live (during the sound check 'on the run') at the ' Klangbad Festival 2008'
(in Scheer, Germany), line up: Achim Wollscheid + T.Poem + Sea Wanton + C.
Reichelt
live at the ' Wroclaw Industrial Festival 2010' (in Wroclaw, Poland), line up: Achim Wollscheid
+ Sea Wanton (image courtesy of the 'Alternation' zine)
Jammin' Unit + Sea Wanton, live at the 'Liquid Sky Berlin' show (courtesy
of 'Alex-TV', Berlin), 2015
VLUS (CD)
My last outing with Non Toxique Lost wasn’t a pleasant one; their release
“LA DERNIČRE SECTION D'UNE LONGUE CHANSON”
was a collection of the same
song remixed around ten times. At the end of
the review, I remember typing
out that I wanted to see how they would fair
with an album of original
material, as there were hints of genius throughout
the remix collection.
Well, today that question is being answered as
Non Toxique Lost have
recently released their eleven-track album “VLUS”.
Unfortunately, due to
repetitious behavior, “VLUS” doesn’t do much more to
improve my spirits.
The album starts off with an interesting enough noise piece titled ‘keep
out’.
It sounds like the texture one would find in a distorted horror
movie, amping up
tension and generally crafting a sense of uneasiness. The
stroking of guitar strings
gives a chugging sound like a train, and the
other samples throughout only add to
the chaos. Unfortunately, it’s a
repetitive track that has the base structure repeat
itself for its
one-and-a-half-minute duration. Though it lasts under two-minutes,
hearing
the same, redundant sound for that period just had me asking,
“Well, what
comes next?” And nothing ever did.
The follow up track ‘aschekreuz’
commits to the same issue. Pounding industrial
textures take the stage
this time around. It’s ear-catching and grabbed my attention
immediately.
There’s a good sense of tone here, too; unlike other noise bands,
Non
Toxique Lost isn’t trying to absolutely blow your speakers out just to be
edgy.
There’s thought behind the noise, and the production is better than
most of the bedroom
projects you’ll find within the niche genre. But,
again, that industrial clash that
begins the song repeats throughout; from
start to end, aside from a few samples
(and even then those are reused
over and over), the song hardly changes.
While it’s not annoying, it’s
boring.
Moving onto ‘nicht bereit’ which taps into the origins of
rhythm-based industrial music,
I was interested in how the song would
develop. Like an early electro-industrial track
is a bassline formed in a
lo-fi sense, evoking imagery of underground clubs and DIY
magazines. The
initial momentum is, once again, brought down by the fact that once
Non
Toxique Lost has a sound that they like, they stick with it and become
stagnant.
Rather than progressing, experimenting like their idols did, Non
Toxique Lost become
stuck in their ways and refuse to budge. And I’m not
sure if it’s an artistic choice,
laziness, or poor sound design. But,
either way, it needs to be fixed somehow.
And I suppose that’s the real
shame about “VLUS”. There are so many interesting beats,
sounds, and
general experiments on the album that harken back to industrial’s origins.
More often than not, however, is that creativity thwarted due to a lack of
experimental behavior – which is a shame considering that Non Toxique Lost has
a ton
of experimental influences and even tag themselves as such on
platforms such as Bandcamp.
But when I sit there and listen to a song that
has a non-stop bassline that continue
from start to end with no break, or
a repetitive beat that ceases for three,
four-minutes at a time, I’m only
wishing that I was doing something else.
The first three tracks that I
spoke of and the problems therein stick throughout “VLUS”,
and to continue
talking about the album would be redundant. For each of the following
songs I would write something similar such as, “I was really enjoying this
song for XYZ
reasons, but then the beat repeated itself and there went
that.” And that’s from the
first track of ‘keep out’ until the very end
with ‘locken sie uns’. While “VLUS” is
better than “LA DERNIČRE SECTION
D'UNE LONGUE CHANSON”,
it’s still a mediocre effort at best. (source: 'Brutal Resonance',
October 2021)
La Derničre Section D'une Longue Chanson (CD)
In the 1980's, Non Toxique Lost was part of the industrial movement
in Berlin, releasing many of their works on cassette. Later in life, the
project collected their works onto vinyl. 2016 saw the project compose a
new piece for a concert at Berlin Atonal Festival. The song they
composed for it is titled 'Les Fins du Monde', with the last part of
this piece titled 'Untergang'. They then recorded this piece when they
played a gig at Klang 25 Festival in Vienna; Non Toxique Lost crafted
around twenty different versions of this piece for the fest. In 2020,
member Sea Wanton found the tracks in his archive, re-arranged and
re-recorded them with the help of DJ Vrhovny (who also proceeded to make
the final master), and released it on CD. The album, dutifully titled
"la derničre section d'une longue chanson" is a mixed bag of
experimental works that never manifests into a tangible or enjoyable
product.
The first track on the album is titled 'Les Fins
(Berlin)' is a repetitive track that lasts for nearly five-and-a-half
minutes. After a brief, but quite good, sample-riddled intro, an
analogue industrial bassline plays out around the thirty-seven second
mark and loops for the remainder of the track. Though there are other
sounds and instruments that join this noise, such as a gloomy guitar,
but the track became rather boring and annoying after the first
two-minutes. The echoed vocals on the track, though sparse as they are,
don't have any flow or follow the beat whatsoever. The following track,
'Les Fins (Dark Matters)', is much more appreciated. It starts off as a
cinematic dark ambient piece with a steady line of electronic dribble
and reversed whispering intertwined. It's quite spooky. The track
casually builds up, adding in steady drops of hardened percussion that
adds tension. While the wait to the four-minute mark is a bit long, it's
well worth the wait as all Hell breaks loose. Well done.
Unfortunately, 'Les Fins (S.O.T.A.)' falls back into a repetitious
blunder utilizing looping techniques that make the same bassline last
for the entirety of the seven-minute ride. Despite the title, 'Les Fins
(Popsong)' is nowhere near a pop song. It's a moody and gloomy piece
featuring deepened bass guitar and a constant string of samples. I did
not find much to appreciate about this track, however, as it just never
went anywhere.
Ambient-techno takes a turn on 'Les Fins (hic
Rhodos hic Salta)'. The one-minute and forty-five-second wait until
percussion kicked in was a bit long, but from there I soar high into a
fun and atmospheric techno laced experimental track. 'Les Fins (World)'
brought back the same bassline from the first song, and once I heard
that it became a no-go for me; I was already sick of that sound from the
first song and hearing it again put me in a sour mood. I could say much
the same about 'Les Fins (Utrecht)', even though it dives into obscurity
with the second half of the track exploring noise and further
experimental nonsense. Les Fins (Ovita)' uses that same bassline though
with EBM in mind, as does 'Les Fins (Korg)', and 'Les Fins
(Untergang)'.
I understand the intent of this album was to
present various mixes on a single piece, but to re-use a sound or loop
in many of your songs, despite other samples and noises generated with
it, does not make it anymore appreciated. After my first playthrough of
'la derničre section d'une longue chanson', I felt drained. Going
through it multiple times after had me bored and frustrated. The two
songs that I appreciate on the album, 'Les Fins (Dark Matters)' and 'Les
Fins (hi Rhodos hic Salta), had enough independence and difference from
the rest of the tracks that made them stand out incredibly well.
Unfortunately, two out of ten tracks is not a whole lot. This is not an
album that I can appreciate, no matter how many times I have tried.
Nonetheless, this does leave me curious as to how Non Toxique Lost
would sound on an album based on original material, not the same song
remixed over-and-over again. Thankfully, they have a whole discography
of material to sift through, so I can see myself going through it at
some point. After all, I cannot and will not knock off a band based on
one single album. Despite the low score and criticism I bestow on this
album, I urge both yourself and myself to check out the rest of Non
Toxique Lost's discography. (source: 'Brutal Resonance', June 2021)
S.O.T.A. (CD)
Non Toxique Lost have been playing their industrial and political
electronic attitude-driven music for over three decades now. After the
tragic loss of long-time member Steffen Schütze in 2017 they’re now a duo
of Gerd Neumann aka Sea Wanton and Cem Oral aka Jammin’ Unit. While their
older cassette-only works are being reissued on vinyl and CD, this is a
brand new studio recording. It’s based on a “surprisingly dancy” live set
that they performed for the Klanggalerie label’s 25 anniversary.Although
it was videoed, and parts of the performance are available on YouTube,
nobody recorded good quality audio on the night, so the band went into
their studio and recorded it- so it’s studio quality, but with an
energetic, live feel. It’s a masterful journey through the deeper darker
side of electronica, with industrial tones that never really get too
heavy. Sweeping effects, backwards percussion, squelchy bass arpeggios and
various stretched-out noises create atmospheres that feel like an inverted
mirror image of dance music. After the screaming German introduction of
“Bewegen Wir Uns Noch”, the advanced restraint of the music is on display
in the nearly-sinister “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, with its super-gradual
build and unfold. The contrasting tensions are clear on tracks like
“I.N.T.A.S.B.T.L.A.S.S.”, where the dubby understated electronic groove
(reminiscent of some recent Orb tracks) is unmoved by the angry shouting
that’s initially stamped on it. “Schwarze Mamba” is absolutely mesmeric,
and a highlight. It’s got the long, patient building patterns of
Tangerine
Dream, but with a carefully exposed backbone of attitude, and (eventually)
a vocal that’s oddly reminiscent of The Doors’ “Rebel Woman”. A similar
atmospheric build also makes a joy of the catchily titled “Buchenwald
(Case No. 000-50-9. 31 Pleas: NG!)”. People who like their industrial
electronic more urgent and relentless will be more drawn to tracks like
“Untergang”, a war-like call to arms where the pulsing bass pattern
doesn’t let up or pretend to be clever, or the more aggressive snares and
beat poetry-ish vocals of “Buchenwald”. “Ich Bin Nicht Sisyphos” exposes
the band’s 80’s industrial roots. The promotional material is right to
pitch Non Toxique Lost as an underrated band, and in some ways they’re
quite understated too, showing their musical teeth in moderation and with
a lot of maturity. Despite being supposedly quite raw, as a representation
of a live set, nevertheless this is an extremely strong industrial
electronica album that ought to garner
a lot of attention. (source: 'Chain
D.L.K.', June 2020)
We geven hipsters niet graag gelijk, maar het feit dat
Berlijn een van de coolste (muziek)steden van Europa is,
daarin kunnen we hen ook onmogelijk ongelijk geven. Als
alternativo kan je er niet omheen: noem eender
welk subgenre en de Duitse hoofdstad heeft er wel
een bruisende scene van.
Zo had de stad in de jaren 80 een vermaarde industrial
scene met namen als Einstürzende Neubauten,
Sprung aus den Wolken en Die Tödliche Doris. En ook Non
Toxique Lost: minder gekend,
zeg gerust ondergewaardeerd, want volgens sommigen een
van de belangrijkste exponenten.
Het Berlijn van die periode was, denk aan de muur, een
verdeelde stad. Iets wat zich ook vertaalde
in stompe politieke teksten die Non Toxique Lost
frontman Gerd Neumann boven de industriële geluiden uitschreeuwde.
Het soort industrial dat even jachtig en smerig klinkt
zoals we dat leerden kennen op het debuut van Suicide(de ene noemt het punk, een ander industrial, sommigen
electro,... feit is dat het titelloze debuut van Suicide
een tijdloos album is dat iedere serieuze
muziekliefhebber in zijn collectie zou moeten staan hebben.)
Aanvankelijk kwamen, zoals dat vaak het geval was (en
nog steeds is) binnen dit genre, hun albums enkel
op cassette uit. Het album Wanton (1986) kwam uit op
vinyl, waarna het lange tijd stil werd rond dit collectief.
Het bleek echter niet hun zwanenzang want halverwege de
jaren 00 vond men duidelijk een tweede adem,
en bleek Non Toxique Lost terug even actief als in de
beginjaren. Zelfs het tragische verlies van oud-lid
Steffen Schütze zette geen rem op de groep en een jaar
later werd Non Toxique Lost
(voor de gelegenheid omgedoopt tot het duo Sea Wanton &
Jammin’ Unit) door het Oostenrijkse
label Klanggalerie uitgenodigd om hun 25-jarig jubileum
op te luisteren, dit naast klinkende namen als
Renaldo & The Load, Zea, John Avery, Ron Wright,
Rapoon, Simon Crab, Tabor Radosti, Zahgurim,
Thighpaulsandra en Eric Random.
Duitsers wordt weleens verweten dat ze nogal
standvastig kunnen zijn, maar net zoals de krasse knarren van Kraftwerk
het reeds bewezen, zo bleek ook Non Toxique Lost niet
vastgeroest aan het eigen verleden.
De verrassend dansbare set die ze die avond in 2018
brachten werd bijna integraal gefilmd,
doch een audio-opname bleef helaas achterwege.
Zonde, zo bedachten ook de muzikanten die een paar
dagen later unaniem besloten om
de studio in te duiken en dezelfde set opnieuw in te
spelen in hun studio.
Zo hebben de aanwezigen alsnog dat begeerde souvenir,
maar ook voor anderen is dit een meer dan aangenaam document geworden.
We haalden reeds de Suicide-sfeer aan, Alan Vega en
Martin Rev leerden ons dat het heus niet al glitter en glamour
is wat er zich in de New Yorkse straten afspeelde,
‘Bewegen Wir Uns Noch’ lijkt haast het
Berlijnse antwoord, met als gemeenschappelijk kenmerk
dat het ook alhier niet allemaal rozengeur en maneschijn is.
Het souveniertje uit de Koude Oorlog (de muur, weet u
wel), mag ondertussen al wel al zo’n 30 jaar tegen de vlakte liggen),
toch lijkt de invloed van deze verdelende factor een
immer drukkende stempel op de muziek van Non Toxique Lost
gehad te hebben. Je kan je dan afvragen of het ondanks
dan niet juist omwille van die hoop stenen is dat het
gezichtsveld des te breder werd. ‘Dulce Et Deorum Est’,
‘I.N.T.A.S.B.T.L.A.S.S.’ en ‘Studie Zur Wahrheit’
zijn geslaagde oefeningen in dansmuziek. Net zoals
industrial in de jaren 80 zou later techno een prominente hoofdrol
gaan spelen in de Duitse hoofdstad. Iets zegt ons dat
de leden van Non Toxique Lost met veel opwinding ook deze ontwikkeling gevolgd
hebben.
En wie Duitsland en techno met elkaar verbindt komt als
vanzelf dus ook bij Kraftwerk terecht. Wanneer je in een nummer (‘Untergang’)
verschillende stemmen tal van getallen (van boven 2000
-we vermoeden jaartallen) hoort opsommen, gebeurt deze vergelijking haast even
spontaan.
‘Buchenwald’ is het muzikale equivalent van de
figuurlijke bloem op de vuilnisbelt.
Wederom moet gezegd dat een label als Klanggalerie
serieus wat kransen van ons krijgt, door in plaats van het
gemakkelijke succes na te jagen, net die
artiesten terug onder de aandacht te brengen voor
wie de mazen van het net iets te groot waren. (source:
'Dark Entries', August 2020)
We don't like to agree with hipsters, but the fact that Berlin is one of the
coolest (music) cities in Europe, we cannot possibly agree with them. As an
alternative you cannot ignore it: name anything which subgenre and the German
capital has a vibrant scene. In the 1980s, for example, the city had a
renowned industrial scene with names such as Einstürzende Neubauten,
Sprung
aus den Wolken and Die Tödliche Doris. And also
Non Toxique Lost: less known,
Don't be afraid to say undervalued, because according to some one of the most
important exponents. Berlin of that period was, think of the wall, a divided
city. Something which also translated in blunt political lyrics that Non
Toxique Lost frontman Gerd Neumann shouted over the industrial sounds. The
kind of industrial that sounds as hectic and dirty as we got to know on
Suicide's debut (one calls it punk, another industrial, some electro, ... fact
is that Suicide's self-titled debut a timeless album that any serious music
lover should have in their collection.) Initially, as was often the case (and
still is) within this genre, their albums just came on cassette. The album
Wanton (1986) was released on vinyl, after which it became silent for a long
time around this collective. However, it turned out not to be their swan song
because in the mid-00s they clearly found a second wind, and Non Toxique Lost
turned out to be just as active as in the early years. Even the tragic loss of
a former member Steffen Schütze did not put the brakes on the group and a year
later Non Toxique became Lost (renamed the duo
Sea Wanton & Jammin 'Unit for
the occasion) by the Austrian label Klanggalerie to liven up their 25th
anniversary, next to sounding names like Renaldo & The Loaf,
Zea, John Avery,
Ron Wright, Rapoon, Simon Crab,
Tabor Radosti, Zahgurim, Thighpaulsandra and
Eric Random. Germans are sometimes criticized for being quite steadfast, but
just like the crass grunts of Kraftwerk it has already been proven, as it
turned out Non Toxique Lost was not rooted in its own past. The surprisingly
danceable set they brought that evening in 2018 was filmed almost in its
entirety, but an audio recording was unfortunately omitted. A shame, as the
musicians who unanimously decided a few days later to go into the studio and
re-record the same set in their studio. In this way, those present still have
that coveted souvenir, but this has also become a more than pleasant document
for others. We already mentioned the Suicide atmosphere,
Alan Vega and Martin
Rev taught us that it really isn't all glitter and glamor is what happened in
the streets of New York, "Bewegen Wir Uns Noch" almost seems Berlin's answer,
with the common feature that it is not all rosy and moonshine here either. The
Cold War souvenir (the wall, you know), may have been knocked down for about
30 years now), yet the influence of this dividing factor seems to have an
ever-leaving mark on the music of Non Toxique Lost to have had. You may then
wonder whether it is, despite or not, precisely because of that pile of stones
that it is field of view the wider. "Dulce Et Deorum Est",
"I.N.T.A.S.B.T.L.A.S.S." and "Studie Zur Wahrheit" are successful exercises in
dance music. Just like industrial in the 80s, techno would later play a
prominent role going to play in the German capital. Something tells us that
the members of Non Toxique Lost have also followed this development with great
excitement. And whoever connects Germany and techno will automatically end up
at Kraftwerk. When you are in a song ("Untergang") different voices sum up
numerous numbers (from above 2000 - we suspect years), this comparison happens
almost spontaneously. "Buchenwald" is the musical equivalent of the figurative
flower on a landfill. Again, it must be said that a label like Klanggalerie is
seriously getting some wreaths from us, instead of it easy success to pursue,
just bring those artists back to the spotlight for who the mesh of the net was
a bit too big. (source: 'Dark Entries', August 2020)
Berlin, 2003
mit rita über die gleise + kein selbstmord im kölner dom
you have to categorize this music according to the message of the lyrics,
the intonation of the vocals and the choice of instruments. the rhythm gives you the impression
of harmony, in spite of some disharmony. the songs reflect the following: pain, despair, aggression,
insanity, fear, rage, sadism, death, longing, sadness, humility and degradation, in other words,
no melancholy or self- pitiness. sometimes destruction and insanity, as well as a certain fanaticism
is noticed. it's the
search for something remote controlled that is deeply tied. the cry of
your soul for liberation. one of its components is love. that means death and the underground, chaos
and military sounds.
longing for dissolution. to go by train means departure. searching the
target, that means a new day, a new love, a new way. the intonation of the xylophone (in the song: "mit
rita über die gleise") starts
soft and warm-hearted and mystic. and a fine intonation of some chinese
sounds and instruments. the song "kein selbstmord im kölner dom" is somehow confusing, chaotic
and scary. imprisoned, broken to pieces. to break a soul with force, pain and punches, delivering
on a garbage-dump, like punk, rubbish, scum, is an emotion which I'm very familiar with. childhood
and parents. looking
at it another way: the colours are not necessarily bright, but there is
a green course, a heart, the sun on top of the left side and the
endlessness of the earth and the blood.
(source: M. Panek)
Chrrroooooom !, CD
'Chrrroooooom!' is not a specific re-issue of an old release, but rather
a selection ('best of'?) of pieces from six different tapes. This is more
'pop' music than say, well, S.B.O.T.H.I. 'Non Toxique Lost' owes more to
Throbbing Gristle than to Pierre Schaeffer if you get my drift: lots of
rhythm machines, piercing synthesizers, sequenced loops, obscure vocal
bits and all such like, making it very much indeed something like Throbbing
Gristle in their best days. Quite a coherent collection, which makes you want to
search blogosphere for me. Nice stuff, a small revelation. (source: 'Vital
Weekly', February 2011)
Wanton, CD
'Non Toxique Lost' began in the early '80s as a German industrial band that had stuck true ..to the avant-garde / difficult listening propositions to also come through Throbbing Gristle ..and Dome. While plenty of
other industrialists such as Psychic TV and Einsturzende Neubauten ..honed their craft for occluded electronics with sinister motives into
downright catchy tunes, ..'Non Toxique Lost' chose a murky collage
strategy for metal bashing, undulating electronic ..arppegiations,
and megaphone vocal barking. Wanton was the first album for
'Non Toxique Lost', ..recorded between 1982 and 1984 and released
a year later on vinyl. There's an aggressive deconstruction of sound within the primitive synth-punk arrangements which get splattered into amassed distortion from guitar freakouts blowing out of way too small
amplifiers on top of lumbering electronic loops, all of which get cut up and mangled on tape. One of the early members of 'Non Toxique Lost' was Achim Wollscheid, who had also begun his solo project of DIY
musique concrete called S.B.O.T.H.I. before developing his highly
conceptual sound art projects throughout the late '90s. It seems
that 'Non Toxique Lost' is still around, although Wollscheid left many
years ago. Either way, Wanton is a fascinating document of art-damaged noise from this little known German industrial project.
(source: 'aquariusrecords')
Live At The Berlin Atonal 2 Festival, 1983, CD
Who remembers 'Non Toxique Lost'? They were one of the early and German
industrial bands, walking their first steps alongside the likes of Einstürzende Neubauten
and Die Tödliche Doris in Berlin in the early 1980s'. Rising interest in the last years
around their name, thanks to new material released by Dossier, made possible to reissue interesting long out of print material, originally available only on obscure
cassette tapes. It's the case of this exciting live recordings at the Berlin Atonal 2 Festival,
the notorious gathering of avantgarde sounds which saw some of the most representative
names of industrial and experimental music perform on stage
(Psychic TV, Z'ev, The Anti Group, and many others).
'Non Toxique Lost' performed there in 1983, offering a complete spectrum of their furious,
urticant sound, which ranges from tribal percussive rituals to screaming invocations, all built
around distortions, pulsating electronic frequencies, tortured violins, guitar noises and
ferocious vocals. The CDr collects 14 tracks, of which 9 were recorded by the audience
and 5 from the mixer, in very good quality. Their classics, like "Ich Sah Hanoi Sterben",
"Mit Rita Über Die Gleise" (source: 'Filth Forge')
Reichstag lange nicht gebrannt, C CD
What would it have sounded like if Ray Davies had fronted a German industrial band? 'Non Toxique Lost'.
Punk vocals veer from sprightly to rebelliously angry to commanding, sounding almost chipper over
clashing synths and metal plates. The lyrics brash forward, squibbling choruses like “CIA/Gestapo!” and “It’s hip/it’s easy!” Snotty contention melds together stomping electronic bric-a-brac and found sound.
The rhythms are surprisingly catchy, pouncy and upbeat for an abrasive industrial band. Even when
intoning what sounds like “tarantula” over and over again on “Frobot”, the singing is positively dance-worthy.
The backing rhythms churn from otherworldly synths to whipping drum machines to ambulance sirens.
Many of the songs warn against oppressive police states and spy machines, conjuring (and it’s not hard to imagine)
a world where the cold war still rages strong. The claustrophobia evoked on the tracks places the listener
in state of torture, a barren room with shambling walls. The tracks provoke a constant sense of pins and needles,
power struggles and painful losses. This is not torturous torture to listen to, but a replica of a certain state of mind,
a certain confrontation of truth. Occasionally, the vocals work up the negative enthusiasms of the musical accompaniments, and a harsh
battleground of noise ensues. On “Blasser Mond”, for example, the singer drops the punky sing-a-long,
shout-a-long presence for long processed yelps. The music crescendos and dips, building walls and barriers
and then breaking them down. “Ritos y Danzas”, by contrast, spews staccato grunts, but still, as soon as
the singer forms words, something catchy creeps back into the tone. No matter how industrial
'Non Toxique Lost' try to be, no matter how oppressive of a picture they paint of the world around them,
there is something about the music that still wants you to listen, that still wants to cajole you.
(source: 'Heathen Harvest')
Lachen Eins, Single
ThThree brilliant archival tracks by the long-lived Berlin
experimental outfit, first released on cassette in 1984. The pieces are powerful
electronic sound-wads in a classic Industrial style, combining a sense of
post-rock power grabbage with experimental improvisation. Loud croaking vocals,
blats of destroyed piano and the sense of a garbage truck, closing in fast.
(source: 'The Wire', June 2006)
ohne titel, compact cassette
This is an ultra-rare 18-page magazine from 1983 (82 ?) released by Thomas Beck alias Wachsender Prozess. He only made about 50 copies since he didn't find a distributor and he quit after 4 editions. This mag is covering all the good industrial/avantgarde bands. Reviews on Second
Coming, Mnemonists Roto-Limbs, Ramleh, Severed Heads, Mida Jingles Tape on Music
for Midget, a tape that not even Severed Heads do own anymore, 150 murderous
passions. Articles about Apathischer Alptraum, 'Non Toxique Lost', Nocturnal
Emissions, Whitehouse / Come Organisation.
/bin/med/usa, CD
ENFAN () Mar 25 2004, 11:12
I listened to "Adresse : boese" by 'Non Toxique Lost'. Thats terrible music, and the worst is the singer (an unknown writer at the
EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN forum, about
this pre-released mp3 song of "/bin/med/usa")
/bin/med/usa,
CD
NeNever heard of a band called 'Non Toxique Lost' ? If you're into industrial music you should, they put out their first
record during the eighties, then 20 compact cassettes, 3 lps and a couple of cds. "/bin/med/usa" cuts it short showing these three "guys" from Ger-money are not newjacks: industrial music in the way it was meant to be...but not just that. The deutsche style you can hear while listening the "early" (not so early)
Einstuerzende Neubauten is evident, but as you can read in the few lines they left at the beginning of their website: "style
is irrelevant". Obsessive patterns "industrial-style", old-fashioned-drum machines, analogue synth, filters and guitars, the vocals is both martial (...deutsche speakers' emphasis, how could we live without it!!) and visceral up to the different song, I think if you're into this
style of music well you'll love it 'cause it's sexy or violent as it should
be.
Musicwise 'Non Toxique Lost' moves from "industrial-psychic-warfare" to "fetish-electronica" (hey they're on the same label of
Front Line
Assembly should I add something more?), a flavor of "eighties" and let's say
it looks like they'd like to play with the listeners' secret fears. Also the recording somehow sounds old-fashioned and don't come to easy conclusions, when I say "old-fashioned" I don't mean the Berlin combo is completely "surpassed", I just mean it all sounds "retrò" and in a good way, at last on this release. "Dark landscapes and modern
obsessions" if you love things like these and the way the industrial-electronica
used them, I'm sure you're ready for 'Non Toxique Lost'. (source: 'Chain
D.L.K.')
/bin/med/usa, CD
Factual settlement with the unavoidable (the new cd is called "/bin/med/usa")
ThThis is how it would sound if
Klaus Kinski, Einstürzende Neubauten,
Prodigy and Björk all went out for a drink together. 'Non Toxique Lost' establishes a merciless
symbiosis of nice groovy beats, brutal noises and cryptic sounds which seem to permanently outperform the tortured, theater-like lacerating voice of the narrator/vocalist.
Machine defeats human being. The mood is similar to the decension into a torture
dungeon, from where you are confronted with some techno beats. Allured by the fine music
you open the door and you discover an image of horror. The lyrics deal with rage,
morbid passion, desperation and resignation, without having a self-pitying effect.Simply
the naked, unmerciless facts are presented, without offering a solution on how to surface out
of the dirty swamp.
Conclusion: the world is bitter, the people are rotten and life is full
of animosity. 'Non Toxique Lost' allures the listener with cute chill-out rhythms,
which develop into a frightening nightmare. Nevertheless, compared to the former albums of 'Non Toxique Lost', "/bin/med/usa" is much more agreeable and the reason for this could be
that the songs are shorter than before. The program goes from aggressive and rageous ("everybody's
darling") to relaxed and lazy ("uno momento por favor") to humourous and playful
("wendy"). In ("schlechte wahl") you are reminded of former Depeche Mode songs.The
dark, poetic lyrics are partly a crass counter-part to the dissolute, danceable rhythms; soft
sounding instruments (i.e. the digeridoo in ("uno momento por favor")) are melted with industrial Einstürzende Neubauten-esque sounds. It's really worth while to listen
to "bin/med/usa" over and over again ! (source:
A. Henschel, 2004)
advertisment / commercial style="width: 800px">'Non Toxique Lost':
/BIN/MED/USA
From aggresive and rageous to relaxed and lazy to humourous and playful.
Label:....Dossier Format:....CD
Genre:....Industrial / Noise
Style:......EBM/Industrial
NTL establishes a merciless symbiosis of nice groovy beats, brutal noises and cryptic sounds which seem to permanently outperform the tortured, theater-like
lacerating voice of the narrator/vocalist.
/bin/med/usa, CD
Now I have a confession to make here. Quiet at the back whilst I’m rambling.
I have a deep respect for all things German. Love their cars. Love their food.
Even some aspects of their dubious politics through the ages hits a chord with me.
Which kind of includes their uniforms and medals and all the military memorabilia
in those conflicts which we are not supposed to mention for fear of being labelled
a certain type of person. If you know what I mean. See Lemmy out of Motorhead or
Ron Ashton of The Stooges as examples. The country is fantastic to drive through and
their Frauen divine examples of Germanic beauty. This is by the by though. I’ve held
a secret fascination with German music ever since I first heard Amon Düül II and their
mighty ‘Yeti’ release way back in 1970. I followed that up with a serious love affair with
Der Plan and DAF and all their ilk in the proceeding years. By fuck that was good times
for German music. Then I got into all the EBM and heavy Industrial stuff, far too many groups
to mention here, and I still find myself drawn to anything remotely connected to the
German music scene even today. A special mention must go to Einstürzende Neubauten who
are still going strong. Resilient fuckers old Blixa and co. Which ties in nicely with this
review for the latest 'Non Toxique Lost' release ‘/bin/med/usa’ which I’ve had spinning away
for the last few days…not the act hardly known but by only a select few, including me who
adored them, Last Few Days who were something else in every respect…and golly gee whiz
if this isn’t a fucking ace release that, at the very least, demands you should hear it
at least once in your lifetime. You know that feeling you get when you hear a piece of
music for the first time and you get this strange sensation going up and down your spine?
Well ‘/bin/med/usa’ did that for me. The funny thing is that in reality the recording
isn’t original in any shape or form…but it has that ‘certain something’ that just can’t
be described to it that makes you go kind of ‘wow’ when you hear it. Or that could just
be me because I’m wired up and weird that way occasionally. 'Non Toxique Lost' have been
around the block for ages now. Part of the early 80’s German Industrial counter culture
they have ploughed many a field in different musical genres over the years. Flitting
seamlessly between whatever takes their fancy at the time. You just never know what to
expect from these guys. They take their music from many influences and mould it into
their own sound which they are currently experimenting with at the time. This approach
to their music is shown to great effect in ‘/bin/med/usa’ where dance meets rock…and takes
in experimental and other musical styles at a whim. There are traces of DAF, Seilwolf,
Einstürzende Neubauten…even Die Krupps…to be found lurking within these 16 tracks that
twist and turn with an assured Nonchalance that can only be admired. Take the first
track ‘aliens.sk/’ ('adresse:boese') for instance that starts with some static and German vocals before
descending into a turbo charged electro techno light nightmare of beats and screamed
vocals. Or how about the DAF (ish) ‘die schneekoenigin /’ resplendent with a thumping drum beat. If that doesn’t seem your thing then maybe ‘buchenwald /’ and ‘opium 2 /’ with their sludge
rocking style would be to your liking. Looking for a sexy laid back groove…then seek out ‘Wendy /’ for your kicks. So many highlights in a quite superb and highly engrossing
recording all given that added sparkle by the German, and some English, vocals which are
screamed, barked, mutilated or crooned. They rage. They rant at fuck knows what. They seduce.
They fuck you over, in a nice way, like porn studs on ten tablets of high dose viagra.
They are 'Non Toxique Lost'…and don’t you ever fucking forget it. Vorsprung durch Technik
Sea Wanton (vocals, effects), C. Reichelt (electronics, drum machines, effects) and
A. Türpitz (electronics, drum machines, effects, guitar) are the guys to thank for this
impeccable recording. Buy it. Play it. Embrace it. Love it. Then send me an e.mail
of thanks for leading you directly to this fabulous release. It’s the least you can do.
(source: 'Heathen Harvest', 2007)
ogre-sse, LP
.....music from Germany from the late seventies and early eighties. Music
that certainly can't be described as 'Neue Deutsche Welle', but the way more experimental ones. Some of
these bands moved into obscurity and some moved on, gaining more attention later
on, either under the existing name and some under new names. The most unknown one is possibly the band 'Non Toxique Lost', even when
Achim Wollscheid was a band member. 'Non Toxique Lost' existed in the earlier parts of
the 80s and in recent days (having released a 7" on Klangalerie as-well as some CDs on Dossier Records). Back in the old
days, they released a now sought after LP, aswell as tracks on compilations, but never gained the fame of Die
Tödliche Doris or P16.D4. The line up is pretty 'normal', with Sea Wanton (vocals, electronics,
effects), S. Schütze (violin, bass), A. Wollscheid (electronics, guitar, effects), H. Wöhler (live
effects) and Jammin' Unit ( live effects). Rhythm-machines play an important role, over which the band-members
semi-improvise their sounds. Semi, because I think some of this stuff was pre-planned, and that
in some way or the other they rehearsed their songs. Especially when the lyrics can be
heard through all the noise and effects, 'Non Toxique Lost' sound like the lost brother of Throbbing
Gristle. Quite nice, these orgasmic explosions of rhythm and noise. Definitely
one of the nicer bands that got lost, and certainly in demand for more
re-issueing... (source: , 'Vital Weekly')
ogre-sse, LP
Coraz czesciej najrozmaitsze wytwórnie zgodnie z panujaca moda powrotów do
korzeni wydaja na nowo klasyki,
nierzadko opatrzone dodatkowo "modnymi" remixami. Vinyl-On-Demand jest
jednak nieco innym typem
wytwórni, specjalizuje sie, bowiem przede wszystkim w wypuszczaniu na rynek
starych nagran, które nie mialy szczescia
byc wydane w swojej "mlodosci". Na ich plytach odnajdziemy, zatem mroczne
lub innowacyjne utwory twórców niemieckiej,
industrialnej badz experymentalnej sceny, z lat 70-ych i 80-ych. Czasami
równiez w katalogu mozna odnalezc
dzwieki takich odmian muzyki jak noise czy wave. Jako 13 wydawnictwo ukazal
sie album grupy 'Non Toxique Lost'.
Zawiera on 13 zremasteringowanych na nowo tracków, nagranych w latach
1983-85. Jest to pozycja o tyle unikatowa,
ze jedynie czesc z tych utwórów ukazalo sie kilkanascie lat temu na
kasetach, jednakze znaczna wiekszosc pochodzi
z koncertów grupy i nigdy nie zostala wydana. Jesli chodzi o warstwe
muzyczna, mamy do czynienia z "czyms"
(jak sami twórcy okreslaja) w rodzaju "primal industrial-punk", który brzmi
nie mniej wiecej jak noise,
co sprawia, ze do tej plyty trzeba podejsc w odpowiadni sposób. Byc moze
wlasnie nieprawidlowe podejscie niektórych osób
jest powodem, dla którego ten gatunek ma raczej wiecej przeciwników niz
zwolenników. Jednak podazajac za mysla
jednego z bardziej znanych twórców noisu (Masami Akita aka Merzbow), jesli
spostrzezemy pop jako pewnego rodzaju
"uporzadkowany halas", wnet, jakikolwiek dzwiek równiez bedzie mógl byc
uwazany za muzyke. Takie rozumowanie
zdecydowanie bardziej przybliza nam ten material. Pierwsze dwa utwory
pochodza z koncertu w Amsterdamie z 1985 roku.
"Der Tod Des Soldaten" jest polaczeniem urywanych glosów, zakurzonych szumów
rezonansu radiowego oraz wszelkiego rodzaju
przesterowanych szmerów. Co ciekawe ów track zawiera nawet rytm, który jest
rzadkim gosciem na tym albumie.
Za jego odliczanie odpowiedzialne sa ordynarne, industrialne uderzenia.
Podobnie rzecz sie ma z nastepnym nagraniem, z tym,
ze jednak klimat w nim zawarty nie jest juz tak gesty i smolisty jak u jego
poprzednika. Z poczatku glównym motywem wydaje
sie byc turkot pociagu, któremu towarzyszy odglos metalowego gongu oraz
róznych krzyków. Nastepnie track odkrywa przed nami ladne tla,
staje sie wrecz melodyjny. Innymi ciekawymi utworami sa niby-ebm'owy "Wer
Keinen Schmerz Mehr Spürt" posiadajacy ladne
fortepianowe zakonczenie, a takze bardzo agresywny "Kriegstanz". Calosc w
mniejszym lub wiekszym stopniu wydaje sie byc
odzwierciedleniem industrialnych odglosów, przez co album ten brzmi bardzo
metalicznie i niejednokrotnie ciezko.
Nasi bohaterowie zadbali równiez o typowe nagrania zaopatrzone w wysokie
czestotliwosci, dzieki którym moga w bardzo
szybki sposób przyprawic swych sluchaczy o ból glowy, sa nimi, np. halasliwy
"Montmartre" czy wyjaco-piszczacy "Jedes Wort Ist Wahrheit".
Mimo wszystko zaliczam te pozycje do grona ciekawych, niedbalosc o rytm lub
jego czestokrotne zupelne pominiecie - topi
wszelkie nadzieje na tanecznosc, praktycznie kompletny brak jakichkolwiek
wpadajacych w ucho motywów pozwala spojrzec
na te muzyke z nieco innej perspektywy. Na pewno jest to swego rodzaju
skrajnosc, lecz warto jej skosztowac.
(source: Pomidor, www.clubbing.slask.pl )
ogre-sse, LP
though am still missing 'wanton' their legendary sole lp i was totally
curious to listen to the sounds of
'Non Toxique Lost' and gotta admit that at least the last year we had
the chance to listen to 2 great compilations of their stuff on wachsender prozess an lp whose combination and atmosphere
brought in mind more experimental stuff compared to the recent one on vinyl on demand (ogre-sse)
that captures the more industrialish sound of the project.
(source: 'Absurdities #11 / (Phasemag)')
ogre-sse, LP
13 songs pulled out of the stream of time (1983-1985).They have never been on record or on air(nevertheless, some have been released on international cassette-compilations in the '80s). Back then they called it "primal industrial-punk". Heavy shit. [industrial-minimal]
(source: https://www.flexx.be)
terre et argent, LP
...and
the second edition looks like this....
LP NTL / 'Non
Toxique Lost' (Achim Wollscheid)
Terre et Argent
first Original edition of 100 copies in individually handsprayed covers
2 Inserts WACHSENDER PROCESS 07
GERMANY 2004
NEW
abstract industrial music from the 80-ies sold out at the label
For people who like Psychic TV / Zos-kia / Bourbonese Qualk / Der Plan
/ SPK / Throbbing Gristle / DAF
/ Telepherique / Tesendalo / Brume / Organum / David Jackman / Asmus Tietchens
/ Werkbund / Mirror / Andrew Chalk / Colin Potter / HNAS / P16D4 / SBOTHI / Af Ursin /
Vance Orchestra / Ultra Milkmaids
/ Small Cruel Party / Toy Bizarre / Callabris / Cranioclast / O Yuki
Conjugate / John Duncan / Nurse With Wound
/ Zoviet France / Mnemonists / Roland Kayn / INA-GRM / LAFMS / SELEKTION / DOM
/ Mixed Band Philanthropist / Hafler Trio / 'Non Toxique Lost' / CM von
Hausswolff / Michael Prime / Mnemonists / Giancarlo Toniutti / Etant Donnes / Yeast Culture / Maeror Tri / Troum / Drone etc.
(source:
on ebay (24.3.2006 ) by watzmann.nl)
siga siga,
CD
.......
ItIt's always interesting - and somewhat difficult - to review a CD that just doesn't want to fit itself into anyone
easily definable category. It makes it hard when so often there is not a lot to compare it to, as well as the
added trouble of not knowing who your audience is as you would for something easily catalogued. According
to 'Non Toxique Lost' themselves, they were one of the pioneers in the German industrial scene of the 80s;
their monicker on their website "style is irrelevant" seems better suited to their music approach. Siga Siga is
an interesting and unique music experience to say the least. 'Non Toxique Lost' definitely do not let anything
- including genre restraints - hold them back in their expression of their music. A wide assortment of instruments,sounds, manipulations, "vocal" styles, and pretty much anything else you can think of are used; each song gets
its own special treatment and definitely stands apart from the rest. No real description could possibly tackle
the whole album, so I will do my best to describe a couple tracks and let you decide from there. Lets start
with the sixth track, Ruft Mich an in der Zukunft. There are so many different elements going on simultaneously,
representing different ideas and feelings that I am not sure what to even think. The track starts off with some
reversed noises and a hard intermittent piano sound. As these continue, what appears to almost be a tribal
instrument made of bones being hit comes in accompanied by a distant voice chanting (?) in the background.
Everything builds and swells, moving and transforming as the track progresses. Part way through, everything
but the bone instrument quiets down as a group begins a song-like chant in a foreign tongue. Later after the
voices die down, random electronic noises enter making an almost happy little catchy tune to accompany
everything else that is still going on; and by the conclusion, we finish on this happy electronic tribal tune -
different to say the least. If you think you can define this as a genre, feel free to. Liberty Voice Wave is a
personal favourite of mine. This is much more of an electronic track than Ruft Mich an in der Zukunft, actually,
they are nothing alike at all. When it starts, it reminds me of a Nine Inch Nails <http://www.nin.com> track
with the sound of its electronic drumbeat - very Reznor like in style. I wouldn't say the song has vocals,
more just generally unidentifiable sound samples from wherever used as a voice peace for the track.
I really like the swerving noise that comes in about a minute and a half into the song. It really adds to the
tracks electronic feel and has a nice darker vibe to it. Of course you know 'Non Toxique Lost' can't stop there.
Airbursts from broken pipes provide sound alternating from speaker-to-speaker in the second half of the track
with a mingling of various other textures as eventually the voice samples fade out. Though subtly underneath
everything else, the little item that sounds like a distorted and reversed "blurp" underneath water is one of
my favourites. Liberty Voice Wave really trails off well, and it isn't until you listen to the last couple of
seconds and then go back to the start that you realize what a transformation it goes under.
Liberty Voice Wave do their own thing, which you will either like or not. I would compare Siga Siga
to something, but I can't. Though there might be bands or albums similar, I am just not familiar with
them. If you are thinking of trying this, just be sure that you are open minded musically. The two tracks
I have described sounds nothing like any of the other 11 songs, which all sound pretty different from
each other again. If you are into artists or albums wherein you never know where each track will take
you, this is an album for you. Enjoy!
(source: 'Heathen Harvest')
siga siga, CD
On the
digipack of this release you'll get just the basic infos like name of the
band, title of the record and the tracklist on the back, if communication
means something this decision says it all. I'm almost sure I've recognized the
voice of Sea Warton and the sound it's almost the same but there's something
different in this release. I dunno if the band has suffered any line up
changes but the songs are more skeletal, everything on this record goes
straight to bone, the music gets even more visceral, the most of the songs
lyrics are in german language. The vocals are more controlled or I'd better
say that everything on this record is more in control, more tempered. "Siga
siga" is less heterogeneous than "/bin/med/usa" but in a positive way, since
for the whole length of the cd it will be like being thrown into the band's
dimension. If the previous release was obsessive, "Siga Siga" is
confidentially/visceral obsessive, these Berliners are working on your skull
with a screwdriver it
clear from the beginning (Kein stern). If I were psychoanalist I'd say these
people have finally arrived to meet their own "self" or well, maybe it all is
nothing but a trip that has gone bad. If you're not confidential with the band
my suggestion is to start from "Siga Siga", nothing could be worse/better.
(source: 'Chain D.L.K.')