ALU

ALU sounds like the friction between cold machinery and a human nervous system on the verge of a breakdown. It is the sonic equivalent of a flickering fluorescent light in a damp concrete bunker. The music is built on a foundation of rigid, motorized drum machine patterns and the primitive, buzzing warmth of Korg and Roland synthesizers. Over this, guitars slash through the mix with a brittle, metallic edge, creating a landscape that is both hypnotic and deeply unsettling.

What makes ALU truly distinctive is the transition from their early, monotonous electronic experiments into a more violent, psychopathic trio. The addition of Nadja Molt’s vocals brought a layer of genuine hysteria to the sound, turning their industrial pulses into something more akin to a sonic exorcism. The use of Revox tape units for ping-pong recording adds a unique, decaying echo to their sound, making the recordings feel like they are physically disintegrating as you listen.

For those new to this corner of the German underground, the 2005 release 'Autismenschen' offers the best look at their foundational sound, though their live recordings capture the true, unhinged energy of the Berlin Atonal era. It is music for those who find beauty in the abrasive and comfort in the mechanical.