Blanck Mass

Blanck Mass, the solo project of Fuck Buttons member Benjamin John Power, is dropping a new 12" single next month with the release of "Bloodhound / You."  The A-side is a hyper swirling mix of electronics and black metal vocals.  It will give you the shakes.  Check it out below and pre-order the record here from the artist and Weirding Way.

Daily Jam - Surf Solar

For a stretch of time back in 2009/2010, every single outdoor music event I attended got rained on. And not just a quickie shower or anything like that, but a soaking, steady downpour to make things wet, muddy, and often miserable. South By Southwest, Austin City Limits, Free Press Summer Fest in Houston…it didn’t matter. The clouds opened and drenched us everywhere I went. Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2009 was particularly nasty on that last day. The rain was cold, the ground was muddy and slippery, and the temperature dropped into the 50’s, leaving me ill for the next few following days after. But it was totally worth it. I got to see Danzig. I got to see Crystal Castles. I got to see Trish Keenan perform with Broadcast and with Atlas Sound. And I got to see British electronic duo Fuck Buttons, whose particular brand of Krautrock and post-rock indebted electro-noise-fusion lifted me from my feet and blasted me into space, scattering my remains amongst the cosmos. And all of this despite the raindrops hitting me in the face.

“Surf Solar,” the opening track from that year’s Tarot Sport LP, was a highlight, both of the festival performance and the album in general. As the song begins, electronic textures and noises bleep and crackle together like the sounds of computers and space-age equipment warming up. The motorik bass beat begins to pulse, those textures and noises aligning, while new and dramatic waves of synthesized sound join in layer upon layer. It’s like getting strapped in, the countdown beginning, the sky opening up before you. And then you’re launched. And you move faster and faster, the images of this world and beyond blurring into indecipherable colors along your periphery. Single points of light become endless lines. The present and future in front of you bends and morphs, a barrage of images, colors, symbols, like diving into some magical realm or acid trip. Everything is connected. Everything is eternal. Everything has meaning. And then you meet God. Or a space baby.

And then it concludes. And you’re back on Earth.

I wish more songs made me feel like that.

Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Blanck Mass

In the early days of the pandemic last year, electronic artist Blanck Mass livestreamed and recorded an improvisational performance of synths and beats called "Mind Killer."  It's awesome, and is now getting a proper vinyl release from the good folks at Sacred Bones.  Check out the whole thing below and order the record here.

Andrew Hung

Andrew Hung of Fuck Buttons is all set to release his first full length solo album in October on Lex.  First single "Say What You Want" does not sound anything like his previous output, but is still a captivating little nugget of sound, using the artist's vocals for the first time.  Listen below and pre-order the "Realisationship" LP here.

Blanck Mass

Over the last few years, Blanck Mass (Benjamin John Power of Fuck Buttons) has made some stellar electronic music, using an array of analog synths, scrambled samples, chaotic, scorching techno, noise, and cinematic soundscapes.  Sacred Bones will be releasing the upcoming "World Eater" LP in March, but you should listen to the crunchy, scattered collage of sound that is "Please" below.

Jean-Michel Jarre and Fuck Buttons

Longtime electronic music artist Jean-Michel Jarre has a new record coming out this week, "Electronica 1: The Time Machine," featuring a whole slew of guest artists, from Air to Massive Attack to M83 to Tangerine Dream and more.  Take a listen to the Fuck Buttons assisted "Immortals" below and get the record here.

Blanck Mass

Blanck Mass is Benjamin John Power, one half of the experimental electronic prog act Fuck Buttons, and new album "Dumb Flesh" sounds a lot more like that project than it does previous Blanck Mass efforts.  That is not a bad thing, as i'm all for the occasional forays into noise and chaos as well as the beautiful sweeping synths and samples that the record contains.  Listen to album closer "Detritus" below and get the record from Sacred Bones.

John Carpenter remixed by Blanck Mass

John Carpenter's "Lost Themes" came out today, and because i'm so stoked, here's the Blanck Mass (Benjamin John Power of Fuck Buttons) remix of "Fallen" taken from the deluxe version of the release.  Listen below and get the album on Sacred Bones.

Fuck Buttons - The Red Wing video

I couple of weeks ago, the first taste of Fuck Buttons' new album "Slow Focus" made its way onto the web. And now we have some trippy visuals to accompany it.  Check out the video for "The Red Wing" below and be on the lookout for the new record next month from All Tomorrow's Parties.

New music from Fuck Buttons

I've been out of the loop the last few days (i'm a dad now), but what better news to come back to than a new Fuck Buttons album on the horizon in July.  This edit of "The Red Wing" comes from new album "Slow Focus" on ATP.  Listen below.

Blanck Mass

Fuck Buttons' Benjamin John Power records solo under the moniker of Blanck Mass, further exploring the nether regions of electronic music and drone.  Yesterday he released "Hellion Earth," a fun 10-minute dance jam for free.  Listen to and download it below, and then cross your fingers for some new Fuck Buttons material in the near future.