Various Artists - Berlin Atonal 85

Cassette, C90

Label : Unknown, Unofficial Release, France


"Berlin Atonal" festival has become mythic in the odyssey of 80s industrial & post-industrial musics. Unfortunately, I've not found anywhere a detailed history of the festival, except in an old interview (1985) of the festival organizers (Dimitri Leningrad & Adi Atonal) published in french magazine Hello Happy Taxpayers #4/5 (see below).
The festival began in 1982 and ended in 1990. The first edition took place at SO36 on 26-28 november 1982 with only Berlin bands : Einstürzende Neubauten, Sprung Aus Den Wolken, Die Haut, Notorische Reflexe, etc. In december 1983, the second edition featured international artists such as Psychic TV and Z'EV. Berlin Atonal 3 took place in february 1985 ; the cassette uploaded here contains recordings from that third edition. The festival occured until 1990 but the history of the second decade is obscure to me... In 1999, a new edition was organized during several days, but was it the last and least ? Anyone more info ?

Amongst the many artists who performed live in Berlin Atonal, let's mention Einstürzende Neubauten (for the first and last edition, in 1982 and 1999), Etant Donnés, Laibach, Malaria!, Non Toxique Lost, Psychic TV, Test Dept., Z'EV, Zos Kia...

A record label named Atonal Records was also created, releasing vinyls and CDs, some of these being live recordings from the festival.

Live recordings from the festival can be heard on those releases :

Alu - Geistige Erneuerung [Cassette, Der Letzte Schrei !]
Einstürzende Neubauten - Architektur & Geißelnahme [Cassette, Unofficial Release] DOWNLOAD

Einstürzende Neubauten - Architektur & Geißelnahme [LP, Unofficial Release]

Gerechtigkeits Liga - Per Ignem Ad Lucem [2 x LP + 7" + DVD, Vinyl-on-demand]

Head Resonance Company - Live [CDR, GO aHEAD]

Head Resonance Company - Live 1983 [DVDR, Vinyl-on-demand]

Malaria! - Beat The Distance [LP, Rebel Rec.] DOWNLOAD

Non Toxique Lost - Ogre-Sse [LP, Vinyl-on-demand]

Non Toxique Lost - Live At The Berlin Atonal 2 Festival, 1983 [CDR, Hic Rhodos - Hic Salta]

Psychic TV - Live In Berlin [VHS, Studio !K7]

Psychic TV - Mein*Goett*In*Gen [CD, Dossier] DOWNLOAD

Psychic TV & Genesis P-Orridge - Temporary Temple & Atonal [CD, Dossier]

Psychic TV / La Loora - Berlin Atonal Vol. 2 [LP, Atonal Records] DOWNLOAD

Psychic TV / Z'EV - Berlin Atonal Vol. 1 [LP, Atonal Records] DOWNLOAD

Test Dept. - Atonal & Hamburg "Live" [CD, Dossier] DOWNLOAD

The Anti Group - The Delivery [LP, Atonal Records] DOWNLOAD

The Anti Group - The Delivery [CD, Anterior Research Recordings]

Various - Berlin Atonal [Cassette, Stechapfel Produktion]
Zos Kia / Coil - Transparent [Cassette, Nekrophile Rekords]

Zos Kia / Coil - Transparent [LP, Eskaton]

Zos Kia / Coil - Transparent [CD, Threshold House] DOWNLOAD

"Berlin Atonal 85" cassette is an unofficial release featuring excerpts from the concerts recorded during the Berlin Atonal festival, February 17-18 1985. That cassette was sold by french magazine Hello Happy Taxpayers #4/5, that also contained an interesting interview of Berlin Atonal organizers (see below).
All the bands here are "celebrities" needing no introduction, except Art Deco, a band from Budapest (Hungary) ; they have a discreet page on the Web but it doesn't help much. I'd love to hear more from/about them... And thank to Phoenix Hairpins, those who don't know Zahgurim can download their excellent Moral Rearmament LP !


Tracklist :

A1. Intro Atonal (1:27)
A2. Club Moral - Nazis Of The Night (7:02)
A3. Test Dept. - [???] / The Fall From Light / Total State Machine (18:24)
A4. Art Deco - [???] (7:47)
A5. Étant Donnés - [???] (9:49)
B1. Zahgurim - [???] / Shower Scene (14:59)
B2. Laibach - [???] / Ti Ki Izzivas (11:28)
B3. The Anti Group / Clock DVA - Morpheus' Baby (7:39)
B4. Gerechtigkeits Liga - [???] / [???] (12:36)

DOWNLOAD