Séance Centre Radio Episode 6 NTS (Latvian Underground Electronic Music) NO BANTER Dec 12th 2018 by Séance Centre

Just over a year ago I became aware of something bubbling under the surface in Latvia after hearing Belgian label Stroom’s first NSRD releases. My interest grew after my friend Michael Klausman included a Seque track on a mix he did to accompany a book of poetry he did for us. Then again when Stroom released another beguiling document of that scene, a compilation focussing on Ingus Bauskenieks, and Musiques Electroniques Actuelles released a compilation of works by Latvian industrial provocateurs USOCA.

Over the last few months this interest has turned into a bit of an obsession, as it often does with me, and I’ve delved a little deeper in this compelling underground electronic music and art scene, mostly based in and around the Latvian capital of Riga in the 80s and 90s. I am by no means an expert on this, just a fascinated onlooker.

On this show I play a selection of works, most of which were originally released and on 1/4” reel-to-reel tapes, and distributed by copying the reels for friends. The artists were influenced by the insurgent DIY spirit magnitizdat, the re-copying and self-distribution of recordings that were not sanctioned by the Soviet Union. At the time, the release and distribution of music was outlawed unless released on government run labels (such as Melodia). However people were allowed to own reel-to reel tape recorders, and by means of dubbing illicit music travelled from person to person.

If you would like to dive deeper into this unique musical universe I highly recommend checking out Stroom, Musiques Electroniques Actuelles, Underbed Storage and the Pietura website to hear more captivating Latvian underground music.

Tracklisting:

Seque - Putns
Lucerna - Внутри Пространства
Lucerna - Под Покровом
NSRD - 30-15
Seque - Kads Aiziet Garam
L.L.L. - Man Šķiet
Asociāciju Sektors - Ideāls Ir Spēcīgs Milzis
Bedre - Šahs
Seque - Elpa
T.U.M.S.A. - Neļauj!
NSRD - Laser Eye
Ingus Baušķenieks - Es Dziedu Pie
T.U.M.S.A - This Is Black
T.U.M.S.A - Fool's Paradise
Hardijs Lediņš - Tiny Crabs
Rudens Lapas - Silence and Puddles
NSRD - Cherry Flowers