Pure: King Fear

In the course of the last few months a substantial section of the work released by Peter Votava under different names in the 1990's, before his releases on Mego, Staalplaat and d0c, has been made available again on CD, most notably the retro compilation of classic ironic rave act Ilsa Gold (with Christopher Just, on Mego) and the deep electro-techno soundscapes of Current 909 (on d0c/Atmosfear). A completely different aspect is presented by this double CD compilation of his hardcore material, released as Pure (or DJ Pure, Information:Overload, Violent Shit, PL and Slab), now available from Praxis as a double CD (Praxis 26CD). Collecting the material previously issued by Praxis itself, Loop, Drop Bass Network, as well as compilation tracks from Tigerbeat6, Biomechanic and a support compilation for the EKH, Vienna's only squat named after Ernst Kirchweger, a communist murdered by the Nazis, all from between 1994-2001. Almost like a history of hardcore of the'90s from dark acid to harsh noise. Not only was most of the material released on limited edition vinyl, and now unavailable, all the hits, collaborations and rarities are here, including previously unreleased tracks: CD1 starting off with the deceptively titled CD-ROM section (not for easy listening) - it's the audio track of a data CD - but soon delving into the hammering beats of Information:Overload, shifting into the satanic abyss of “Anoint me with the Black Sperm of Beleth" by Slab, before exercising “Analogue Terror" from the Drop Bass Network EP of the same title, already showing the variety of approaches even within the industrial hardcore realm. This is further illustrated by the various collaborations with other activists and hardcore experimenters of the time. Not only is the near-legendary “Violent Shit" EP featured, there are three more, previously unreleased tracks from this collaboration with Ec8or (at the time a Patric C. solo project), as well as the devastating “Killer Bees on Acid" produced with the late Liza N'Eliaz. CD2 opens with another cult item: “Speeed" by Pure vs. GTI, originally released as a one-sided limited 12" on Loop, before continuing the journey in carefully chosen order through material defying the borders of “industrial" and “hardcore". The bulk of the material was recorded and released between 1994 and 1999 - it appears that Pure decided after his massive “King Kong/Katharsis" on Praxis that he had said what he needed to say in this musical format. This double CD (on which “King Kong" is featured in its full 15 minute glory) is testimony to the insistence, depth and violence as well as the heterogenity of his artistic vision.

MINT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL 1999 release - from the label archives!If you missed the repress of this massive release, here's the chance to buy a copy of the original pressing from 1999. We found a tiny number of extra copies in the label archives.

Pure has released highly diverse music with different projects for over 25 years - distorted Acid on Drop Bass Network, industrial hardcore on Praxis, heavy techno on Ophism, Experimental Electronics on Editions Mego, and dark broken beats on aufnahme+wiedergabe, to name just a few. With his latest e.p. he delivers three tracks in the classic hardcore rave style of mid 90s Things To Come Records - distorted 909, analogue rave sounds and disturbing voice samples. The release comes with two remixes - label owner The Horrorist adds one with a strong 80s New Wave vibe and Temple Traxx owner Bizz O.D. turns the heavy rave original into a distorted funky acid killer.

Sub/Version is the sister label to Praxis dedicated to hard and dark drum’n’bass, epic breakcore and bass exploration. Sub/Version was mainly active on the vinyl front between 1997 and 2009 with a range of releases by founders Pure and Fringeli as well as Amboss, Crisis Theory, DJ Hidden, DJ Scud, Hecate/Etaceh, Kovert, and Vile Enginez, and also included remixes by Panacea and Fennesz.2010 and 2011 saw a digital series of 10 one-track releases with smashing works by Amboss, Christoph Fringeli, Egon Frinz, Grr, Kovert, Noize Creator, Somatic Responses and Vile Enginez (all still available via bandcamp).In the following years the Sub/Version project was put on the back burner, but it’s not over: With Sub/Version 012 we take a look at the beginnings of the label, re-releasing the first two installments of the series: Dark Star, which appeared as a one-sided 12” in 1997 and (the A-side of) Anti-Christ, which appeared the following year. The original B-Side of Anti-Christ, A.C., is available as a bonus download track.Both tracks were written and produced by Christoph Fringeli and Peter Votava, aka DJ Pure, in Vienna at Pure’s studio. They represent a turning point in the mutation of hardcore and breakcore clashing with the then emerging techstep sound and contain various references effectively creating something like industrial drum’n’bass, while going beyond either genre’s limitations. With the limited vinyl release of Sub/Version 012 we present them in 2021 as key examples of an incredibly rough and intense sound in all its unpolished glory!