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Luftwaffe (band)
Encyclopedia
Luftwaffe is a martial, neofolk
and post-industrial music group from Chicago
, USA.
and other similar Industrial
artists. After attending a performance by Death in June
, Strength Through Joy and NON
in 1997, they decided to formulate a one-time performance for the Disassembly Avant Garde Art Forum in the spring of 1998, under the moniker of Luftwaffe. The 5-minute performance, featuring found-percussion, analog synthesis and the “immortal words of the all too mortal Aleister Crowley
” was well received. It was decided that Luftwaffe would become a full time musical endeavor.
, with overwhelming Nihilistic
overtones and themes of Time as Sentience, Adam Qadmon, the number 36 as derived from Lamedvavnik/Solipsistical Oligarchism (Tzadikim Nistarim
) and the Kalki
Avatar of Hindu
mythos.
Much of the lyrical content comes from the writings (and recordings) of mid twentieth century writer and philosopher N1 Xian:
"When perceived correctly, the world is a mirror which, disinterestedly, maintains a current record of our nature and constitution. Within this vast parabolic mirror, we should be able to see clearly the forms our faults have taken--which daily stand in our way. Yet, for the sake of allotting our inadequacies a wide berth and so as to avoid running into them head-on, we have learned to artfully avoid our own reflections. Our most regrettable qualities have successfully overwhelmed our nobility and now the image of a man has become indistinguishable from the form of his fault. Of a man, it can no longer be said that he is as a monkey aping the behavior of angels. For in our avoidance of ourselves, we have given up even on strife. The purpose of this critique is not to aide in the composition of an epic satire; rather, I would that this knowledge serve as a launching pad. We can correct the human model--there is a method." - N1. Xian
The group uses imagery surrounding Trepanation
(or the boring of a hole in the skull) and the symbolism thereof, based primarily in the modern movement directed toward the obtaining of higher consciousness through the method. The writings of Bart Huges
, Joe Mellen and 20th century horologist John (J1) Constance, heavily influence their direction.
Luftwaffe's current live performance personnel line-up features vocals and instrumentation from N2 Itiniti and Sasha Feline both of the Neofolk
group Valence. In performance and on recordings, Luftwaffe and collaborateurs incorporate a variety of instrumentation including: Acoustic 12 and 6 string guitar, bass, flute, melodica, strum stick, trumpet, bugle, analog synthesizers, live percussion, dulcimer, bowed psaltery, sampling and tape manipulation.
, Boyd Rice
, State Research Bureau, Ostara
, Survival Unit, Nookleptia, Jason Hyde, Pyrrhic Victory
, AIT! and Panicsville
.
Neofolk
Neofolk is a form of folk music-inspired experimental music that emerged from post-industrial music circles. Neofolk can either be solely acoustic folk music or a blend of acoustic folk instrumentation aided by varieties of accompanying sounds such as pianos, strings and elements of industrial...
and post-industrial music group from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, USA.
History
The group was conceived of in 1997 by founding members b9 InViD and j1 StatiK, as they were introduced by a mutual friend and quickly became friends due to a common interest in the music of Boyd RiceBoyd Rice
Boyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
and other similar Industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
artists. After attending a performance by Death in June
Death in June
Death in June are a neofolk group led by English folk musician Douglas Pearce, better known as Douglas P. The band was originally formed in Britain in 1981 as a trio, but after the other members left in 1984 and 1985 to work on other projects, the group became the work of Douglas P. and various...
, Strength Through Joy and NON
Non
Non, non or NON can refer to:* French equivalent to English "no"; Italian equivalent to English "not"; Latin equivalent to either "not" or "no"...
in 1997, they decided to formulate a one-time performance for the Disassembly Avant Garde Art Forum in the spring of 1998, under the moniker of Luftwaffe. The 5-minute performance, featuring found-percussion, analog synthesis and the “immortal words of the all too mortal Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
” was well received. It was decided that Luftwaffe would become a full time musical endeavor.
Themes
Thematically, Luftwaffe’s music and "oratorical demagoguery" is derived from several different schools of thought. Their primary cosmology is rooted in SolipsismSolipsism
Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist. The term comes from Latin solus and ipse . Solipsism as an epistemological position holds that knowledge of anything outside one's own mind is unsure. The external world and other minds cannot be known, and might not...
, with overwhelming Nihilistic
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
overtones and themes of Time as Sentience, Adam Qadmon, the number 36 as derived from Lamedvavnik/Solipsistical Oligarchism (Tzadikim Nistarim
Tzadikim Nistarim
The Tzadikim Nistarim or Lamed Vav Tzadikim , often abbreviated to Lamed Vav, refers to 36 Righteous people, a notion rooted within the more mystical dimensions of Judaism. The singular form is Tzadik Nistar .-Origins:...
) and the Kalki
Kalki
In Hinduism, Kalki is the tenth and final Maha Avatar of Vishnu who will come to end the present age of darkness and destruction known as Kali Yuga. The name Kalki is often a metaphor for eternity or time...
Avatar of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
mythos.
Much of the lyrical content comes from the writings (and recordings) of mid twentieth century writer and philosopher N1 Xian:
"When perceived correctly, the world is a mirror which, disinterestedly, maintains a current record of our nature and constitution. Within this vast parabolic mirror, we should be able to see clearly the forms our faults have taken--which daily stand in our way. Yet, for the sake of allotting our inadequacies a wide berth and so as to avoid running into them head-on, we have learned to artfully avoid our own reflections. Our most regrettable qualities have successfully overwhelmed our nobility and now the image of a man has become indistinguishable from the form of his fault. Of a man, it can no longer be said that he is as a monkey aping the behavior of angels. For in our avoidance of ourselves, we have given up even on strife. The purpose of this critique is not to aide in the composition of an epic satire; rather, I would that this knowledge serve as a launching pad. We can correct the human model--there is a method." - N1. Xian
The group uses imagery surrounding Trepanation
Trepanation
Trepanning, also known as trephination, trephining or making a burr hole, is a surgical intervention in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the human skull, exposing the dura mater in order to treat health problems related to intracranial diseases. It may also refer to any "burr" hole created...
(or the boring of a hole in the skull) and the symbolism thereof, based primarily in the modern movement directed toward the obtaining of higher consciousness through the method. The writings of Bart Huges
Bart Huges
Hugo Bart Huges was a Dutch librarian and proponent of trepanation. He attended, but did not complete, medical school at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1964 he published "The Mechanism of Brainbloodvolume " a scroll in which he proposed that trepanation could be used to...
, Joe Mellen and 20th century horologist John (J1) Constance, heavily influence their direction.
Live
Neofolk
Neofolk is a form of folk music-inspired experimental music that emerged from post-industrial music circles. Neofolk can either be solely acoustic folk music or a blend of acoustic folk instrumentation aided by varieties of accompanying sounds such as pianos, strings and elements of industrial...
group Valence. In performance and on recordings, Luftwaffe and collaborateurs incorporate a variety of instrumentation including: Acoustic 12 and 6 string guitar, bass, flute, melodica, strum stick, trumpet, bugle, analog synthesizers, live percussion, dulcimer, bowed psaltery, sampling and tape manipulation.
Releases
In the over eight years since their inception, Luftwaffe has had 10 official releases and has appeared on several compilations. They have collaborated with a number of artists, including Valence, Death In JuneDeath in June
Death in June are a neofolk group led by English folk musician Douglas Pearce, better known as Douglas P. The band was originally formed in Britain in 1981 as a trio, but after the other members left in 1984 and 1985 to work on other projects, the group became the work of Douglas P. and various...
, Boyd Rice
Boyd Rice
Boyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
, State Research Bureau, Ostara
Ostara (band)
Ostara is a British folk music music group, "described in the musical press as a neo-folk / pop music hybrid", founded by Richard Leviathan and Timothy Jenn, as a change of name and stylistic direction from their previous band, Strength Through Joy. Jenn left the band in 2001...
, Survival Unit, Nookleptia, Jason Hyde, Pyrrhic Victory
Pyrrhic victory
A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.-Origin:...
, AIT! and Panicsville
Panicsville
Panicsville is a Chicago noise music group founded in 1992 by Andy Ortmann with David Forquer and Ryan Kohler. It has become an ongoing project for Ortmann to work with other musicians. Early shows consisted of pelting the audience with items like dry ice, meat, blood and insects...
.
Discography
- International Condemnation (CD, Kalki’s Army 1999)
- The World That is Lost (CD Single, Limited Edition of 25, Kalki’s Army 2001)
- Live in Feraland (CD of live concert performance in 2000, limited to 50, 2000)
- Horologia Ferrea (CD, Limited Edition of 100, Kalki’s Army)
- The Trepan of the Clock (CD/Magazine, Limited Edition of 100, Kalki’s Army 2002)
- Hot Snake at the Back (7 inch split with Nookleptia, Limited to 100 Kalki’s Army/NSL)
- Solipsistica Nihilisti (10 inch LP, Limited to 333 copies Punch Records 2004)
- Trephanus Uhr (CD 2004, Kalki’s Army)
- Event Nihility (CD 2006, Punch Records)
- Lamed Vav (7 inch split with Valence, 2006)
- Bloodline/Helith's Hill (7 inch split with Awen, Limited Edition of 100, LAW1945 2008)
- Ere I perish (CD 2010,OECD 129 - Old Europa Cafe)
Compilations
- The OSS: First Transmission (Feraland, 2001)
- Boyd RiceBoyd RiceBoyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
: The Way I Feel (CD, Mute) - Wigs on Fire: A Tribute to the B-52'sThe B-52'sThe B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
(Double CD set, Nihilist RecordsNihilist RecordsNihilist Records is a record label that releases noise music albums, and is similar to labels like Load Records and Hanson Records, though it tends to release bands that are more controversial or offensive in a sensational manner...
) - Security of Ignorance (10 LP Box Set, Thaglasz, 2002)
- Tempus Knoll (CD, Available only at live performances, Feraland 2002)
- Der Waldgänger: a tribute to Ernst Junger (LP compilation, Thaglasz)
Video
- Luftwaffe and Valence: Live at Off Broadway (DVD 2006, to be released with Lamed Vav 7 inch, Kalki’s Army)
- “Flicker” (Music Video, 2002. Directed by b9 InViD)
Outside appearances
- Are You Going to Leave Me? (7 inch Panicsville plays Shirley CollinsShirley CollinsShirley Elizabeth Collins MBE is a British folksinger who was a significant contributor to the English Folk Revival of the 1960s and 1970s...
, b9 InViD guitar, 2005) - OstaraOstara (band)Ostara is a British folk music music group, "described in the musical press as a neo-folk / pop music hybrid", founded by Richard Leviathan and Timothy Jenn, as a change of name and stylistic direction from their previous band, Strength Through Joy. Jenn left the band in 2001...
: Ultima Thule (b9 InViD, sampling, 2003)
Gigography
- April 17, 1998 @ Disassembly Avant Garde Art Forum—Columbia, Missouri USA
- January 30, 1999 with Lucinati @ The Downunder—Columbia Missouri USA.
- April 12, 1999 with LUXT @ Davey’s Uptown—Kansas City, Missouri USA.
- May 14, 1999 with St. Groovus @ Shattered—Columbia, Missouri USA.
- January 21, 2000 with Terminal Bliss @ Morseland—Chicago, Illinois USA.
- June 2, 2000 with SCSISCSISmall Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
and Digital Hitmen @ The Firehouse—St. Louis, Missouri USA. (Recordation of the Live in Feraland CD) - August 26, 2000 with NONNonNon, non or NON can refer to:* French equivalent to English "no"; Italian equivalent to English "not"; Latin equivalent to either "not" or "no"...
/Boyd RiceBoyd RiceBoyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
and cJ Idea Thief @ The Firehouse—St. Louis, Missouri USA. - January 18, 2001 with PanicsvillePanicsvillePanicsville is a Chicago noise music group founded in 1992 by Andy Ortmann with David Forquer and Ryan Kohler. It has become an ongoing project for Ortmann to work with other musicians. Early shows consisted of pelting the audience with items like dry ice, meat, blood and insects...
@ Günther Murphy's Public House—Chicago, Illinois USA. - July 14, 2002 with Nookleptia and Spires that in the Sunset RiseSpires That in the Sunset RiseSpires That in the Sunset Rise is an American Psych folk band from Decatur, Illinois. The four original members of the band grew up together in Decatur, Illinois, eventually moving to Chicago, Illinois where they began to experiment with creating songs...
@ The Empty Bottle—Chicago, Illinois USA. - October 20, 2002 with Death in JuneDeath in JuneDeath in June are a neofolk group led by English folk musician Douglas Pearce, better known as Douglas P. The band was originally formed in Britain in 1981 as a trio, but after the other members left in 1984 and 1985 to work on other projects, the group became the work of Douglas P. and various...
and NONNonNon, non or NON can refer to:* French equivalent to English "no"; Italian equivalent to English "not"; Latin equivalent to either "not" or "no"...
@ The Congress Theatre—Chicago, Illinois USA. - November 8, 2002 with Ostara DJK/Phosgen and Operation Cleansweep @ The Red Rose—London UK.
- April 3, 2005 with Death in JuneDeath in JuneDeath in June are a neofolk group led by English folk musician Douglas Pearce, better known as Douglas P. The band was originally formed in Britain in 1981 as a trio, but after the other members left in 1984 and 1985 to work on other projects, the group became the work of Douglas P. and various...
and 15 Degrees Below Zero @ The Glas Kat-San Francisco, CA USA. - April 9, 2005 with Novy SvetNovy SvetNovy Svet is a sparkling wine from Novıy Svet area in Crimea.-Production:Novy Svet sparkling wines are made by the traditional champagne method, hand riddled by one person and bottle fermented for three years...
and AIT! @ Super Deluxe—Tokyo, Japan. - November 18, 2005 with Valence and Thanatos Eternal @ Off Broadway St. Louis, USA