!…

(and btw, big announcement coming for a special forthcoming release in September…so stay tuned for more…)

Ok hive mind…since Facebook has jacked up my account (disabled my ad account, which I haven’t used for five years anyway), allowed someone to run an ad on my account, won’t let me manually dismount the ad, or delete my ad account altogether until I pay for the ad, and all of this with no way of contacting an actual human to try and sort it out…I am officially on the hunt for a reliable social media home for myself, Hiroshimabend, Puppy38, and opiumdenpluto…

Doesn’t have to be fancy, but CANNOT be religious, right-wing-leaning in any way shape or form…(an even split is workable, cos I’m not completely intolerant…everyone needs a laugh from time to time, eh?)…

Thing is, I’m about ready to get outta this place…but I have friends and family, far and wide, who I’d like to stay in touch with…and I still need to find a way to let folks into my music know what’s going on…

Any advice appreciated…and if you wanna stay in touch, send me a DM and I’ll give you my contact details…at least that way I can let whoever’s interested know when I’ve found a new home…

I remember when everybody left MySpace in droves when Fox bought it and it became inundated with ads…we seem to have developed a higher threshold for that bs…I just tried to watch an incomplete reel, with and ad at the bottom, and an ad that interrupted the reel…it’s like the old joke about a new Starbucks opening up in the toilet of another Starbucks…Facebook found a little ass-corner on the 57th floor and said “that looks like a great place to put another ad”…

To quote Johnny Rotten, “ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?”…

Another great is gone…RIP Monte Cazazza…

Monte Cazazza | To Mom On Mother's Day EP [full] (1979)1.To Mom On Mother's Day 2. Candy Manseminal industrial

RIP Teresa…they are not prepared for your inimitable style of bashing up there…give em hell!

Ok, apologies for the lack of brevity here...but something has to be said about KLANG 30:...

It's been a while since I not only attended, but was included as a performer as well, an event that was stocked with such a diverse assortment of artists. The more amazing thing was the people who attended, many of whom have had releases on, or have been affiliated with, Klanggalerie...the conversations with artists and fans alike were almost as enriching as the music...I suppose it's all a conversation anyway.

But thank you Walter and Lisa, for hosting...your efforts are not in vain, and provide more than you may be able to imagine post-pandemic. New friendships were formed here, and possibly new alliances...(and thanks for suggesting me to play along with Nocturnal Emissions and Barnacles...)

Speaking of...Nigel and Teo, it was an honour to play with you, and I hope it was all up to your standards. I appreciate the opportunity to be on the stage with you both, and I will remember it for the rest of my life...

Before I go any further, special thanks to Heidi, for again being the ultimate sound goddess! There was an eye of calm in the centre of the hurricane that first night, and it was you...

The performances by Massimo Toniutti, Alieno De Bootes, Michael Fischer, and Schloss Tegal (Dutch, we're gonna be seeing you and Zaneta hopefully soon for that guide through the dark underbelly of Praja!) were exemplary! And suffice to say, Nocturnal Emissions and Barnacles really brought the whole first night to a compelling close, ending with a tribute to the late Lesley Ayers.

The second night was just as bloody good, with amazing performances by Philip Sanderson, Kevin Tomkins, Sainkho Namtchylak, Hastings of Malawi, and a show-stopping set by Fil Ok (awesome suit, mate!!!...SXSW awaits!).

I was blessed to have many extended conversations with some old friends, and loads of new people who really just put the icing on the cake of two fantastic days.

Let's do it again sometime, eh?

Cheers then, Puppy38/Hiroshimabend

Playing in just a short while with Nocturnal Emissions and Barnacles…

This is who I’m playing with tonight at Klanggalerie 30th in rainy Vienna.

Hiroshimabend got a couple of mentions on the radio program (in Deutsch), Ö1 Zeit-Ton Magazin, for the KLANG 30: festival this Friday and Saturday. Good stuff!

https://sound.orf.at/radio/oe1/sendung/173424/zeit-ton-magazin

Final lineup announced!…

See you in November!…

Z największą przyjemnością prezentujemy 2 część programu
XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival! Udostępniajcie ;)
/// /// ///
With pleasure We announce second part of XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival line up! Don't hesitate to share this poster:)
in alphabetical order:
CITIZEN (pl)
Deutsch Nepal (Official) (se)
hackedepicciotto (einsturzende neubauten) , (de)
Orphx (old school set) (can)
SARDH (de)
SECT7 (pl)
Templər (F)
That's How I Fight (pl)
]]]][[[[ (Vilgoć side proj) (pl)

Ohhhhh...yeahhhhh...

Klang 30: Massimo Toniutti / Alieno de Bootes / Michael Fischer / Schloss Tegal / Nocturnal Emissions & Barnacles & Hiroshimabend Massimo Toniutti ist ein Designer und Soundtüftler aus Udine. Alieno de Bootes ist ein Projekt von Alessandro Pizzin.

Last announcement for the rest of the lineup for XXII WIF coming in a week…can’t wait to see who else I’ll be sharing the bill with!

WIF 2023: 2nd and final announcement - next Tuesday,
STAY TUNED!
/// ///
Drugą część programu WIF 2023 ogłosimy za tydzień-
bądźcie gotowi!

Official!…Can’t wait to play Wrocław Industrial Festival again…and in great company too!

What a lineup!!!

Z największą przyjemnością prezentujemy 1 część programu
XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival, więcej już niebawem!
/// /// ///
With pleasure We announce first part of XXII Wrocław Industrial Festival line up! more soon-stay tuned!
in alphabetical order:
Cult of Youth (USA)
Dave Phillips (CH)
FM EINHEIT (DE)
GRIM 小長谷淳 (J*P)
Harmony of Struggle (PL)
Hiroshimabend (USA)
PUCE MARY (DK)
Te/DIS (DE)
Thighpaul Sandra (UK)
TRIODE (SK)
The Rorschach Garden (DE)
Vonsechsundachtzig (PL)
Zero K**a (AT)

Thanks to Compulsiononline for providing this insightful review of „Stanford“ by Senestra.

Senestra - Stanford review A startling audio recreation of the notorious Stanford Prison Experiment by Alan Rider of Stress and Puppy38 of Hiroshimabend.

Official statement from opiumdenpluto about the new release...

Live At The Snakepit, by hiroshimabend 10 track album

It's Bandcamp Friday! And look, I know money is tight and times are hard, so I'm not even gonna ask you to buy anything. Of course, you can if you want to, and I'll be chuffed to bits. But to celebrate Bandcamp Friday (and only today), I'm offering a free download of a new release, "Live At The Snakepit". It was recorded in 2018 here in Vienna. I do hope you will like it...Cheers then!

Live At The Snakepit, by hiroshimabend 10 track album

Luke Jacobs gives a brilliant (9/10!…thanks, Luke) review of the Senestra CD „Stanford“ by in Brutal Resonance:

https://www.brutalresonance.com/review/senestra-stanford/

There are still a few copies left of the limited edition versions mentioned at:
https://hiroshimabend.bandcamp.com/album/stanford

Review: Senestra - Stanford | Brutal Resonance A Brutal Resonance review of Senestra - Stanford (Experimental)

So without further ado...

There are two (sorta) new releases available on Bandcamp and Discogs...(and hopefully soon on the usual streaming services):

https://www.opiumdenpluto.com/odp051.html
https://www.opiumdenpluto.com/odp055.html

ODP 051 - EFACDIRI is part field recording, part electronics and atmospherics. Recorded in several locations in Iceland, and Vienna, Austria.

ODP 055 - The Sea Spirits Of Grignano is also part field recording, part electronic atmospherics. Recorded in Grignano, Italy and Vienna, Austria.

Both were released in 2018 originally, but only available through the opiumdenpluto website since they were single-track longform works...

But NOW, thanks to the guidelines supposedly put forth by Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, andpractically all of the other streaming services (not to mention rigidly adhered to by my digital distributor LANDR), I've been graced with the privilege of making these releases (and practically all of my catalogue) available with contoured disregard for the artistic integrity they were created with, as well as the ears of the listener and music lover who sometimes might prefer to actually listen, without constraint, to THIS TYPE OF MUSIC (which they actually seem to be trying to phase out, at least from independent artists like myself) as it was intended to be heard...

You could always tell this lot how you feel about the matter, but it's really up to you...

Thanks as always for your support, but most importantly, for listening...

A couple of nice little field recordings coming your way soon...

stay tuned...

To celebrate Bandcamp Friday (when fees are waived to help artists), head on over and grab a FREE download of the latest Hiroshimabend release from opiumdenpluto, entitled "Replugged 2023". It's a live recording from the most recent performance by Hiroshimabend in Vienna a couple of months ago as opening act for The Legendary Pink Dots.

And while you're there, you might get one of the few remaining Limited Edition copies of the debut album by Senestra, "Stanford", which is a collaboration between Puppy38 (Hiroshimabend) and Alan Rider (ATTRITION, Adventures in Reality). The CD comes in a special, 3D-printed "prison cell" case...only 12 left!

There's plenty more on the official Hiroshimabend Bandcamp page, and your support is deeply appreciated.

Cheers then,
Puppy38

https://hiroshimabend.bandcamp.com/album/stanford
https://hiroshimabend.bandcamp.com/album/replugged-2023
https://hiroshimabend.bandcamp.com/

Stanford, by Senestra 10 track album