GX Jupitter-Larsen, founding member of infamous noise terrorists/performance art group The Haters, and Michael Muennich, head honcho of the Fragment Factory imprint, have colluded to unleash seven crimson inches of sheer hatred upon this planet. “Die Arbeiter von Wein,” or “The Workers of Vienna,” was originally written in response to the July Revolt of 1927 (also known as Black Friday), a general strike and series of demonstrations in Austria that resulted in the deaths of 89 protestors, shot by the Austrian police force. This protest anthem describes the plight of the laborers of Vienna and their plans to break the “chains of confining custody” wrought by the factory owners. These are prescient lyrics considering the “occupations” going on today in the majority of large cities around the globe, protesting injustices that are still prevalent.
Fragment Factory presents this particular song in a very engaging way. Lyrics, photos and expository information is provided; one side of the platter presents the German version, while the English version graces the other. Jupitter-Larsen is responsible for the roiling stew of electronic noise that backs up Muennich’s shouted/distorted vocal delivery. While this particular arrangement of the song is probably not what Fritz Bruegel had in mind when he originally wrote it, Jupitter-Larsen and Muennich have provided a version that is effective for modern times. The electronic gurgles and carpets of static parallel the noise-filled society in which we live today.
8/10
